Steelers releasing former Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith in cap-saving move

Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith (81) is tackled during the second quarter of the Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers game in East Rutherford, NJ in Week 1 of the 2025 season.

Tight end Jonnu Smith will be looking for a new team.

The Steelers are moving to release Smith in order to save $7 million against the cap, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday night.

The move would allow the Steelers to have around $50 million in cap space heading into free agency this offseason, according to Spotrac.

Tight end Jonnu Smith is tackled during the second quarter of the Steelers' Week 1 win over the Jets at MetLife Stadium this past season. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Smith, 30, arrived in Pittsburgh via a trade from Miami last June and played in all 17 games for the Steelers this season.

He had 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns, along with a rushing TD.

The move will allow Smith to become an unrestricted free agent and means he will be playing for his sixth team in his career, after spending time with the Steelers, Dolphins, Patriots and Titans.

Smith has played nine seasons in the NFL since the Titans drafted him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

In that time, he has racked up 114 receptions for 1,302 yards and 16 touchdown catches.

With Smith now on the way out, it would appear that tight end Pat Freiermuth will see his role expanded under new head coach Mike McCarthy.

Jonnu Smith warms up before the Steelers' road loss to the Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Dec. 28, 2025. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Freiermuth saw a reduced role after Smith was acquired and had just 486 receiving yards and four touchdowns during the 2025 season, playing in just 51 percent of the offensive snaps, the lowest of his career.

In 2024, Freiermuth had 653 yards and seven touchdowns.

Along with Freiermuth, the Steelers still have tight end Darnell Washington under contract.