In the hours between the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff loss in Buffalo and when Levi Wallace went to bed on January 15, Wallace had already diverted his attention away from football.
“Now that it’s gone,” Wallace said on Jan. 16, “I was already sending out messages yesterday and preparing for my foundation’s golf tournament.
“You definitely want to keep playing and make it to the Super Bowl, but unfortunately, that is not our reality. So I focus on where I can serve in the community and how I can be present with my family.”
Wallace planned to return to Tucson, Arizona, where he grew up and still resides. There are also the headquarters for The Levi Wallace Foundation, which was founded three years ago and is led by Wallace’s mother. A board of directors may operate the organization while Wallace is away in the Northeast playing NFL cornerback.
“We give away scholarships, but we also pour into the community,” Wallace added, beaming at the chance to discuss his charity project instead of the Steelers’ season finale. “Just try to help youngsters go to college who are less wealthy than other people, especially those from Tucson, where the average income is low. We attempt to.
The foundation and its Levi Wallace Golf For Good fundraiser will divert Wallace’s attention away from football until it is held March 2 in Phoenix.
Wallace will become an unrestricted free agent for the second time in his career nine days later, unless he and the Steelers reach an agreement on a contract extension before then. Wallace, who stands 6 feet and weighs 179 pounds, just signed a two-year contract worth $8 million.
He takes the impending free agency in stride.
“It’s just the business, you know what I mean?” Wallace stated. “You sign a contract, the contract ends, free age
Wallace, on the other hand, demonstrated worth when he returned to playing every down outside cornerback during a regular season-ending three-game winning streak after Peterson moved to safety to address attrition at that position.
Peterson will be 34 next season, and he may be moved to safety permanently. If he does, the Steelers will have no plug-in substitute at the starting outside corner opposite Porter.
They could do a lot worse than Wallace, who will be 29 in June and has started 70 of 82 games in his six-year career, which began with the Buffalo Bills.
Wallace actually had more interceptions and passes defended than Porter, matching for the team lead in both with two and eleven, respectively, despite Wallace was targeted more frequently.
ncy comes up.”
Wallace’s position room has changed significantly since his signing with Pittsburgh. Former starters Cameron Sutton and Ahkello Witherspoon will be replaced by Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter in 2023.
But the Steelers don’t need anyone to be better than Porter, their now-undisputed #1 cornerback. What they need is a veteran to act as backup in case 2023 rookies Darius Rush or Cory Trice aren’t ready to step in.
Of all, Wallace is a free agent, as coach Mike Tomlin stated about Mason Rudolph, and he may find a better opportunity somewhere in 2024.
If that’s the case, the Steelers earned a lot for their $8 million investment in 2022 and 2023: a team-high six interceptions, 86 tackles, and 24 passes defended in 31 games.
“The last two years with the Steelers have been really good under Coach T,” he remarked. “It’s been a privilege to be in this locker room; if I am
