Former Steelers pass rusher explains how he forced trade out of Pittsburgh

Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram made it known he was not happy with how he was being used in the 2021 season. When he did not get the role he was expecting, Ingram requested a trade, and landed with the Kansas City Chiefs after the Steelers moved on from him.

On the I Am Athlete podcast, Ingram discussed just how he got out of Pittsburgh. He said he stopped showing up to everything, including practices and games, to force the trade. Ingram told the Steelers to call him once he was traded.

“I just kept it a buck,” Ingram said. “I stopped going to everything. Call me when you trade me. I don’t even play like that.”

Ingram did not win a Super Bowl with the Chiefs that year, and would later leave to join the Miami Dolphins in pursuit of that ring. That year, the Steelers let Bud Dupree go to the Tennessee Titans, and Alex Highsmith stepped up to be the starter. Ingram thought he would come in and start across from T.J. Watt, but that never came to fruition.

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