A regrettable decision haunts a Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman who wishes he hadn’t renewed his contract with the team.

The 2023 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers unfolded in an unexpected manner for many players, and one veteran, in particular, found himself on the sidelines for half of the games. Chukwuma Okorafor, who had been the starting right tackle since 2020, began the season in that role despite the Steelers drafting left tackle Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 draft. However, Okorafor faced a setback when he was benched in Week 8 for reasons vaguely described by head coach Mike Tomlin as him “acting out,” with no further details provided.

As a result, Broderick Jones took over the right tackle position for the remainder of the season, despite Okorafor being the higher-paid player. Okorafor, who signed a three-year, $29.25 million contract with the Steelers in 2022, now expresses regret over his decision, stating that he might not have chosen to return to the team had he known how the season would unfold. Despite this, he acknowledges that there is little he can do about it at this point.

Looking ahead, Okorafor is uncertain about his future and expresses a desire to start again in the NFL, preferably not with the Steelers in 2024. With one year remaining on his contract, cutting him would save the team $8.8 million, albeit with a $3.083 million dead cap penalty. Okorafor is open to the possibility of a fresh start elsewhere, acknowledging that he is unsure of what lies ahead but expressing confidence in his ability to continue playing at a high level. The Steelers may explore options such as trading him to another team, although the compensation may be limited due to his contract. The offseason brings uncertainty, but Okorafor is hopeful for a new beginning on the horizon.