The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to add pieces to their offensive skill group in free agency, agreeing to terms with tight end/H-back MyCole Pruitt, according to an ESPN report Thursday.

Pruitt is a 10-year NFL veteran who has been acquired by a team whose plays have been called by Arthur Smith for a third time. Smith was the Tennessee Titans’ tight ends coach when Pruitt joined them in 2018 (Smith was promoted to offensive coordinator the next season), and a year after Smith took over as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 his new team signed Pruitt.

Smith took over as Steelers offensive coordinator in February.

Pruitt has 71 catches for 748 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career, including nine receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown last season. But his reputation is as a stout blocker, a trait that fits in to the Steelers’ stated offensive priority.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Pruitt often has lined up in the backfield over his career, though the frequency of that has waned in recent seasons. The Steelers have no true fullback on the roster, but third-year tight end Connor Heyward handled some fullback work last season.

After No. 1 tight end Pat Freiermuth, before an acquisition of Pruitt, the Steelers had the versatile Heyward and towering blocker Darnell Washington at the position in addition to special-teamer Rodney Williams.

Pruitt is the third skill position player the Steelers have signed who finished last season on the roster of Smith’s Falcons. Wide receiver Van Jefferson and running back/receiver Cordarrelle Patterson also were utilized in Atlanta by Smith, who called plays as head coach.

Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.

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