Ex-Steelers Starter Signs With Patriots

Former Pittsburgh Steelers right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor has signed with the Patriots.
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers' starting tackle from the past four seasons has found a new home and a fresh start elsewhere in the AFC. 

According to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, former Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor has agreed to a deal with the New England Patriots. Financial terms have not yet been revealed. He had been cut by the Steelers last month. 

Okorafor had started 59 games in all for the Steelers, including 55 games over the past four seasons. He entered the 2023 season as the starter but was benched midway through the season for 2023 first-round pick, Broderick Jones. 

His benching was tied to a disciplinary issue. Okorafor said there was an incident on the field following he Steelers' Week 8 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Okorafor later said he regretted what he said. Jones started for the remainder of the season at right tackle. 

Okorafor was the Steelers highest-paid offensive lineman last season and his release created $8.8 million in cap space. Now he gets a new opportunity in New England. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.