PITTSBURGH – Former Duquesne standout Christian Kuntz (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Chartiers Valley) was named to the Pittsburgh Steelers' 53-man roster as a long snapper, the organization announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Kuntz is the first player from Duquesne to be named to an active NFL roster since nine-year veteran Leigh Bodden took the field with the New England Patriots in 2011. Kuntz can join Bodden as just the second former Duquesne player to appear in an NFL game in 68 seasons. 

A two-time Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the Dukes, he is in his third stint with the six-time Super Bowl champions. He was signed to Pittsburgh's practice squad in Nov. 2020 after spending the 2019 and '20 preseasons with the team.

Kuntz registered a school-record 30.5 sacks during his standout career on the Bluff. His 71.5 career tackles for loss rank sixth on the NCAA FCS all-time list.

Prior to signing with the Steelers in 2020, Kuntz played for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL. He also spent part of the 2018 offseason with the Denver Broncos, signed a futures contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of the 2018 campaign after entering the league with the New England Patriots in 2017. 

He led the Dukes to three NEC titles during his career (2013, 2015, 2016) and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as a senior, given to the National Defensive Player of the Year at the FCS level. Kuntz and Bodden are the only two-time Associated Press All-Americans in program history. 

In 2003, Duquesne saw two former players make NFL rosters when free agents Bodden and Josh Rue (practice squad) earned spots on the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals, respectively. Bodden retired from the New England Patriots following the 2011 campaign.

Forty-four Dukes have played in the NFL, with a total of 35 suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers between 1937 and 1951. The last Duke to play for the Steelers was Chick Mehelich in 1951. Mehelich suited up for the black & gold for six seasons. 

Bodden, who played for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Patriots, was the first Duquesne player to take the field for an NFL game since Al Demao played for Washington from 1945-53.  Bodden, Demao and Armand Niccolai (Pittsburgh Steelers, 1934-42) share the longest NFL career by a Duquesne player at nine years. 
 
The Steelers open the 2021 season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 12.