Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt dove at the ankles of then-Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, forcing the veteran signal-caller to involuntarily throw the ball into the turf. The Steelers went on to win 24-17 in that contest played on Oct. 13, 2019, but Tuitt tore his pectoral muscle while hitting Rivers.
That ended a promising campaign for the six-year NFL veteran. In just six games, he had 22 total tackles (six for loss) and seven quarterback hits. With 3.5 sacks, he was well on his way to surpassing his career high of 6.5 sacks, which he set in 2015.
“It was devastating,” Tuitt said on the Arthur Moats Experience With Deke podcast. “When you work every year to get better and better, and finally, everything clicks and then it’s all taken away on one play, that can be very hard mentally. You’re in a dark place for a long time until you’re able to get out of it.”
His emotions were likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced all of us to isolate ourselves from co-workers and even our loved ones. But Tuitt looked at his extra time away from football as a chance to come back even better than before.
“The peck is back stronger than it was last year,” he said. “When you get hurt the way I got hurt, at the time that I got hurt, I had nothing but time. So I just got an opportunity to just really train my whole body and just fix a lot of things.
“Also with that time off, I got a chance to heal other things on my body as well, that were probably nagging, so it will actually end up being a benefit for me for the second half of my NFL career.”
So far, it’s difficult to argue with Tuitt’s self prognosis. After playing 10 games this season, Tuitt has already set a new career high in sacks with seven, good for 10th in the NFL. This also gives him 10.5 quarterback takedowns in his last 16 games played.
He’s also in a good position to achieve personal bests in tackles for loss (previously with eight in 2015, 2016 and 2017) and quarterback hits (previously with 20 in 2018). Currently, the 6-6, 303-pound defensive end has seven tackles for a loss and 18 quarterback hits.
According to Pro Football Focus, Tuitt is currently fourth in the NFL in terms of total quarterback pressures with 44.
For as outstanding as Tuitt’s play has been this season, he’s not even the best pass rusher on his own defensive line. Currently, two other Steelers have more sacks than Tuitt: outside linebacker Bud Dupree (8.0) and defensive tackle TJ Watt (9.0). Additionally, Watt is tied for second in the NFL with 50 quarterback pressures.
Former Notre Dame Football Players In The NFL: Week 11 Recap
• Josh Adams (Played at Notre Dame from 2015-17), RB, New York Jets: Spent the last two months on the 0-10 Jets’ practice squad and did not play in their 34-28 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers … Backup running back La’Mical Perine suffered a high-ankle sprain in the game, which may put Adams back on the roster this upcoming weekend … Has three carries for eight yards and a touchdown in two games played this season.
• Alex Bars (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: The 5-5 Bears had a bye.
• Asmar Bilal (2015-19), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Moved to the active roster from injured reserve prior to Sunday, but did not play in the 3-7 Chargers’ 34-28 win against the Jets.
• Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Baltimore Ravens: Played offense and special teams in the 6-4 Ravens’ 30-24 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans … Has 14 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown through 10 contests.
• Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Was targeted eight times and had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in the 10-0 Steelers’ 27-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars … On the season, he has 39 catches for 559 yards and eight touchdowns (tied for fourth in NFL), nine carries for 22 yards and two scores, and five special teams tackles … Became the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to score 10 touchdowns in his first 10 NFL games.
• Sheldon Day (2012-15), DL, Indianapolis Colts: Waived by the 7-3 Colts prior to their 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers … Spent the start of the season on injured reserve and had just two tackles and one pass defended this season.
• Tyler Eifert (2009-12), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Recorded two catches for 32 yards in the 1-9 Jaguars’ 27-3 loss to the Steelers … Through 10 games, he has 19 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.
• Matthias Farley (2011-15), DB, New York Jets: Recorded one tackle on special teams in the Jets’ 34-28 loss to the Chargers … Has recorded seven stops through 10 games.
• Will Fuller V (2013-15), WR, Houston Texans: Snagged six catches for 80 yards in 3-7 Houston’s 27-20 win over the New England Patriots … Has 47 grabs for 708 yards (18th in the NFL) and six touchdowns this season (tied for 11th).
• Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers: Played special teams in the 3-7 Chargers’ 34-28 victory over the Jets … Has two tackles on the season.
• J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Recorded his first tackle of the season on special teams in the 4-7 Panthers’ 20-0 win over the Detroit Lions.
• Bennett Jackson Jr. (2009-13), DB, New York Jets: Played special teams in the 0-10 Jets’ 34-28 loss to the Chargers … On the season, has one tackle on special teams.
• Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Cincinnati Bengals: Record his first career sack and a quarterback hit in the 2-7-1 Bengals’ 20-9 loss to the Washington Football Team … Has recorded 13 tackles (one for loss), a sack and a quarterback hit through nine games.
• DeShone Kizer (2014-16), QB, Free Agent: Tried out for the Bears and the Titans last week. Some expect him to sign with Tennessee soon and work with the team’s practice squad … Was cut by the Raiders on Sept. 30 … Has not thrown a pass in the NFL since 2018.
• Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears: The 5-5 Bears had a bye … On the season, he has seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, plus one tackle.
• Julian Love (2015-18), DB, New York Giants: The 3-7 Giants had a bye … Through 10 games, he has 38 tackles (one for loss), two passes defended and one interception.
Cole Luke (2013-16), DB, Washington Football Team: Promoted from the practice squad to the active roster and played special teams in the 3-7 Washington Football Team's 20-9 win over the Bengals.
• Nick Martin (2011-15), OL, Houston Texans: Started at center in the 3-7 Texans’ 27-20 win over the Patriots.
• Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys: Started at right guard in 3-7 Dallas’ 31-28 win over Minnesota.
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• Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, San Francisco 49ers: The 4-6 49ers had a bye.
• Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Started at left guard in the 7-3 Colts’ 34-31 win over the Packers.
• Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Chicago Bears: The 5-5 Bears had a bye.
• Julian Okwara (2016-19), DE, Detroit Lions: Placed on injured reserve several weeks ago and did not play in the 4-6 Lions’ 20-0 loss to the Panthers.
• Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, Detroit Lions: Record two tackles and a quarterback hit in the 4-6 Lions’ 20-0 defeat at the hands of the Panthers … Through 10 contests, he has 29 tackles (eight for loss), six sacks (16th in NFL), 13 quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one pass defended.
• Troy Pride Jr. (2016-19), CB, Carolina Panthers: Notched two tackles in 4-7 Carolina’s 20-0 win over the Lions … On the season, he has 38 tackles (1.5 for loss) and one pass defended.
• C.J. Prosise (2012-15), RB, Houston Texans: Had five offensive touches for 12 yards and returned one kickoff for 22 yards in the 3-7 Texans’ 27-20 win over the Patriots … Through 10 games, has four carries for five yards and three receptions for seven yards.
• Theo Riddick (2009-12), RB, Las Vegas Raiders: Added to the COVID-19 reserve list and did not play in the 6-4 Raiders’ 35-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs … On the season, has two carries for 13 yards.
• Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DE, Los Angeles Chargers: Played defense and special teams in the 3-7 Chargers’ 34-28 win over the Jets … Has 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks through 10 contests.
• Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Minnesota Vikings: Snagged three catches for 28 yards in the 4-6 Vikings’ 31-28 loss to the Cowboys … On the season, he has 22 receptions for 258 yards and a touchdown.
• Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Recorded eight tackles in the 4-6 Vikings’ 31-28 loss to the Cowboys … Through 10 games, he has 51 tackles (two for loss), six passes defended, three quarterback hits and three picks (tied for eighth in NFL).
• Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Registered seven tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit in the 3-7 Cowboys’ 31-28 victory over the Vikings … On the season, he has 96 tackles (tied for third in the NFL), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three passes defended and a quarterback hit.
• Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Was targeted once in the 6-4 Dolphins’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos … Has nine receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns through 10 games.
• Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Green Bay Packers: Hauled in one catch for 23 yards in the 7-3 Packers’ 34-31 loss to the Colts … Has two catches for 35 yards and one tackle on special teams through 10 contests.
• Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens: After signing a five-year, $98.75 million contract extension on Oct. 30, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
• Golden Tate (2007-09), WR, New York Giants: The 3-7 Giants had a bye … On the season, he has 24 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns … Also has thrown one pass for 18 yards, plus recorded one tackle.
• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Los Angeles Chargers: Recorded one tackle, a pass defended and a quarterback hit in the 3-7 Chargers’ 34-28 win over the Jets … Through 10 contests, he has 16 total stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, nine quarterback hits, a forced fumble and two passes defended.
• Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Broke his ankle in week one and is out indefinitely … Has one tackle this season.
• Stephon Tuitt (2011-13), DL, Pittsburgh Steelers: Recorded one tackle for loss, a sack, a quarterback hit and a defended pass in the 10-0 Steelers’ 27-3 win over the Jaguars … Has 33 tackles (10 for loss), seven sacks (10th in NFL) and 19 quarterback hits through 10 games.
• Sam Young (2006-10), OT, Las Vegas Raiders: Inactive for the 6-4 Raiders’ 35-31 loss to the Chiefs … Has played in seven games this season, starting five.
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