Former IU tight end Riley Nowakowski has signed his first NFL contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Nowakowski was selected in the fifth round by Pittsburgh in last month’s NFL Draft.
According to Spotrac, Nowakowski signed a 4-year, $4,823,260 contract with the Steelers, including a $443,260 signing bonus, $443,260 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,205,815. In 2026, Nowakowski will earn a base salary of $885,000 and the signing bonus of $443,260.
The Steelers took Nowakowski with the No. 169 overall pick. He appears set to continue wearing No. 37 for Pittsburgh.
Nowakowski transferred to Indiana last season from Wisconsin and enjoyed a breakout year.
The former walk-on arrived in Bloomington seen as a block-first tight end, but proved to be a two-way threat at the position. He caught 32 passes for 387 yards with two touchdowns last year, and he also scored two rushing touchdowns — including one in the national championship game.
The Milwaukee native was still an effective blocker while doing all that, often doing the sort of dirty work that leads to winning football.
Nowakowski could see opportunities both at tight end and fullback with the Steelers. He will compete for opportunities in Pittsburgh with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, with the latter entering the final year of his contract.
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