Kyle Dugger leaves Steelers for AFC North rival in free agency

Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Kyle Dugger has joined the dark side, finding his new NFL team with a fellow AFC North rival . On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Dugger is signing a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals — far from ideal news after his solid 2025 season with the Steelers. Former Steelers free-agent safety Kyle Dugger is signing a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

pic. twitter. com/S1psSkF8J9 — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2026 On October 25, 2025, Dugger was traded from the New England Patriots to the Steelers in exchange for a late-round pick swap.

He appeared in 9 games, recording 42 combined tackles, one sack (which resulted in a safety), five passes defended, and two interceptions (including a pivotal pick-six). The Bengals now possess one of the most formidable safety rooms in the league, featuring Jordan Battle, Bryan Cook, and Dugger. But the Steelers’ combination of Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, and Jaquan Brisker may still give them the edge in the AFC North.

We at Steelers Wire will continue to update fans on important offseason moves and news, such as the report of Dugger joining the Bengals and a former wide receiver coming out of retirement. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers lose Kyle Dugger to Bengals in free agency, per report