Qadree Ollison Makes Homecoming with Steelers
PITTSBURGH -- It took five years to get there, but former Pitt Panthers running back Qadree Ollison is finally playing with the big boys at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
He practiced on fields three and four on the back end of practice fields during his college days at Pitt and, after bouncing around between three different NFL teams during his short professional career, is back in Pittsburgh on a practice squad deal with the Steelers and playing on fields one and two.
“Coach Tomlin said it took me five years to get from field three to field two," Ollison said. "Now I can say I’ve touched every field in the back here.”
As Ollison practiced for the first time as a Steeler this week, he took stock of how far he had come. He's still taking handoffs from Kenny Pickett, but doing it in black and yellow instead of blue and gold.
His prior relationship with the Steelers' second-year starting quarterback, who he shared a backfield with and won an ACC Coastal Division title with during his time at Pitt, is part of what made signing with Pittsburgh such an easy choice. He knows the city and the facility intimately and after doing so much growing up here, it feels right to be back.
“Today out at practice, that was the first time I’d taken a handoff from [Pickett] since like 2018," Ollison said. "So he even said it, ‘Just for old time’s sake.’ … It’s dope having someone here that I played with, was a teammate of mine and now the face of the franchise.”
Ollison said he thought the Steelers might add him earlier in his career, but it didn't work out that way. Instead, the Falcons took him with the 152nd overall pick in the third round of the 2019 draft and he struggled to break through. Ever since Atlanta waived him in 2022, he's played for the Dallas Cowboys and spent this past training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In the Steelers, Ollison sees a chance to contribute to the winning culture the franchise has established and perhaps a chance to rekindle some of the magic that made him one of the top rushers in the ACC during his final season as a Panther in 2018.
Ollison isn't expected to start or even make the active roster, with the Steelers holding a running back room three players deep. But he's grateful just to have another opportunity to play football in his second home.
“For me, Pittsburgh always felt like a second home," Ollison said. "I went from high school and kind of became a man here and coming back five years later is a full circle moment and it just feels right.”
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