Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker L.J. Fort is formally shifting on with life’s work. In an Instagram submit Thursday, Fort mirrored on his 10-year profession, thanking groups, coaches, teammates, and pals for his or her assist whereas sharing a collage of photographs of his taking part in days.
“I didn’t get picked up till Thursday after the draft, making ready to start out one other profession. All I wanted was a chance and I’m eternally grateful to those who gave me simply that! By no means might have imagined 10 years within the sport!
Thanks to all my household, pals, teammates, agent, trainers, workers, and organizations who helped me flip my childhood dream right into a actuality! It doesn’t matter the way you begin, ignore the circumstances and get to work!”
A number of former Steelers teammates commented on his submit. LB Tyler Matakevich, S Will Allen, S Jordan Dangerfield, and FB Roosevelt Nix all replied.
Fort, now 35, spent the 2015-2018 seasons with the Steelers. He appeared in 44 video games with two begins, recording 63 tackles, 4 move breakups, and two sacks. Athletic and efficient when given alternatives, Pittsburgh curiously turned to different choices following Ryan Shazier’s career-ending spinal damage in 2017. As an alternative of turning to Fort, the Steelers moved EDGE Arthur Moats to inside linebacker and signed Sean Spence for the crew’s stretch run.
Fort would follow the crew in 2018 and make his lone two begins with Pittsburgh, getting the nod in Week 14 in opposition to the Oakland Raiders and the season finale versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He completed the season with 48 tackles (three for a loss) and one sack.
Undrafted out of Northern Iowa in 2012, L.J. Fort first signed with the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in all 16 video games as a rookie however struggled to see the sector the subsequent a number of years, solely showing in a single sport over the subsequent three seasons.
After gaining traction with Pittsburgh, Fort signed a three-year, $5.5 million cope with the cross-state Philadelphia Eagles. However he was launched one month into the contract. Scooped up by the Baltimore Ravens, he began eight video games over the remainder of 2019 and one other eight in 2020. He tore his ACL in the summertime of 2021 and was positioned on injured reserve, successfully ending his profession.
Fort completed his NFL profession with 173 tackles (12 for a loss) with 10 move breakups, 5 sacks, one compelled fumble, and one interception throughout 91 video games and 19 begins.
In 2024, he was named linebackers coach at Melissa Excessive Faculty in Texas.
