All Dolphins

Steelers Add Another Former Dolphins Defensive Player

Former Miami Dolphins safety Eric Rowe is back in the NFL.
Alain Poupart|
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Eric Rowe (25) runs back an intercepted pass in the second quarter of the NFL 16 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Eric Rowe (25) runs back an intercepted pass in the second quarter of the NFL 16 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Miami Dolphins

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has been the driving force behind the team's 8-2 start, and it's a group heavily influenced by the Miami Dolphins.

And now there's another former Miami Dolphins player on the way.

Defensive back Eric Rowe, who played for the Dolphins from 2019-22, is rejoining the Steelers practice squad in a repeat of what happened last season.

Rowe signed with the Steelers practice squad almost exactly one year ago — November 20, 2023, to be precise—and ended up playing three games with one start for Pittsburgh and also starting the playoff loss against the Buffalo Bills.

The Rowe signing comes one day after linebacker David Long Jr. joined the Detroit Lions after being waived by the Dolphins last week.

THE DOLPHINS FACTOR ON STEELERS DEFENSE

The Steelers' defense is ranked eighth in the NFL in yards allowed per game but second (behind the Los Angeles Chargers) in points allowed.

Three of the starters on that unit are former Dolphins players: safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami's first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft who was traded to Pittsburgh the following year; linebacker Elandon Roberts; and safety DeShon Elliott, who made headlines last week when he said some of his former teammates were "soft" and said the Miami culture would prevent the Dolphins from ever winning big.

Elliott and Fitzpatrick are second and third in tackles, behind only linebacker Patrick Queen.

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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