The Pittsburgh Steelers officially signed interior offensive lineman Brock Hoffman on Monday, locking in the former Dallas Cowboys center and guard on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Hoffman went undrafted out of Virginia Tech in 2022 and spent four seasons in Dallas after the Cleveland Browns released him before the regular season.
He appeared in all 17 games during each of his final three years with the Cowboys, carving out a consistent role along the interior. The Cowboys chose not to tender him as a restricted free agent this offseason, clearing the way for Pittsburgh.
The move reunites him with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who first signed Hoffman to the Cowboys’ practice squad in November 2022.
Steelers Update confirmed the deal on X.
McCarthy’s Connection to Hoffman Goes Back Four Years to Their Dallas Days
The #Steelers have officially signed former #Cowboys OG/C Brock Hoffman to a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
Hoffman, 26, reunites with Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. He’s a versatile addition to the offensive line room with experience at center and guard.
He could compete with… pic.twitter.com/LwHc1QgEum
— Steelers Update (@SteelersUpdate1) March 23, 2026
Before Virginia Tech, Hoffman spent two years at Coastal Carolina, where he became the first true freshman to start at center in program history.
He transferred to the Hokies, earned two-time All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition, and still went undrafted in 2022. The Browns signed him, then cut him from their practice squad on November 7 of that year.
Nine days later, McCarthy’s Cowboys added him to their practice squad. That was where all the working relationship of a thing began.
Dallas Cowboys, Cooper Beebe
NFL Dallas Cowboys center Brock Hoffman
He played 54 games across four seasons in Dallas, starting 16. In 2024, he stepped in at right guard for the final stretch of the season after Zack Martin suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
His 2025 season brought seven starts as well, opening at center before finishing the year at left guard.
The signing process had a strange early chapter. Reports surfaced during the legal tampering window that Hoffman was heading to Pittsburgh, but he disputed those claims then. Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show later confirmed the deal was finalized.
SOURCE(S): The Steelers have signed C/G Brock Hoffman (6-4, 302) to a 1-year deal to strengthen their depth in the interior of the offensive line. The 26-year-old played 4 seasons with the Cowboys. He went undrafted in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, but was an UDFA of Cleveland that… pic.twitter.com/JiFkOMMJst
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) March 21, 2026
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer made his feelings clear before Hoffman left. Tommy Yarrish, Schottenheimer said:
“Both of those guys are studs. They’re glue pieces for us. They’re always prepared. They’re ready. Both of those guys could start for other teams in the league.” Dallas kept T.J. Bass on a $5.76 million tender and let Hoffman walk.
In Pittsburgh, Hoffman also reconnects with former Cowboys assistant offensive line coach Ramon Chinyoung, now the Steelers’ running backs coach. After signing, Hoffman shared an emotional tribute on X with the message “Thank you Cowboys Nation.”
Thank you Cowboys Nation🙏 pic.twitter.com/d7goom1yS0
— Brock (@BrockHoffman76) March 23, 2026
The Steelers saw guard Isaac Seumalo leave in free agency this month, thinning out a room that was already lean on proven starters. Re-signing Jack Driscoll and Ryan McCollum helped, but the thing is, neither has a clear path to a starting role.
At 26 and in a contract year, 2026 may be the most defining stretch of his career. McCarthy knows what he is capable of. Pittsburgh is now positioned to find out if he can be more than a reliable backup.