NFL rosters are basically giant puzzles that never quite stay put. Sometimes you find a piece that looks perfect, but for whatever reason, it just doesn’t fit the frame when you try to snap it in. That’s the story of Steelers free agent Jamal Agnew during his brief, somewhat mysterious stint in the Steel City.
When Pittsburgh signed Agnew to the practice squad back in November 2024, people were genuinely curious. Here was an All-Pro returner—a guy with a 109-yard touchdown on his resume—joining a team that traditionally values "splash" plays on special teams. But he never saw the field in a black and gold jersey. Not for a single regular-season snap.
Honestly, the timing was just brutal. Agnew arrived while still shaking off the rust from a nasty lower-leg fracture he suffered at the end of the 2023 season with the Jaguars. By the time he was healthy enough to actually contribute, the Steelers already had Cordarrelle Patterson handling return duties. If you’re a return specialist and you’re standing behind a literal Hall of Fame-level returner like Patterson, your path to the active roster is pretty much blocked by a steel wall.
The Pittsburgh Experiment That Didn't Happen
It’s easy to look back and call the Jamal Agnew signing a "nothing burger," but the logic was sound at the time. Mike Tomlin and the front office love having "insurance" players. Agnew was essentially a high-upside lottery ticket. If Patterson had gone down, or if the Steelers needed a spark in the slot, Agnew was there.
The most interesting part of his tenure was the 2024 Wild Card Round against the Ravens. The Steelers actually elevated him from the practice squad for that game. Fans thought, "Okay, this is it. They’re going to unleash him."
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He was inactive.
Just like that, the window closed. The Steelers let him walk into free agency in March 2025, and he eventually landed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. It felt like a classic case of a player being in the right building at the wrong time.
Why Jamal Agnew is a Unique Weapon
To understand why a team like the Steelers would even bother with a 29-year-old coming off a broken leg, you have to look at his history. Agnew isn't just a "guy who runs fast." He’s one of only four players in the history of the NFL to record a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown, and a field goal return touchdown in their career.
- 2017 (Detroit): First-team All-Pro as a rookie. He led the league in punt return yards (447) and average (15.4).
- 2021 (Jacksonville): Tied the NFL record with a 109-yard return on a missed field goal.
- 2022 (Jacksonville): Made the Pro Bowl after racking up over 1,000 all-purpose yards.
He’s a Swiss Army knife. Or at least, he was. The concern for the Steelers—and any team looking at him now in 2026—is whether that explosive "twitch" is still there after the leg injury and a subsequent oblique issue that hampered his 2025 season in Atlanta.
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The 2025 Rollercoaster and the Failed Physical
If you haven't kept up with Agnew since he left Pittsburgh, it’s been a rough ride. His 2025 season with the Falcons started with some promise. He played 11 games and handled 45 combined kicks and punts. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't the "All-Pro Jamal" of old. He averaged about 7.6 yards per punt return, which is a far cry from the double-digit numbers he posted in Detroit and Jacksonville.
Atlanta eventually moved on, releasing him in December 2025. Then things got weird.
The Washington Commanders claimed him off waivers on December 22, 2025. It looked like he’d get a fresh start in D.C. for a playoff push. But just 24 hours later, the Commanders waived him with a "failed physical" designation. That’s usually the kiss of death for a veteran speedster. If the medical staff doesn't trust the leg or the core, it’s hard for a GM to justify the roster spot.
What's Next for the Former Steelers Specialist?
As we head deeper into 2026, Steelers free agent Jamal Agnew finds himself at a career crossroads. He’s 30 years old. For a player whose entire game is built on suddenness and top-end speed, 30 is a scary number—especially with a history of lower-body injuries.
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Is a return to Pittsburgh possible? It’s highly unlikely. The Steelers have moved on to younger, cheaper options, and their WR room has undergone a massive facelift since the Mike Williams and Van Jefferson days.
However, Agnew still has that "coach’s favorite" reputation. He knows how to set up blocks, he doesn't muffle punts often, and he can still play a few snaps at receiver in a pinch. If a team loses their primary returner during OTA sessions or training camp later this year, Agnew’s phone will ring.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking Agnew's status or looking at how the Steelers handle veteran "flyer" signings, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the Medicals: The "failed physical" in Washington is the biggest hurdle. Until he passes a workout for a team this spring, he's a massive injury risk.
- Special Teams Value: Under the new NFL kickoff rules, teams are desperate for guys who can read the field. Agnew's experience is his best asset now, even if he’s lost half a step.
- The Practice Squad Pivot: Don't be surprised if he signs another practice squad deal similar to the one he had in Pittsburgh. It’s a low-risk way for teams to see if he still has the "juice."
Jamal Agnew’s time as a Steeler will go down as a footnote in a long, storied career. He was the "break glass in case of emergency" player who never had to be used because the building never caught fire. It’s a reminder that in the NFL, being talented is only half the battle; being healthy and lucky is the other half.
For anyone looking to see if he lands on his feet, keep an eye on teams with aging return units or those that struggled with field position in 2025. His days as a primary WR3 are likely over, but as a pure specialist, there might be one more chapter left in the book.