Former Panthers linebacker Galambos earns contract with Steelers

Matt Galambos' stay with the Steelers will last longer than rookie minicamp.

Galambos, a former Pitt inside linebacker, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Steelers on Sunday after participating in the three-day minicamp on a tryout basis.

His agent tweeted the news following the third and final minicamp practice. 

Galambos started at middle linebacker for the Panthers each of the past three seasons, finishing 2016 as the team's leading tackler with 85 total tackles and three fumble recoveries, including 12 in Pitt's 43-42 victory at Clemson on Nov. 12.

He had 88 tackles as a junior in 2015 and 72 in 10 starts during the 2014 season, finishing his career with 283 tackles, and is the fourth former Pitt player expected to participate in Steelers OTAs later this month.

James Conner was drafted by the Steelers in the third round, and tight end Scott Orndoff and defensive back Terrish Webb signed as undrafted free agents.

Pat Narduzzi has called Galambos “the computer of the defense,” and senior defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett refers to him as “the quarterback” of the unit, and it starts with his knowledge.

That was demonstrated with his ability to diagnose a switch at the line of scrimmage by Georgia Tech on fourth-and-1 on Homecoming last October. Galambos diagnosed the play, alerted his defensive linemen and Jarrett made the stop to help Pitt earn its first ACC win.

“For this thing to work, we’ve got to have a guy at our level — whether it be the middle linebacker or whoever — that really understands what we’re trying to do and go execute,” Pitt linebackers coach Rob Harley said in October. “It’s one thing to understand it and say, ‘Oh, this is what you want me to do,’ but to go out there and execute it and make all those calls when the bullets are flying, it’s a tough thing to do. He’s been phenomenal all year along.”

The Steelers added at least one other tryout player to the roster. Massive Fordham tight end Phazahn Odom (6-8, 250) tweeted that he signed with the Steelers. Odom was an all-state basketball player in college.

Odom finished his Fordham career with 56 catches for 740 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The Steelers will need to release two players currently on the 90-man roster.