Former Steelers Special Teams Starter Signs With 49ers

Corliss Waitman, who served as the Steelers' starting punter for the past two seasons, has signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:24pm

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Corliss Waitman, who was the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting punter for the majority of the past two seasons, has signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Waitman averaged 41.7 net yards per punt in 2025-26, ranking 17th in the NFL among starting kickers. However, the Steelers opted to re-sign Cameron Johnston, who had previously signed a 3-year, $9 million deal with the team before the 2024 season but missed most of that year due to injury.

Why it matters

The Steelers' decision to move on from Waitman and re-sign Johnston raises questions about the team's punting situation heading into the new season. Johnston will look to regain his previous form, which made him one of the better punters in the league, after a tough injury and time away from the team.

The details

Waitman served as the Steelers' starting punter over the majority of the last two seasons, averaging 41.8 yards per kick over 127 punts. However, the Steelers opted to sign Johnston, who had previously signed a lucrative 3-year deal with the team, to a new 1-year contract earlier this month. Johnston missed most of the 2024 season due to a season-ending injury in Week 1, which allowed Waitman to step into the starting role.

  • Waitman served as the Steelers' starting punter over the majority of the last two seasons (2024-25 and 2025-26).
  • The Steelers signed Johnston to a 3-year, $9 million deal ahead of the 2024 season.
  • Johnston suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 of the 2024 season, allowing Waitman to take over as the starting punter.
  • The Steelers signed Johnston to a new 1-year deal earlier this month (March 2026).
  • Waitman has now signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers for the 2026 season.

The players

Corliss Waitman

A former starting punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers who has now signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

Cameron Johnston

A punter who previously signed a 3-year, $9 million deal with the Steelers before the 2024 season, but missed most of that year due to injury. The Steelers have now re-signed Johnston to a new 1-year deal.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The NFL team that Waitman and Johnston have played for, with the Steelers opting to move on from Waitman and re-sign Johnston.

San Francisco 49ers

The NFL team that Waitman has signed with after leaving the Steelers.

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What’s next

The Steelers will look to Cameron Johnston to regain his previous form as their starting punter, after he missed most of the 2024 season due to injury. Waitman's departure to the 49ers leaves an open competition for the Steelers' punting job heading into the 2026 season.

The takeaway

This move highlights the challenges NFL teams face in maintaining consistency at specialist positions like punter, where injuries and performance can lead to roster turnover. The Steelers' decision to move on from Waitman and re-sign Johnston reflects the team's efforts to find stability at the punter position after a tumultuous couple of seasons.