JuJu Smith-Schuster announces deal with Kansas City Chiefs, leaving Pittsburgh Steelers
The Kansas City Chiefs add wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on a one-year, $10.75 million deal, according to Field Yates. The former All-Pac 12 pass-catcher out of USC, who posted a note confirming his departure from Pittsburgh, had been with the Steelers for his entire NFL career before entering free agency this month.
Smith-Schuster is the latest addition to a Chiefs offense that boasts a number of existing talented pass-catchers including wide reciter Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce, among others. Smith-Schuster will be expected to further bolster one of NFL’s most dangerous units as the Chiefs seek a third trip to the Super Bowl in four seasons during the 2022 campaign.
Smith-Schuster expressed a desire to stay in Pittsburgh earlier in the year, though that wish did not materialize in the end. A quarterback change is another factor to consider in the Steel City this offseason, as veteran two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger retired after nearly two decades with in NFL, all with Pittsburgh.
“Honestly, it would be a blessing (to stay in Pittsburgh),” Smith-Schuster said after the loss to Kansas City “I love the city; I love the fans. I love coach (Mike) Tomlin. I love the coaches and my teammates, players, everyone from the media side to the training room. It’s been unbelievable. My career here has been amazing. It would be nice to stay here and play with these guys and the same coaches. It would be nice to stay for another four years.”
As far as his time in Pittsburgh is concerned, Smith-Schuster signed a one-year extension with the Steelers ahead of the 2021 season but suffered a shoulder injury Week 5 that kept him sidelined until the playoffs. Pittsburgh placed him on injured reserve Oct. 16 after undergoing surgery to repair a shoulder injury. The Steelers activated him Jan. 15 and he was in the starting lineup for the team’s Wild Card loss, which incidentally came against Kansas City.
In five games before his injury, Smith-Schuster caught 15 passes for 129 yards. When Smith-Schuster returned to practice the Thursday before the playoffs, the Steelers’ players broke down the impact he has on the team.
The Steelers drafted Smith-Schuster with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team in 2017 and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 after amassing 2,343 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his first two professional years.
Smith-Schuster only collected 1,512 receiving yards since, with 831 of them coming in the 2020 season. He also had a career-high nine receiving touchdowns that year though several off-field incidents brought his future with the organization into question. The Steelers signed him to a one-year deal anyway.
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