Former Northwestern defensive lineman Dean Lowry has been released by the Steelers, but the veteran still has an opportunity to find a new NFL home and continue his nine-year career.
Former Northwestern defensive lineman Dean Lowry is looking for his next NFL opportunity after the Pittsburgh Steelers released the veteran Sunday, according to Jeremy Fowler.
The move comes as NFL teams continue trimming their rosters to the 53-man limit ahead of the regular-season deadline. Lowry, who signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh in May, was attempting to make his return after missing the entire 2025 season because of an ACL injury.
While the release is another setback, it does not necessarily mark the end of Lowry’s NFL career.
The 32-year-old has already put together a nine-year NFL career after being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round with the 137th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent his first seven seasons in Green Bay before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 and the Steelers in 2024.
Lowry has appeared in 132 regular-season games throughout his career, including 85 starts. He has recorded 271 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 35 quarterback hits, 18 passes defended and five forced fumbles.
His best years came with the Packers, where he became a dependable part of their defensive line and started at least 12 games in each season from 2019 through 2022.
Before reaching the NFL, Lowry established himself as a productive defensive lineman at Northwestern.
Lowry played in 48 games for the Wildcats from 2012-15, starting 33 of them. He finished his college career with 134 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three interceptions, 21 passes defended, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
Nov 21, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Northwestern Wildcats defensive lineman Dean Lowry (94) runs with the football after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Spor=As a senior in 2015, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after recording a career-high 46 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss.
That production helped Lowry make the jump from Evanston to the NFL, where he spent years proving he could be a reliable contributor at the professional level.
The last few seasons, however, have been more difficult.
Lowry appeared in only nine games for Minnesota in 2023 before finishing the season on injured reserve. He then played 12 games for Pittsburgh in 2024, recording five tackles and one sack, before suffering the ACL injury that kept him out for all of 2025.
Now, Lowry faces another uncertain chapter.
Being released this late in the offseason could make finding a new team more challenging, but his experience could also make him an appealing option for a team looking for veteran depth along the defensive line.
Lowry has already shown throughout his career that he can contribute in multiple areas. A team could give him another opportunity to rebuild his confidence, regain his form and provide valuable experience to a younger defensive line.
For a player who has spent nearly a decade in the NFL, another opportunity could be all Lowry needs.
The former Northwestern standout has already overcome plenty throughout his career, and with his experience and production, there is still a chance another team sees enough value to bring him in.
For now, Lowry becomes one of the many veterans looking for a new opportunity as NFL teams finalize their rosters.
After everything he accomplished at Northwestern and throughout his NFL career, it will be worth watching to see where the veteran defensive lineman lands next.
