At 30 years old, Mark Barron is a free agent.
The former Alabama safety and two-time BCS National Champion was released from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, following one season with the team. He was selected at No. 7 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2012 NFL Draft and after three years at safety, he moved to outside linebacker in 2014 as Barron was traded to the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.
In four and a half years, Barron posted 403 total tackles for the Rams – including two seasons of 100-plus tackles in 2015 (116) and 2016 (118).
He was released by the Rams on March 5, 2019 and 12 days later, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to a two-year contract worth $12 million.
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Despite missing the NFL playoffs at 8-8, Barron assisted a group that ranked in the top-10 for total defense (304.1 ypg, No. 4), pass defense (194.6 ypg, No. 3), scoring defense (18.9 ppg, tied for No. 5) and first down allowed (304, No. 7).
He finished third on the Steelers’ roster for tackles (82) and had five stops for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery. Barron was twice named first-team All-American (2010-11) at Alabama and was one of the leaders on a defense that led college football in all five major categories.
Hopefully, the Mobile (Ala.) native will find a new home soon.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
