The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Birmingham Stallions linebacker Kyahva Tezino on Monday according to Aaron Wilson. The Stallions will retain Tezino’s rights should he return to the UFL.
Kyahva Tezino is six foot and weighs 235 pounds. The 27-year-old from Los Angeles, California, signed with the Birmingham Stallions on December 27, 2023.
In 2024, Tezino made 70 tackles (38 solo, 32 assists), three tackles for loss, half a sack, and five pass breakups in 10 games. In the UFL Playoffs, Tezino made 15 tackles (8 solo, 7 assists), two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in two games helping the Stallions win their third consecutive championship (2 USFL, 1 UFL).
Tezino signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He also had a stint with the Carolina Panthers. The Pittsburgh Maulers drafted Tezino in the 31st round (249th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Tezino made 86 tackles (56 solo, 30 assists), five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and six pass breakups in nine games.
In 2023, Tezino made 94 tackles (53 solo, 41 assists), nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two touchdowns, and six pass breakups in ten games for the Pittsburgh Maulers.
In the USFL Playoffs, Tezino made 22 tackles (15 solo, 7 assists) and one fumble recovery in two games leading the Maulers to the 2023 USFL Championship. He was named the All-USFL Team after the season. After the season, Tezino signed with the San Francisco 49ers with one tackle (1 solo) in three preseason games.
Collegiately, Tezino played four seasons at San Diego State (2016-19) with 290 tackles (150 solo, 140 assists), 32.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 47 games for the Aztecs.
He was named a two-time First Team All-Mountain West in 2018 and 2019, winner of the SDSU Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, and was named the New Mexico Bowl Defensive MVP in 2019.
