With one transaction, Avery Williamson went from last place to first place Monday.

From his reaction on social media, the 28-year-old inside linebacker couldn’t be happier to be joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, the last remaining unbeaten team in the NFL.

A deal that was in the works Sunday night was confirmed Monday when the 7-0 Steelers acquired Williamson from the 0-8 New York Jets. It will become official once Williamson passes a physical.

“I’m hype,” Williamson said on an Instagram live story. “I’m so hype I couldn’t even sleep last night, man.”

The Steelers made the move to bolster the middle of their defense a few hours after defeating the Baltimore Ravens, 28-24, to take a two-game lead in the AFC North race. The Jets, meanwhile, were beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-9, to remain winless on the season.

Williamson recorded his Instagram video while en route to the airport to join his new team.

Among his comments:

“Let’s go, man.”

“We’re going to get that ring.”

“I can’t wait to be part of this defense.”

Upon arriving at Pittsburgh International Airport, Williamson had his picture taken next to the Franco Harris statue.

Williamson must pass through covid-19 protocols before he can practice or play for the Steelers.

Per NFL rules initiated during the coronavirus pandemic, players joining a new team must have five consecutive days of negative covid-19 tests and then a negative point-of-care test on the sixth day. That means the soonest Williamson can be welcomed into the team facility is Saturday, the day the Steelers travel to Dallas to face the 2-6 Cowboys on Sunday.

Punter Jordan Berry went through the same protocol before he rejoined the Steelers prior to their Week 7 game at Tennessee. Without having the benefit of practicing with his new team before Sunday, Williamson likely won’t make his Steelers debut until Nov. 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In addition to Williamson, the Steelers are getting a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft while sending the Jets their fifth-round pick that year.

For the Steelers, the cost also is low from a financial standpoint. They will be on the hook for about half of the $2.75 million that Williamson is making in base salary this season.

The deal was made to provide depth at inside linebacker in the wake of Devin Bush’s season-ending injury in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. Robert Spillane has started the past two games and led the Steelers in tackles Sunday while also returning an interception for a touchdown in the Steelers’ 28-24 win at Baltimore.

The Steelers, however, were without second-year linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III because of a back injury against the Ravens, and Williamson will fortify the depth at the position.

A fifth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2014, Williamson spent his first four seasons with that organization. He became a free agent in 2018, the offseason in which the Steelers were looking for a replacement for injured Pro Bowl starter Ryan Shazier.

While the Steelers signed Jon Bostic that offseason, the Jets gave Williamson a three-year, $22.5 million deal that was restructured prior to this season.

Williamson led the Jets with 120 tackles in 2018, but he missed the entire 2019 season after suffering a torn ACL in training camp. Starting six of the seven games he has played this year, Williamson had 59 tackles, including 36 solo, three pass breakups and one interception for the Jets.

Williamson has one noteworthy Steelers connection. Among his teammates at Kentucky was outside linebacker Bud Dupree.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)