Vince Williams helped to clarify the depth chart quite a bit with his decision to retire, making it unambiguous that the Buck linebacker position is Robert Spillane’s moving forward. Spillane, a former college free agent, started seven games last season following Devin Bush’s knee injury, at the Mack spot, before succumbing to a knee injury of his own.
Early in the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers already released Williams, but did so as a salary cap casualty. He re-signed a month later for the veteran minimum, but on the eve of training camp, made the decision—unbeknownst to his coaches and teammates—that he would be retiring.