Raiders' Spillane: Steelers exit put a 'chip on my shoulder'

Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane is looking forward to sticking it to a familiar face when he takes on his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, this Sunday.

"Leaving them has only (added) to the chip on my shoulder ... They had a chance to bring me back in free agency, but I'm here now, and I'm so thankful to be a Raider, and I look forward to bringing it to them on Sunday," Spillane said Thursday, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.

Spillane, who spent 2019-22 with the Steelers, signed a two-year contract with the Raiders during free agency in 2023.

The Raiders linebacker has flourished since moving to Las Vegas, recording a career-high 148 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2023 as he started 17 games for the first time as an NFL pro. He's followed that up with a hot start to the 2024 campaign with a league-leading 54 tackles across five starts.

Spillane played in 50 games with the Steelers but only made 16 starts.

Sunday's matchup will mark the second time Spillane faces his former team, with the first coming in a Week 3 loss last season. Spillane recorded seven tackles in that contest.

Las Vegas enters the Week 6 home game against Pittsburgh with a 2-3 mark. Aidan O'Connell is slated to make his first start at quarterback this season, replacing the veteran Gardner Minshew.