Report: Ahkello Witherspoon returns to Steelers on 2-year contract
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a two-year contract, CBS Sports reported.
Acquired in a trade with Seattle before the 2021 season, Witherspoon finished the season in the starting lineup and became a free agent Wednesday.
The Steelers already signed cornerback Levi Wallace to a two-year, $8 million contract. Witherspoon’s return indicates the Steelers are moving on from Joe Haden, who hit free agency after five years with the organization.
Witherspoon was slow to acclimate to the Steelers defense last season and was inactive for seven of the first eight games. He played the final nine, starting three. He also started in the Steelers’ wild-card playoff loss at Kansas City.
Witherspoon, who turns 27 next week, had two of his three interceptions against Minnesota.
Witherspoon is the fifth Steelers player to re-sign with the organization since free agency began. The others are right tackle Chuks Okorafor, safety Miles Killebrew, cornerback Arthur Maulet and nose tackle Montravius Adams, although Adams hasn’t signed his contract yet.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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