JuJu Smith-Schuster opted to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers despite bigger offers from the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, according to a report Friday via Twitter from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
With his contract due to expire, Smith-Schuster made it known last week that he wanted to remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Steelers.com's Bob Labriola wrote last week that the receiver set to become an unrestricted free agent was "unlikely to want to accept what the cap-strapped Steelers would be able to pay him on a new contract."
On Sunday, he tweeted that Pittsburgh will be part of who he is, no matter what happens this week:
Smith-Schuster, 24, reacted earlier this month to news that long-time starting quarterback and former Miami University standout Ben Roethlisberger agreed to a contract restructure. "Now let's talk," Smith-Schuster wrote in response to an NFL Instagram post about Roethlisberger's new contract.
Smith-Schuster led the Steelers last season with 97 receptions for 831 yards with nine touchdowns. Over four seasons with the team, he has 308 catches for 3,726 yards with 26 receiving TDs.
Smith-Schuster fumbled on a big hit by Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Vonn Bell after he had danced on the Bengals' logo before his team's 27-17 loss in December at Paul Brown Stadium. A Steelers writer reported that the Bengals entered the game intending to "put some big hits" on Smith-Schuster because some on the team "still harbored bad feelings" about Smith-Schuster's reaction to his 2017 hit that concussed former Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.
Smith-Schuster gave the Cleveland Browns bulletin-board material a few days later in advance of their Wild Card Round meeting by saying, "They're still the same Browns."
LOVE SPORTS? [ Subscribe now for unlimited access to Cincinnati.com ]
