Payton Wilson holds the RILB · Starter spot in Pittsburgh Steelers’s linebacker room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Payton Wilson played 18 games in 2025 with a 61% snap share.

Payton Wilson is a right inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers entering his third NFL season. The 6'4", 235-pound N.C. State product was selected 98th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Through two seasons (2024–25), Wilson has appeared in 34 regular-season games with eight starts, accumulating 181 tackles (109 solo), 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, and four passes defensed. In 2025, he played all 17 games with four starts, posting 109 tackles (62 solo), 2.0 sacks, one interception, and two passes defensed, while his 12 solo special teams tackles tied for third in the NFL.

N.C. State2018 – 2023

Steelers2024 — present

CollegeN.C. StateDraftRound 3 · No. 98 overall · 2024 · PITHometownHillsborough, NC