Former linebacker Ade Ogundeji thanked the Pittsburgh Steelers with a retirement message on Instagram.
Another veteran who spent a portion of the 2024 NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers has retired. Linebacker Ade Ogundeji announced with an Instagram post on Sunday that he will hang up his cleats.
In the post, Ogundeji thanked everyone involved with his football career, including the teams he played for, the last of which was the Steelers.
“I was truly scared whenever I realized my time was done,” Ogundeji wrote. “I thought I lost myself and was truly in a dark place. But God and only God made me realize that this is just the beginning and that there is more out there for me.
“I was never perfect on or off the field even though I tried my hardest to be … I’m excited to take on the next step! Thank you to everyone who got me here family, coaches, friends, and most importantly my teammates and brothers!
“I want to thank the Southfield Falcons, Walled Lake Central, Notre Dame, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me this opportunity and all the people who blessed me along the way!”
Along with the caption, Ogundeji included nine pictures throughout his football career. The last two photos were from his nearly four-month tenure in Pittsburgh.
In addition to Ogundeji, former Steelers receiver Mike Williams, who finished 2024 in Pittsburgh, retired from the NFL last week.
Linebacker Ade Ogundeji Announces NFL Retirement
Ogundeji signed with the Steelers practice squad after 2024 NFL training camp. The Steelers added him to the active roster three separate times to appear in games during October.
Ogundeji played a season-high 16 defensive snaps in Week 6 versus the Las Vegas Raiders. He had one pass defense. Ogundeji also played nine combined defensive snaps the next two weeks versus the New York Jets and New York Giants.
After the Giants matchup, the Steelers waived Ogundeji and signed him to the practice squad again. He remained on that practice squad until Pittsburgh waived him on December 17.
Ogundeji is retiring with 75 combined tackles, including eight tackles for loss in 35 NFL games.
Ogundeji Played for Steelers & Atlanta Falcons
The 26-year-old’s stint with the Steelers appeared impactful but brief. Ogundeji spent a majority of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons drafted Ogundeji at No. 182 overall in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Desperate for pass rushing help, Atlanta started Ogundeji for 11 games as a rookie.
He became a regular starter for the Falcons defense in 2022. In 32 games for the Falcons, Ogundeji posted 75 combined tackles, including eight tackles for loss and three sacks.
Ogundeji missed all of the 2023 season after Atlanta placed him on injured reserve during the preseason. The Falcons released the outside linebacker in May 2024.
During college, Ogundeji spent four seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He posted 80 combined tackles, including 17 for loss and 13 sacks in 43 games.
In 2018, Ogundeji played a significant role on the Notre Dame defense, which led the team to a 12-0 start and a College Football Playoffs appearance. The eventual champion Clemson Tigers defeated the Fighting Irish in the Cotton Bowl, which was the College Football semifinals.
As a senior during 2020, Ogundeji posted seven sacks, seven tackles for loss and 23 combined tackles. He had three forced fumbles during the 2019 season.
