Teresa Varley

Learn more about linebacker Jack Sawyer in this edition of Five Fast Facts.

1. The Steelers selected Sawyer in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State with the 123rd overall pick.

2. Sawyer appeared in 53 career games, starting 29 consecutive games to finish his career. He finished with 138 tackles, 65 of them solo stops. He added 20 sacks and 25.5 tackles for a loss. He also had 11 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

3. Sawyer is known for coming through at clutch times and he did just that during the Buckeyes run to the National Championship, making key plays in wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame. One of the biggest plays was a strip sack and recovery that he returned 83 yards for a touchdown against Texas in Cotton Bowl to secure a 28-14 win as Texas was threatening to score to tie the game.

4. While he grew up in Ohio, he's no stranger to the Steelers thanks to his friend Casey George. George and his family ae Steelers fans and they made sure Sawyer got his share of Steelers football growing up.

"Growing up, my best friends like a brother me, and their families the biggest Steelers fans you can probably find in Columbus, Ohio," said Sawyer. "So, yeah, I grew up watching the Steelers, watching all those teams and the defenses and the winning history. Coach (Mike) Tomlin never having a losing season - just always great teams. Fired up about that."

5. His father, Lyle, played football at Findlay College and his mother, Michelle, played basketball at Pickerington, the same high school he attended.

His grandfather, Craig Shade, spent a very short time in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system in 1969 and 1970.

"We don't talk too much about that," said Sawyer. "He's a huge baseball guy, he played in the farm system for a couple years and then he got called into the draft, for the war."