Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Zach Banner is returning to football, joining the Houston Roughnecks of the UFL. At 31, this marks his first team in four years.
Banner’s last football experience was with the Steelers in 2021. However, after suffering a torn ACL and going through numerous tryouts, he struggled to secure another NFL contract. Now, he hopes the UFL will serve as a platform to prove himself.
Despite his time away, Banner remains determined to make it back to the NFL, saying he’s been ready for quite some time. “With time and age, you’re making fine wine,” he said. “Every week, that phone doesn’t ring. That heartbreak, how do we push through? That’s probably my biggest area of growth. I’ve been ready.”
Having fully recovered from his knee injury, Banner continues to work out, hoping for an opportunity despite turning 31 last December.
Banner was a fourth-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts out of USC, but his career quickly fizzled. The Steelers gave him a second chance, and he gradually climbed the depth chart. However, after his first career start at right tackle, he never had another chance to prove what he could do. Now, with the Roughnecks, he’ll finally have the opportunity to show he can still perform at a high level.
