Steelers ink former Iowa football DE Yahya Black
As rookie minicamps get underway, the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed former Iowa Hawkeyes defensive end and 2025 fifth-round selection Yahya Black to a four-year contract.
In 2023, he started all 14 games for the Hawkeyes, recording 51 tackles (22 solo), five tackles for loss, and three and a half sacks. He also had five passes defensed, two quarterback pressures, and one forced fumble.
In 2024, Black improved on his performance by recording 34 tackles (18 solo), seven tackles for loss, two passes defensed, two quarterback pressures, one sack, and one blocked field goal in all 13 games started.
"Really excited about Yahya," said defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. "Watched a lot of his tape. Big, physical young man. I like the things he brings to the table in the fifth round, so you've got to love that."
Black is the second defensive lineman the Steelers selected in the 2025 NFL draft, as Pittsburgh also took former Oregon Duck Derrick Harmon in the first round. According to Dunbar, the Steelers' goal is to be more 'dominant' up front.
"We need to be more dominant up front," said Dunbar. "I think the way you get dominant up front is to get youth. I think he is going to be a great addition to the group."
In his pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh, Black was astonished by the city's beauty and hard-nosed, determined mentality.
"First, can we talk about how pretty it is when you drive in to Pittsburgh, going through the tunnel and it opens up and it's a beautiful city. That's what I saw first," said Black. "Everybody in that city and around there has such a great mindset. It takes me back to my days at Iowa. Hard-nosed, tough and they are doing the right thing.
"I loved it there. They are great people. The love came back to me. The black and gold stays around."
While Black will need to work his way in the defensive line rotation throughout minicamp and the ensuing preseason, he is eager to take on the challenge as he begins his professional journey.
"At the end of the day I am going to play wherever they need me," said Black. "They've got a great group, so wherever I fit in and learn."
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Mario Lemieux's bid to buy back the Penguins is not close to estimated team value, report says
Mario Lemieux's bid to buy back the Pittsburgh Penguins does not come close what the team's estimated value is likely worth, according to a new report. Earlier this summer, it was reported that Lemieux, along with Ron Burkle and David Morehouse, were interested in buying the team back from the Fenway Sports Group, who purchased the team in 2021. Lemieux and Burkle sold the Penguins to FSG for just shy of $1 billion and last month, it was reported that the Lemieux group was considering its financial options that could lead to taking control of the Penguins again at some point. A new report from Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman suggests that the Lemieux group's bid for the team isn't close to FSG's apparent asking price. The only thing I've heard about that so far is that they're just well below what Fenway would want to be the number," Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast. DK Pittsburgh Sports reported last month that the Lemieux group was prepared to buy somewhere in the range of $1 billion for the team. The Penguins were valued at $1.75 billion in the latest Forbes rankings in the fall of 2024, which came in the midst of franchise values skyrocketing across the National Hockey League. Friedman also referenced the recent $1.8 billion sale of the Tampa Bay Lightning, suggesting that price point could be "where the Penguins would want to be."
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
JCC Maccabi Games back in Pittsburgh for first time since 1997
The JCC Maccabi Games, the largest Jewish youth event in the world, is happening in Pittsburgh this week. Thousands of teen athletes and families are in town for the massive event. It's been 28 years since Pittsburgh hosted the event, which runs through Friday. "We've got nearly 2,000 athletes from 51 different locations around the world. So, North America, plus Ukraine, Israel, Mexico, Great Britain, Argentina, and Poland," said Jason Kunzman, president & CEO of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh is playing host to the massive event, which had its opening ceremony on Monday night. The games were established in 1982, and the 2025 games are the first for participants to stay and compete on a college campus. Kunzman said the games are made up of 10 different Olympic-style sports competitions. "Ranging from tennis and volleyball and swimming and basketball and soccer, table tennis, and then we also have dance competition, and something very unique called star reporters, where folks who are interested in actually covering games through a multitude of different vehicles are also afforded the opportunity to participate as well," he said. The young athletes learn the values of teamwork, integrity and community service. Close to 900 volunteers are helping on Pitt's campus and at other events around the Pittsburgh area. "All over the city right now, we've got volunteers in basically every vertical. From transportation from food service to sports to security to logistics, just moving the kids in and out of the doors, to just being friendly faces and welcoming people to our city," said David Lavine, co-chair of the JCC Maccabi Games. The purpose of the games goes beyond sports. The games also instill Jewish values and cultural pride. "It's a difficult and challenging time for the Jewish community so bringing lots of young people together to have a sense of Jewish pride, and their identity, and heritage, and let their families feel that and the volunteers, it's just a great moment for us to bring the Jewish comunity together," said Barak Hermann, president & CEO of the JCC Association. "Here at the JCC Maccabi Campus Games, it's pure celebration. It's time to remember what we're about, to focus on the values that bind us together, and to really celebrate," Kunzman said. The Maccabi games also took place in Tucson, Arizona, last week.
NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Yankees bring in right-hander Kenta Maeda on minor league contract
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have signed right-hander Kenta Maeda to a minor league deal. New York announced the move on Monday. The 37-year-old Maeda had been pitching for Triple-A Iowa, the top minor league affiliate for the Chicago Cubs, but he was released on Saturday. The Yankees assigned Maeda to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Maeda had a 7.88 ERA in seven relief appearances for Detroit before he was designated for assignment on May 1. He went 3-7 with a 6.09 ERA in 17 starts and 12 relief appearances in his first year with the Tigers after agreeing to a two-year, $24 million contract in November 2023. Maeda pitched well in his last two starts with Iowa, allowing one run and five hits in 12 innings. He went 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 12 starts with the Triple-A team overall. Maeda made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, going 16-11 with a 3.48 ERA in 32 starts. He went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts for Minnesota during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, finishing second in AL Cy Young Award balloting. Maeda, who missed the 2022 season because of Tommy John surgery, is 68-56 with a 4.20 ERA in 226 major league games, including 172 starts.
