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PITTSBURGH – On the eve of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first practice training camp, veteran linebacker Vince Williams informed the team of his retirement on Wednesday.
Williams, 31, played eight seasons with the organization after being selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Williams was initially released by the team in March due to cap constraints, but was re-signed in April with a minimum one-year veteran contract.
Some of Williams’ teammates in defense, including TJ Watt and Joe Haden, posted their reactions to social media later on Wednesday.
Congratulations on a phenomenal career @ VinnyVidiVici98 !! I’m lucky to have shared the land with you! https://t.co/BLjS9k0kiP
-TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) July 21, 2021
The former Florida State player emerged as a team manager in Pittsburgh and started 69 of 121 career games, racking up 20.5 sacks, 479 combined tackles and 50 tackles for a loss.
His role in 2021 was likely to be reduced with the emergence of Robert Spillane, who stepped up last season when former top 10 pick Devin Bush tore his ACL apart.
Beyond Spillane and Bush, the Steelers will likely look to rookie Buddy Johnson and linebacker Marcus Allen for depth of the post – but with a solid camp, a healthy Ulysees Gilbert III could also land a spot in the alignment outside the group.
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