Kevin Rader (American football)

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Kevin Rader
No. 87 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1995-04-26) April 26, 1995 (age 26)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Pine-Richland High School
(Gibsonia, Pennsylvania)
College:Youngstown State
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 10, 2021
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:1
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Kevin Rader (born April 26, 1995) is an American football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Youngstown State Penguins.

College career[]

Youngstown State University "The Catch"[]

Kevin Rader Played in all 16 games during his 2016 junior season. catching 17 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns. None of his grabs were bigger than a one-handed catch in the back of the end zone with a second remaining to help the Penguins defeat Eastern Washington in the FCS semifinals. [1]


In a play that local Youngstown fork lore has dubbed "The Catch", Youngstown State trailed Eastern Washington University by four points with six seconds remaining in the game. On second and goal from the five yard line, Rader pinned a pass from Hunter Wells against the back shoulder of an EWU defender and tumbled to the ground for a score on the game's final play. Replay reviewed the play and put one second back on the clock, but the catch stood to send Youngstown State to the National Championship. Following the game, Rader was interviewed live on SportsCenter and had that day's Sports Center Top 10 Number 1 play. Social media of the catch received incredible reaction from all over the world with many users calling it "the greatest catch in college football history. [2]

Professional career[]

Green Bay Packers[]

Rader was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft on May 4, 2018.[3] He was waived on August 31, 2018, during final roster cuts.[4]

Pittsburgh Steelers[]

Rader was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers to a reserve/futures contract on January 9, 2019.[5] He was waived at the end of training camp, but was signed to the Steelers' practice squad on September 1, 2019.[6][7] He was released from the practice squad twice during the 2019 season, but was re-signed shortly afterwards both times. Rader signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on December 30, 2019.[8]

Rader was waived during final roster cuts again on September 5, 2020,[9] and re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[10] He was signed to the active roster on November 24, 2020.[11] He was waived on December 21,[12] and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[13] He was elevated to the active roster on January 2 and January 9, 2021, for the team's week 17 and wild card playoff games, each against the Cleveland Browns, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[14][15] He made his NFL debut in week 17. On January 14, 2021, Rader signed a reserve/futures contract with the Steelers.[16]

On August 31, 2021, Rader was waived by the Steelers as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[17][18] He was promoted to the active roster on November 23, 2021.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ 17, 2016 https://www.ysusports.com/sports/fball/2017-18/bios/rader_kevin_zg8v?view=bio=Dec 17, 2016 Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ 17, 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEe6gDWYbgs=Dec 17, 2016 Check |url= value (help). Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "Packers' Kevin Rader: Signs contract with Green Bay". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. May 4, 2018.
  4. ^ Kruse, Zach (August 31, 2018). "Tracking Packers' roster cuts down to 53 players". Packers Wire. USA Today.
  5. ^ "Steelers sign former Pine-Richland TE to futures deal". PennLive.com. January 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "Kevin Rader: Cut by Steelers". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. August 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "Making the Squad! Former YSU tight end Kevin Rader makes Steelers' practice squad".
  8. ^ "Steelers' Kevin Rader: Back with Pittsburgh". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. December 30, 2019.
  9. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 5, 2020). "Steelers make moves to get to 53-man roster". Steelers.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 6, 2020). "Steelers add 14 to practice squad". Steelers.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Bryan, Dave (November 24, 2020). "Steelers Activate TE Vance McDonald From COVID-19 List; TE Zach Gentry Placed On IR". SteelersDepot.com.
  12. ^ Berger, Cale (December 21, 2020). "Steelers Activate Guard Danny Isidora, Release Tight End Kevin Rader". SteelersNow.com.
  13. ^ Kozora, Alex (December 23, 2020). "Steelers Sign TE Kevin Rader To Practice Squad, Release LS Christian Kuntz". SteelersDepot.com.
  14. ^ "Steelers make multiple roster moves". Steelers.com. January 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Varley, Teresa (January 9, 2021). "Steelers make moves ahead of playoff game". Steelers.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  16. ^ Varley, Teresa (January 14, 2021). "Steelers sign 13 to Reserve/Future contracts". Steelers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  17. ^ Varley, Teresa (August 31, 2021). "Steelers make moves to get to 53". Steelers.com.
  18. ^ Varley, Teresa (September 1, 2021). "Steelers add 15 to practice squad". Steelers.com.
  19. ^ "Roster moves continue for Steelers". Steelers.com. November 23, 2021.

External links[]

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