Sometimes it is easy to forget about the players that left the team over the past several years. Some leave via trade and others leave through free agency. Past issues with cap-related problems have caused for some on the list to have no choice but to leave as the Steelers did not have enough money to pay them. Others left on their own terms in search of a new opportunity.
When players leave Pittsburgh but normally does not work in their favor as a whole. There are success stories, but many players will leave and find their careers deteriorate overall. This article delves into what these players have been up to since they left the black and gold as starters. Some have been able to sustain success, while others are struggling to stay relevant
Matt Feiler has been able to stick around as a starting guard since leaving Pittsburgh
One name many might have forgotten about is Matt Feiler, who has not been with the Steelers since the conclusion of the 2020 season. He was an athletic guy who was a late bloomer joining the NFL ranks. He hung around the league on practice squads before finally ending up with the black and gold as a former undrafted free agent.
He would eventually be a depth piece for the club before he finally gained a starting role at right tackle for most of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He played well there, but other positions had to be filled across the offensive front, and that led to Feiler swinging inside at left guard. He would start there for his final season in Pittsburgh.
Feiler would sign with the LA Chargers on a fairly lucrative contract that the Steelers could not afford. He played respectably for his two years in LA before he became a cap casualty. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he is one of their starting guards. He has been dealing with injuries, which has hampered his game a little this year. He still remains a solid starting guard.