By 27 years old, most of us have moved past the phase of our lives where we’re crashing on the couch of a college apartment. Especially as someone who’s already pocketed more than $4 million in career earnings.
In this case, though, Andy Isabella is happy to do it — and not just because it was a result of him signing to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.
A former second-round pick who has 43 games of NFL experience, Isabella for the second time this month is taking a couple nights to stay with his younger brother, Joey. Joey Isabella is a wide receiver for Duquesne.
“We grew up together — I am trying to get him here (to the NFL), man!” Andy Isabella said with a wide smile Friday after his practice debut with the Steelers. “I want to play together with him. That would be sweet. We never have.”
Drafted out of UMass with the 62nd overall pick in 2019, Andy Isabella spent 3 1/2 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals but finished 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens and appeared in four games (including playoffs) for the Buffalo Bills last season.
Isabella had a 19-yard catch, in fact, during the Bills’ wild-card win against the Steelers in January. But he did not survive the final camp cuts this summer and on Oct. 3 signed with the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.
In search of receiver depth, the Steelers brought in Isabella for a workout soon before that. During his brief stay in town, Andy crashed with little bro — allowing the brothers to reminisce about their childhood together growing up in suburban Cleveland.
Now that older Isabella is signed, his weekly paycheck of close to $20,000 should afford him the ability to find his own accommodations.
“I am staying with (Joey) for a couple days,” said Andy, who is five years the elder brother. “I am not staying there longer. If I am staying (with the Steelers) longer, I am not staying at his place. He has me sleeping on the couch.”
Right back at it!
Joey Isabella scores his first TD of the season on this 6️⃣9️⃣ yard catch????#GoDukes | #NECFB pic.twitter.com/dbPSYl8kBL
— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) October 21, 2023
Joey has 17 catches for 249 yards and four touchdowns for Duquesne, which has won four consecutive and is undefeated against fellow FCS teams and against Northeast Conference foes. Joey leads the Dukes in receiving yards, touchdowns (tied) and yards per catch (14.7) in his fifth season on The Bluff. He has another (covid) year of eligibility left if he chooses to use it.
“I try to tell him he’s got to have his own path he’s got to follow,” Andy Isabella said. “His own journey. He’s doing a good job. He’s played really well, and they’ve got a good team.”
Big bro, meanwhile, is out to extend an NFL career that had him make three starts and catch 30 passes with three touchdowns his first two seasons. Blazing fast with a 4.31-second 40 time, Isabella is listed at 5-foot-9, 188 pounds.
The Steelers’ lack of a consistent threat at WR beyond George Pickens is well-documented.
“I have no expectations. No promises,” said Isabella, who still keeps his residence in Arizona. “But also take it wherever it goes — no limitations. Just take it day-by-day and work hard, which I always do, and it always works out in some way. So I am excited to see where it goes.”
If it goes longer than week, Isabella goes out to find his own place.
