Mike Vrabel will soon revisit the franchise that chose him in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. But along with the New England Patriots head coach, there will be additional connections on the field when the Pittsburgh Steelers arrive in Foxborough.
Between the active rosters and practice squads, 10 players in the fold for Sunday have made stops with both teams during their careers.
Here’s a glance through the list of heading into the 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.
PITTSBURGH
Jonnu Smith, tight end
— The 30-year-old Smith handled 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown across 30 games with the Patriots. His stay included 19 starts. It ended midway through a four-year contract in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2023 offseason. And after earning Pro Bowl honors in 2024 back in the AFC East with the Miami Dolphins, the Florida International product was dealt to the AFC North. Smith originally entered the NFL with the Tennessee Titans at pick No. 100 overall on the 2017 class. He has amassed 316 receptions, 3,349 yards and 29 touchdowns through 126 career contests. A visit to the end zone as a rusher has also been logged.
Calvin Anderson, offensive tackle — The Patriots released Anderson from injured reserve with a settlement in September of 2024. The veteran swing tackle, who spent time on the non-football illness due to malaria and injured reserve due to a heart contusion the year prior, made his way to the Steelers shortly after becoming a free agent. Originally landing in Foxborough as an undrafted rookie in 2019, Anderson has also made stops with New York Jets and Denver Broncos. The 29-year-old out of Rice and Texas stands 50 games, including 14 starts, into his NFL journey. He was active but did not play last week.
Daniel Ekuale, defensive tackle — After spending the past four seasons on New England’s defensive line, the 31-year-old Ekuale signed with Pittsburgh in March. He entered the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State and spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns from there. Beginning his stay at Gillette Stadium as a standard elevation from the practice squad, Ekuale went on to appear in 41 games, including 16 starts. He notched 74 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble in the process.
Ja’Whaun Bentley, linebacker — The Steelers hosted Bentley on a visit Tuesday. It led to an agreement. Now signed to the AFC North practice squad, the 29-year-old linebacker had been a free agent since his March release with a failed-physical designation. Bentley landed in Foxborough in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft at pick No. 143 overall. The three-time Purdue captain went on to become a four-time Patriots captain and the green dot of the defense. He appeared in 83 games, starting 68, while amassing 509 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Along the way there were four fumbles forced, one fumble recovered and two passes intercepted. Bentley’s tenure spanned 3,665 defensive snaps.
Jabrill Peppers, safety — After making the initial 53-man roster in August, Peppers became a free agent entering Labor Day weekend. The veteran safety officially signed with Pittsburgh 10 days into September. He’s wearing No. 40 now and debuted on special teams. Peppers has started 85 of his 100 games since entering the NFL in the first round of the 2017 draft. The former All-American out of Michigan joined the Patriots in 2022. A one-year deal, two-year deal and three-year extension were signed during his stay. Peppers was named a team captain ahead of 2024 before spending seven games on the commissioner’s exempt list. He tallied 178 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions with New England.
Christian Kuntz, long snapper — A converted linebacker out of Duquesne, Kuntz went undrafted in 2017 and agreed to terms with the Patriots late that August. He was waived following the preseason finale. Kuntz made subsequent stops with the Broncos, Jaguars and the XFL’s Dallas Renegades en route to becoming an NFL long snapper. The 31-year-old has had a hand in Pittsburgh’s special teams since for 70 games dating back to his debut in 2021. He’s made nine tackles in the kicking game.
Corliss Waitman, punter — The Patriots released Waitman from the practice squad in the fall of 2023 after he’d rejoined the punting competition on a one-year deal that March. But draft choice Bryce Baringer won it and has kept ahold of it since. Waitman, a lefty specialist, entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of South Alabama in 2020. He’s now in his third separate stint as a Steeler and made the cut to 53 out of training camp. Through 37 career games, Waitman has averaged 46.9 yards per punt with a long of 71. The 30-year-old stands 176 punts into his career.
NEW ENGLAND
Joshua Dobbs, quarterback — The Patriots signed Dobbs to a two-year deal in March. The 30-year-old is joined by starter Drake Maye and August waiver claim Tommy DeVito in the quarterback room. Since entering the NFL with the Steelers the fourth round of the 2017 draft at No. 135 overall, Dobbs has appeared in 23 games and made 15 starts. The Tennessee alum has spent time with nine different organizations. And Pittsburgh twice. The career includes a 344-of-549 passing line for 3,281 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Dobbs has added 520 yards and eight scores as a rusher.
Robert Spillane, linebacker — A team captain, Spillane made his way to the Patriots on a three-year pact in NFL free agency. The veteran linebacker has appeared in 87 games, starting 51, since setting out as an undrafted rookie out of Western Michigan in 2018. After a stop in Nashville, Spillane proceeded to spend four seasons in Pittsburgh while carving a role on special teams and in sub packages. He then signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. Spillane’s career has included 503 tackles and 9.5 sacks, plus one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, six interceptions and one touchdown return.
Mark Robinson, linebacker — After joining New England’s practice squad soon after its formation in August, the 26-year-old Robinson served as a standard elevation for back-to-back Sundays. He has made a trio of tackles while playing a core part on special teams. The linebacker had been waived by Pittsburgh at the 53-man roster deadline. By way of Presbyterian, Southeast Missouri State and Ole Miss, he accrued the past three campaigns with head coach Mike Tomlin’s side. Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, Robinson’s career has brought 40 appearances, 48 tackles, one sack and three forced fumbles. He made four starts on defense while a Steeler.
