While the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers continue to evaluate their needs at running back, one ex-black and gold ball carrier is entering a new stage of their career.
Four-year Steeler signs with UFL team
In 2019, the Steelers drafted Benny Snell Jr. out of Kentucky to back up James Conner and eventually Najee Harris. Now, Snell has joined the Louisville Kings of the UFL and is returning to the field for the first time in three years.
The update comes from UFL insider Avion Plummer, who expresses just what the former Steeler brings to the Kings’ backfield.
“Snell brings veteran presence and physicality to the Kings’ backfield as they aim to establish a consistent running game,” said Plummer. “A comeback story worth watching.”
Plummer describes that the Kings selected Snell on January 14 with the UFL season set to begin in late March.
During his time in Pittsburgh, the Ohio native impressed early, rushing for 426 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season. Following his strong start, Snell put up another solid performance in 2020, going for 368 yards and four scores.
Eventually, his production panned out, and Snell accepted the third-string role behind Harris and Jaylen Warren. This showed in his stats as Snell rushed for under 100 yards in each of his final two seasons with the Steelers.
While at Kentucky, the 5-foot-11 back put on a show. Snell rushed for over 1,000 yards all three years with the Wildcats. His final two years, he put up back-to-back seasons of 1,300-plus rushing yard seasons to the tune of 35 total touchdowns.
Collecting 48 touchdowns across all three years, Snell entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick. After his time with Pittsburgh, he signed with the Detroit Lions, where he was released after the 2023 season.
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