Veteran linebacker Markus Golden is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.
This will mark the 33-year-old’s 10th NFL season and second with the Steelers. After signing as a free agent in the off-season, Golden closed out the 2023 campaign with 20 tackles, 14 of them solo stops, four sacks, six tackles for a loss, a pass defenced and a fumble recovery.
Golden appeared in 16 games, as well as earning the start in the team’s AFC wild-card game following an injury to linebacker teammate T.J. Watt, who went down with an MCL injury in Week 18 against the Ravens.
“I just love to compete,” said Golden at the end of the 2023 season. “When you have been playing something since you were a kid, if you really love it like you did as a kid, it never leaves.
“I love playing for [head coach] Mike [Tomlin]. I love working hard and playing football, so I fit right in.”
A second-round selection by the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, Golden went on to suit up for the team for seven seasons, where he had a career-high 12.5 sacks during the 2016 season with only three starts in 16 games.
He later signed with the New York Giants as a free agent in 2019 but was traded back to Arizona a year later.
Golden has amassed a total of 343 career tackles, 51 sacks and 68 tackles for a loss. He has 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown.
The signing results in the Steelers waiving linebacker David Perales to make room on the roster.
