In a city where special teams standouts are celebrated like steelworkers on a double shift, Ben Skowronek is quickly carving out his own piece of Pittsburgh lore.
When the 6-foot-3, 224-pound wideout arrived in late 2024 via the practice squad, few expected him to become the heartbeat of Danny Smith's kick coverage units. But by the end of the 2025 season, Skowronek had established himself as an indispensable weapon, earning a Pro Bowl selection as the AFC's premier special teamer after racking up 11 solo tackles and routinely blowing up return schemes as a gunner.
Now, as the Steelers head into training camp, the spotlight on Skowronek is even brighter. With longtime unit leader Miles Killebrew moving on, Pittsburgh needs a new core commander to set the physical, unrelenting tone that defines the franchise's special teams legacy. Skowronek is the primary candidate for the captain's patch.
What sets Skowronek apart is his hybrid versatility. Whether he's downing punts inside the 5-yard line, laying out returners, or lining up on offense as a lead-blocking H-back and wide receiver, he plays with a controlled violence that Pittsburgh fans adore. Even when asked by Steelers Now about the non-contact flag football format at the Pro Bowl, Skowronek didn't mince words about his preferences: "I'm a special teams blocking receiver. So it's not really up my alley. I like the contact aspect of football."
Hidden impact wins games, and Skowronek provides it in spades. He may officially be listed as a receiver, but in Western Pennsylvania, he's earned a far higher honor: a classic, hard-nosed Steelers special teams ace.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek during a game against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 7, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Acquired: Skowronek's path to Pittsburgh was anything but direct. Originally a seventh-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021—where he earned a Super Bowl ring—he was traded to the Houston Texans in May 2024 before being waived ahead of final roster cuts. Pittsburgh quickly swooped in to sign him to their practice squad in late Aug. 2024. After proving his worth across multiple phases of the game during his debut campaign, the Steelers locked him down with a two-year contract extension in March 2025, cementing his place in their core plans.
Last Year:Skowronek's 2025 campaign solidified his status as an indispensable piece of Pittsburgh's core. Suiting up for all 17 regular-season games, he spearheaded Danny Smith's coverage units with 11 solo special teams tackles—ranking among the NFL's elite gunners—and earned his first career Pro Bowl selection as the AFC's designated special teamer.
Though his primary impact came without the ball in his hands, he proved reliable whenever called upon on offense, catching four passes for 69 yards—including a 22-yard touchdown grab in the season opener against the New York Jets. In total, he logged over 300 special teams snaps, routinely controlling field position and cementing his reputation as one of the league's premiere open-field tacklers.
Pro Career:Over five NFL seasons, Skowronek has quietly built one of the league's most versatile, blue-collar resumes. Selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Los Angeles out of Notre Dame, he quickly made his presence felt as a relentless gunner while contributing on offense during the Rams' Super Bowl LVI championship run. His breakout year offensively came in 2022, when he hauled in 39 receptions for 376 yards while lining up everywhere from traditional wideout to full-fledged fullback.
Since arriving in Pittsburgh in late 2024, Skowronek has elevated his profile even further—totaling over 70 career receptions alongside nearly 50 special teams tackles. That rare mix of offensive execution, heavy-hitting coverage, and championship pedigree is precisely wh yhe's grown from a depth piece into a prized cornerstone of the Steelers' roster.
Ben Skowronek lunges for tackle against Indianapolis Colts on November 7th 2025 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
| Year |
Team |
GP |
GS |
Rec |
Yds |
TDs |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
PITT |
17 |
0 |
4 |
69 |
1 |
67.7 |
| 2024 |
PITT |
10 |
1 |
5 |
69 |
0 |
69.5 |
| 2023 |
L.A. (Rams) |
17 |
0 |
8 |
66 |
1 |
55.9 |
| 2022 |
L.A. (Rams) |
14 |
11 |
39 |
376 |
0 |
57.2 |
| 2021 |
L.A.(Rams) |
14 |
1 |
11 |
133 |
0 |
53.7 |
Receiving Statistic s
| Year |
Team |
GP |
Solo |
Ast |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
PITT |
17 |
11 |
10 |
55.1 |
| 2024 |
PITT |
10 |
4 |
3 |
78.0 |
| 2023 |
L.A. (Rams) |
17 |
11 |
2 |
66.2 |
| 2022 |
L.A. (Rams) |
14 |
1 |
1 |
42.2 |
| 2021 |
L.A.(Rams) |
14 |
6 |
2 |
70.1 |
Special Teams/ Defense
Before breaking out in the pros, Skowronek laid the groundwork for his physical, high-effort style across five collegiate seasons split between Northwestern and Notre Dame. He initially made his mark in Evanston, spending four years with the Wildcats where he grew into a reliable top target and team captain, racking up 110 receptions for 1,417 yards and eight touchdowns over 43 games. After a leg injury cut his 2019 senior season short, Skowronek utilized a graduate transfer to join Notre Dame in 2020.
He quickly established himself as a big-bodied playmaker for the Fighting Irish, catching 29 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns in just 11 games while helping push Notre Dame into the College Football Playoff. By the time he declared for the draft, Skowronek had amassed 139 career receptions, nearly 1,900 receiving yards, and a reputation as a tough, physical receiver who never shied away from doing the dirty work.
| Year |
Team |
GP |
GS |
Rec |
Yds |
TDs |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Notre Dame |
11 |
9 |
29 |
439 |
5 |
65.2 |
| 2019 |
North Western |
3 |
3 |
12 |
141 |
0 |
61.6 |
| 2018 |
North Western |
14 |
14 |
45 |
562 |
3 |
64.5 |
| 2017 |
North Western |
13 |
13 |
45 |
644 |
5 |
66.5 |
| 2016 |
North Western |
13 |
0 |
8 |
70 |
0 |
48.6 |
Measured at Notre Dame's 2021 Pro Day: 6-foot-2.875, 220 pounds; 13 bench press reps; 33.25-inch arm length, 10.125-inch hand size.
(Note: Skowronek did not complete full speed and agility drills [40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump] during the pre-draft process due to recovering from a foot injury sustained at the Senior Bowl).
Ben Skowronek does not qualify for a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) due to lack of measurements.
After rewarding his immediate impact on special teams and blocking depth, the Steelers locked Skowronek down in March 2025 with a two-year, $4.475 million contract extension. The deal included a $1.08 million signing bonus, structuring his compensation into manageable, team-friendly numbers across the board. After accounting for a $1.71 million cap hit during his Pro Bowl 2025 campaign, Skowronek carries a $2.79 million salary cap hit for the 2026 season . Set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season, the extension represents a high-value investment for Pittsburgh—securing a premier, core special teams ace and versatile offensive contributor at a minimal cost to the salary cap.
Football runs deep in his family tree. He is the nephew of former 15-year NFL veteran quarterback Trent Green (by marriage). He is also distantly related to Notre Dame legend and 1947 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh .
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Special Teams Ace Ben Skowronek Looks to Build Off Pro Bowl Season
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