Cardinals running back James Conner will make his return to Pittsburgh on Sunday after departing the Steelers in free agency three years ago.
Conner agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals in April 2021, after spending the first four years of his professional career in Pittsburgh. He was selected in the third round of the 2017 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.
Conner had 532 carries for 2,302 yards and 22 touchdowns in 50 games with the Steelers. His best season in black and gold came in 2018, when he made the Pro Bowl after rushing for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also grabbed 55 passes totaling 497 yards.
Connor last played in Pittsburgh on December 27, 2020, when the Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts 28-24 at home.
Conner expressed gratitude for his time in Pittsburgh in a three-year-old goodbye social media post.
“The last eight years have shaped and molded me into the guy I am today. “I’m excited for what comes next, but I’m also grateful for all of the love and support I’ve received during both my best and worst times,” he said.
Conner, who turned seven years cancer-free in May, has thrived since leaving Pittsburgh. In his debut season in Arizona in 2021, the running back scored 18 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl. He later signed a three-year deal with the Cardinals. in 2022
Conner has played eight games this season, rushing 104 times for 526 yards and two touchdowns. According to the Arizona Cardinals’ official website, head coach Jonathan Gannon expects Conner to be “juiced up” for Sunday’s game at Arisure Stadium.
Conner told the Cardinals’ website that he expects to see 15 to 20 family and friends in the stands, adding that Pittsburgh is a “special place for sure.”
