Tag: Dan McCullers

Per NFL transaction report, Steelers DL Dan McCullers listed under "CONTRACTS TERMINATED BY PLAYER" category.

Most that end up there are PS players who sign to active rosters. Seems like Big Dan is headed to another club.

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 22, 2020

It feels like defensive tackle Dan McCullers has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers forever. But the reality is McCullers has hung around the team for six seasons heading into 2020.

This season saw McCullers go from the active roster to the practice squad. And now it would appear McCullers is headed elsewhere completely. On the NFL transactions report, McCullers was listed as contract terminated but by the player.

This most likely means McCullers has an opportunity with another team. And good for him. McCullers never lived up to potential with the Steelers but by all accounts is a good guy and a good teammate. Pittsburgh gave him ample opportunities to make an impact on the defense but things never fell into place for him.

The move away from McCullers this season was made easier by the signing of Chris Wormley along with the continued progression of Isaiah Buggs.

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Keith Butler said this has to be the year for Dan McCullers to put it all together. He said with as big as he is, playing in the okie he is going to be over the center and has to push him back and put him in the QBs lap. Said it's a make it or break it year for McCullers.

— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) August 25, 2020

For the past six seasons, defensive tackle Dan McCullers has hung around the Pittsburgh Steelers like he is blackmailing them. Drafted because he was such a massive human being, McCullers has never been able to take his physical gifts and pair it up with any sort of NFL production.

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler talked about McCullers when he spoke to the media via Zoom on Tuesday. Butler didn’t hold back in how critical he was of McCullers and the expectations of him are.

One of the biggest struggles for McCullers during his career has been his height. At 6-foot-7, McCullers really struggles to get leverage. Low man wins and McCullers is almost never the low man. Playing head up on the center presents a real challenge for him but there just isn’t really another spot for him along the defensive line.

Pittsburgh is thin along the defensive line so don’t be shocked if McCullers gets even more opportunities than he has in the past. He is in the final year of his contract and it is doubtful the team is going to sign him to a third contract if he cannot show something this season.

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