Steelers set to add Joe Schobert in trade with Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars inside linebacker Joe Schobert is set to return to the AFC North as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

ESPN Senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler spoke with Schobert who “understands a trade sending him to Pittsburgh is in the works now” but doesn’t have the particulars. Multiple NFL insiders reported the trade as did Megan Schobert, Joe’s wife, who teased the trade Thursday evening, saying “Yinz are going to love this!!”

Yinz are going to love this!!

— Megan Schobert (@meganschobert) August 12, 2021

Schobert, 27, is entering his sixth season in the NFL. The Steelers will be the third NFL team he will have played for in his career so far. The Wisconsin product was drafted by Cleveland, where he spent five seasons, before being traded to the Jaguars prior to the 2020 season. One year later, he returns to the AFC North, as a member of the Browns’ rivals.

The trade pairs Schobert with inside linebacker Devin Bush, who’s coming off a torn ACL suffered in 2020. Bush is considered a rising star in the league and will look to get back to his 2019 form. Schobert will play behind one of the best defensive lines in the league which features TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu and the aforementioned Bush. The Steelers defense also features All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerback Joe Haden.

Joe Schobert played at Wisconsin from 2012-2015. From 2013-2015, Schobert played in 40 games, totaling 172 total tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, including 9.5 in 2015 and seven forced fumbles in his Wisconsin career.

In his final season in Madison, Schobert received First-team All-American and First-team All-Big Ten honors and received Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors.

Schobert was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Browns. As a rookie, Schobert found his way into the starting lineup for just four games. Since then, Schobert has started every single game he’s been available for in his career. In his second season, Schobert had a career high in tackles with 144. In the past two seasons, Schobert reeled in seven interceptions. For his career, he has 549 total tackles, nine interceptions, 11 sacks and nine forced fumbles.