The Steelers placed Golden on the reserve retired list Friday, according to the team's official site.
Golden will end his time in the NFL but will still be bound to his contract with the Steelers if he ever decides to return. The 6-foot-2 linebacker finished out the 2023 season with 20 tackles (14 solo) and 4.0 sacks over 16 regular-season games. He played nine seasons in the NFL, with career totals of 343 tackles, 51.0 sacks, 68 tackles for a loss, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
Golden signed a contract with the Steelers on Thursday, Chris Adamski of Triblive.com reports.
Golden suited up in 16 games for Pittsburgh last season, recording 20 combined tackles and 4.0 sacks, but he'd remained on the free-agent market until now. He'll likely be competing for the same rotational role he held last season.
Golden and the Steelers agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Golden was released by Arizona this offseason after struggling to make an impact in 2022, recording just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. The 2015 second-round pick has three career double-digit sack campaigns, most recently in 2021, but he's totaled just 13.5 sacks in his other five seasons combined. In Pittsburgh, Golden will likely compete with rookie fourth-round pick Nick Herbig for snaps behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The Cardinals are releasing Golden on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Golden struggled to make an impact in 2022, posting just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. His release will save the Cardinals approximately $3 million in cap space, per Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site. Golden posted 11 sacks during his first season back with Arizona in 2021 and has three career double-digit sack campaigns, so he could be an intriguing free agent and potential bounce-back candidate in 2023.
