Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Logan Lee, a 2024 sixth-round pick who missed his rookie year on injured reserve, reflected on his up-and-down 2025 season with a late surge (47 snaps total over two years) and aims for expanded playing time in 2026 under new coaching staff. He discussed his mindset on the 'Off The Air' podcast with Matt Randazzo.
Logan Lee joined the Steelers as a sixth-round pick in 2024 but spent his rookie season on injured reserve. In 2025, he appeared in seven games with limited early action—one snap vs. New York (Week 1), four vs. New England (Week 3), and 17 vs. Seattle—before a stronger finish amid injuries and opportunities. He logged 26 combined snaps against Baltimore (Week 14) and Miami (Week 15), recording two tackles and a quarterback hit, plus pass knockdowns in limited snaps vs. Cleveland (Week 17) and Baltimore (Week 18). Staying healthy was key, Lee said. “Coming into the season, I ended up staying healthy. I was actually able to contribute a little bit… The first five [games] was kind of just really trying to take the training wheels off a little bit. The last five games... I just said ‘send it’.”
Entering his third NFL season, Lee seeks a bigger role despite stiff competition, including Cameron Heyward, new signee Sebastian Joseph-Day, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton, Yahya Black, and Esezi Otomewo. His versatility at defensive end or nose tackle could help, and he made the roster last year amid similar depth concerns. The Steelers may add more via the draft.
Lee contrasted his NFL experience with starring at Orion High School and Iowa, where he played nearly every snap. “It’s coming off Orion where I never came off the field unless we were winning by 30, or Iowa where I would get 65 plays a game. It was a really big wake-up call... It’s hard to stay warm on the sideline, especially late in the year in Pittsburgh.” With new staff after Karl Dunbar's departure, he added, “I understand my role... I’d really like to work my way into a bigger role this year,” emphasizing the need for consistency and proving himself on film.
