Dylan Cook Bio
Dylan Cook (born January 11, 1998) is an American professional football offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and competing at around 138 kilograms, he plays the tackle position after beginning his athletic life as a quarterback. He launched his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 and joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, where he has continued to develop into a depth starter along the offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Cook was born on January 11, 1998, in Butte, Montana, a historic mining town long known for producing tough, blue-collar athletes. He grew up in that community and attended Butte High School, where he first gained attention as a quarterback. As a senior, he threw for 3,124 yards, a total that underscored his arm strength and his command of the offense at the high school level.
That senior season helped establish Cook as a prospect worth recruiting, even if his college path took an unusual turn. Coming out of Butte High School, he opted to stay close to home and continue his football journey in Montana, a decision that shaped both his athletic development and his transition from skill position to the offensive line.
Path to American Football
After high school, Dylan Cook joined the Montana State–Northern Lights of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), where he saw limited playing time across the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In addition to playing quarterback, he also contributed as a long snapper, posting no statistics as a true freshman in 2016 and completing 11 of 18 pass attempts for 181 yards with two touchdown passes in 2017.
Cook then transferred to the University of Montana as a walk-on and made the rare transition to the offensive line, sitting out his first season due to transfer rules. He impressed the coaching staff and was awarded an athletic scholarship prior to the 2019 season, a sign that the Grizzlies viewed his size and athleticism as a long-term fit at tackle. He played 13 games, 11 as a starter, in 2019 before appearing in two games during the COVID-19-shortened 2020–21 season, and he was a full-time starter in his final year, the fall 2021 season, when he was selected fourth-team all-conference by Phil Steele. He finished his stint at Montana with 27 games played, 23 as a starter, at right tackle.
Dylan Cook Career
Early Career (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Dylan Cook was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at the final roster cuts and subsequently brought back to the team’s practice squad, reflecting the Buccaneers’ interest in his upside as a developmental tackle. He was released from the practice squad on December 6, 2022, but returned on December 27, 2022, finishing his rookie season in that role.
Cook signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on January 17, 2023, a move that signaled the team intended to give him a real look in the offseason. That offseason window proved short, however, as he was waived on May 15, 2023, ending his initial NFL chapter in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2022–2023)
Dylan Cook’s time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and centered almost entirely on practice-squad development. The organization kept him on the practice squad for most of his rookie season, cycling him on and off the unit in December, before signing him to a reserve/future deal in January 2023 to retain his rights into the spring.
The Buccaneers’ offensive line situation ultimately left no room for Cook to push onto the active roster, and he was waived in mid-May 2023. Even with no regular-season game appearances in Tampa, the experience provided a full NFL offseason inside a pro scheme, a foundation he would carry into his next opportunity.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2023–Present)
After being waived by the Buccaneers, Dylan Cook was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 18, 2023. He made the Steelers’ final roster to begin the 2023 season, but ultimately appeared in no regular-season games that year, spending the season in a depth role along the offensive line.
Cook was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024, before the start of the regular season. He was released on October 31, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad on November 4, 2024, allowing him to remain in the organization. He signed a reserve/future contract with Pittsburgh on January 14, 2025, was waived again on August 26, and was re-signed to the practice squad, keeping his path to the active roster open.
Cook made his NFL debut on December 7, stepping in at left tackle against the Baltimore Ravens to replace an injured Andrus Peat. He was signed to the active roster on December 10 and became the Steelers’ starting left tackle in Peat’s absence, a dramatic in-season elevation that validated his years of development.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cook’s profile is built on his 6-foot-6 frame, his background as a quarterback that gives him an inside feel for pass protection, and his positional flexibility after starting at right tackle in college and sliding to left tackle in the NFL. His experience at long snapper during his time at Montana State–Northern also speaks to his technical aptitude and his willingness to handle specialist duties when asked.
Notable Events and Milestones
The headline milestone of Dylan Cook’s career came on December 7, when he made his long-awaited NFL debut at left tackle against the Baltimore Ravens. Replacing an injured Andrus Peat and quickly earning the starting job in his first week on the active roster marked the moment his years on practice squads translated into real-game production.
Dylan Cook Career Wins
Because Dylan Cook is an offensive lineman whose value is measured in starting snaps, protection, and roster movement rather than box-score statistics, the standard notion of a win total does not apply. Across his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, he has been recognized for reaching the active roster, surviving multiple practice-squad cycles, and breaking into the starting lineup, a series of internal victories that culminated in his first NFL start at left tackle.
Other Wins & Performances
Cook’s most significant performances include his senior season at Butte High School, when he threw for 3,124 yards as a starting quarterback, and his career at the University of Montana, where he logged 27 games played and 23 starts at right tackle. His fourth-team all-conference selection by Phil Steele in 2021 closed out his college career as a recognized performer at the FCS level.
Dylan Cook Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Dylan Cook is identified as being from Butte, Montana, and as a graduate of Butte High School, grounding his football story in one of Montana’s most storied high school football communities. He played quarterback in high school and continued at the position at Montana State–Northern before converting to the offensive line at Montana, a move that has come to define his professional path.
Personal Life
Public information about Dylan Cook’s personal life centers on his Montana roots and his progression from a high school quarterback to an NFL offensive lineman. He has kept his private life largely out of the public eye as he works to establish himself as a long-term option at tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been defined for Dylan Cook by movement between the practice squad and the active roster. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2025, was waived in late August, and was re-signed to the practice squad, a familiar path that has come to mark his tenure in Pittsburgh. The steady churn of late-summer and early-season moves kept him within the organization and in position for an in-season opportunity.
That opportunity arrived on December 7 against the Baltimore Ravens, when Cook made his NFL debut at left tackle, replacing an injured Andrus Peat. He was elevated to the active roster on December 10 and took over as the team’s starting left tackle in Peat’s absence, giving Pittsburgh a tested in-house option rather than an outside stopgap.
Heading into the rest of the 2025 season, Cook’s outlook is tied directly to his play at left tackle and his health. With his first NFL starts now in hand, the focus shifts to whether he can hold the job, contribute in pass protection and the run game, and carve out a longer-term role on the Steelers’ offensive line.