The Pittsburgh Steelers have cut ties running back Aaron Shampklin, the team announced on Monday. Shampklin was on the Steelers’ practice squad for most of last year, but played in three games after being signed from the practice squad as injuries racked up.
Shampklin had six carries for 17 yards in three games played for the Steelers this season. Before coming to Pittsburgh, he most notably spent time with the Dallas Cowboys. Pittsburgh initially released him from training camp but re-signed him to the practice squad after injuries piled up in the running back room.
Shampklin stood out at Harvard, which helped catapult him into the NFL. A native of Long Beach, California, Shampklin went viral last year for detailing his journey from a substitute teacher to an NFL running back.
Shampklin did two days almost every day and was able to train out of UCLA in the offseason for two days on Monday and Thursday. On Wednesday and Friday, Shampklin and his trainer take the hour long drive from Long Beach to Malibu to train his lower body at the Malibu Sand Dunes. He often does all of this after teaching for the day.
The Steelers signed running backs Trey Sermon and Max Hurleman to new deals, bringing the number of running backs on the roster to eight total heading into OTAs.