PITTSBURGH -- On the fields of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the southside of Pittsburgh, No. 48 in a white jersey is diligently working on his hand usage on the blocking sled off to the side.
That No. 48 is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new fullback, DJ Thomas-Jones. Thomas-Jones is an unheralded undrafted free agent signing by the Steelers after the NFL Draft, when the team gave him $30,000 in guaranteed money, the most to a non-quarterback in team history.
Looking at his career numbers at South Alabama might not reveal why he got that bonus. In 2024, Thomas-Jones had 22 receptions for 191 yards and three touchdowns, with his best game coming against Texas State, where he posted 59 yards on five receptions.
Thomas-Jones was a native of Mobile, and returned home to play for South Alabama. He had over 200 receiving yards in his sophomore and junior seasons.
However, it was more about the reason Thomas-Jones returned home in the first place. His mother was dealing with health issues. Coming out of high school, Thomas-Jones headed to an entirely new state to play at Ole Miss, but returned home to help care for his mother.
While with the Jaguars, Thomas-Jones developed a reputation for doing the dirty work no one else wanted. He was named All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention, but his teammates thought that was not good enough for him.
Thomas-Jones was known for having a ‘nasty’ demeanor on the football field. So, his South Alabama teammates created a plaque for him that read ‘First-team all-violence,’ a moniker that Thomas-Jones has since embraced.
“I didn’t make first team in the conference,” Thomas-Jones said. “I got honorable mention, but I felt like nobody played with as much passion and violence as I did, so they gave me that. They gave me a plaque.”
That passion allowed him to get on NFL radars. Not only did the Steelers call, but multiple teams wanted Thomas-Jones on their roster for his blocking prowess.
“I give it my all,” Thomas-Jones said. “You can’t always tell the outcome, but I’m always going to give my 110% every time. That is where my head is.”
The Steelers, however, have a unique vision for Thomas-Jones that includes him playing all over the formation.
In his discussions with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers view Thomas-Jones as a versatile player. They want him to line up at in-line tight end, wing, H-Back, and of course, fullback. No one else on the roster has the type of versatility as a blocker, which could give Thomas-Jones a window to the 53-man roster.
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That versatility and a clear role defined for him is exactly why Thomas-Jones decided to sign with the Steelers in the first place.
“I came here because of my talk with Coach Smith,” Thomas-Jones said. “He really had a plan for me. I loved his personality and how he was as a person. He was straight with me. He told me that basically this was home. That was one of my main reasons (for coming to the Steelers). His influence and power. I just really wanted to be coached by him. I have versatility. I’m not singled to one position, to one space. I feel like I can do a little bit of everything.”
Actually, getting carries as a fullback would be new to Thomas-Jones, but the rest of his game would translate seamlessly into Smith’s offense.
As OTAs and minicamp loom, Thomas-Jones will have a chance to prove he has the goods to make the roster. Only a strong summer will earn him that spot, and he has to earn the love of special teams coordinator Danny Smith, too, but Thomas-Jones has a clear path to the roster if he can seize it.