Less than a week after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs, La’Mical Perine has found a new NFL home with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Perine’s agent.
Perine, 26, is the cousin of former Pirates linebacker Myles Jack and Broncos running back Samaje Perine. A 2020 fourth-round pick, Perine spent his first two seasons with the Jets before joining the Chiefs’ practice squad in 2022.
Though rarely active during his time with the Chiefs, Perine started in Kansas City’s final game of the 2023 regular season, where he performed well by rushing for 77 yards and catching three passes for 33 yards in the Chiefs’ 13-12 loss to the Chargers.
Perine played college football at Florida, where he scored 30 touchdowns and averaged 5 yards per carry over four seasons. In his final college game, he rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries, helping the Gators secure an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia.
While not the fastest, Perine’s agility makes him tough to tackle in open space. He also possesses solid vision and strength, enabling him to get more out of plays than initially expected.
Perine joins a Steelers backfield led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who combined for 1,819 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. Pittsburgh’s backfield also includes Cordarrelle Patterson, Jonathan Ward, Aaron Shampklin, and rookie Daijun Edwards.
