PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton have agreed to a new five-year contract that will keep Benton in black and gold into the next decade.The deal, which carries a total value of $73.75 million, replaces Benton’s rookie contract that he signed after being selected in the second round of the 2023 draft.The 25-year-old Benton is coming off the best season of his career. Benton had career bests in tackles (51), tackles for loss (6) and sacks (5 1/2) while helping the Steelers to the AFC North title.“He’s a big guy, his twitch, his athletic ability, I definitely think there’s more there as far as the ceiling, so that’s my personal opinion on him,” Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy said. “I think there is a lot of football in front of him too.”McCarthy added that Benton was greeted with a standing ovation during a team meeting on Saturday, which McCarthy offered as a sign of the respect Benton has earned during his time with the Steelers.
The agreement means Benton will remain a core member of the defense following the eventual retirement — whenever that comes — of longtime defensive captain Cam Heyward. The 37-year-old Heyward is under contract through 2027 but said recently during training camp that he is taking things one season at a time.The Steelers have made a significant investment in the defensive line in recent years, taking Benton in 2023, Derrick Harmon (first round) and Yahya Black (fifth) in the 2025 draft and taking a flyer on defensive end Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round this spring.
