Aug 12, 2015 5 min read

LATROBE – There are different motivational factors for athletes.

For some at the professional level, money is a factor. For others, it’s the will to become great.

For Steelers safety Alden Darby, it’s the desire to not have the game he loves taken away from him again.

Darby, a first-year player from Arizona State, had that happen last year.

A native of the tough streets of Long Beach, Calif., Darby saw a lot as a youngster – family members going to prison and plenty of gang-related violence.

Those aren’t his most difficult moments. They came last year, when he was released by the San Diego Chargers despite a strong preseason showing.

“My goal for myself was to never have the feeling of being cut again,” said Darby, who signed with the Chargers after going undrafted. “I got that feeling last year being released. It was probably the worst thing I’ve been through in my life. I’ve been through a lot of things in my life but that was the worst. I told myself coming in that no matter where it’s at, I will be on a team this year.”

Darby hasn’t locked up a spot with the Steelers, but he caught the eye of the coaching staff.

In a 14-3 preseason loss to Minnesota last Sunday, the Steelers sat some starters – including four on defense – allowing some younger players more opportunities. The free safety spot probably would have been manned by Robert Golden, but he suffered a sprained MCL in practice the previous week.

“One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said prior to the game. “I think about what a great opportunity this game is going to be for guys like Darby and (Ian) Wild.”

Darby got the start and made three tackles, including one for a loss. He also had a special teams tackle.

“It was a great memory, a great moment,” Darby admitted. “It was good to be out there with the starters and see how fast they operate and how things run. My first time starting in the NFL, even though it was just preseason, was huge. It was a pleasure being out there with those guys.”

After being released by the Chargers, Darby didn’t think it was going to happen and went into a funk.

He went back home and locked himself in his house.

“A lot of people say football isn’t everything,” Darby said. “That’s easier said than done.

“It took me about a month and a half. I didn’t talk to anybody. People would call my phone. If you weren’t my immediate family, my mom, my dad or my sisters, I wasn’t answering. I didn’t even go outside. I didn’t want to be seen. I put on about 25 pounds. I was very depressed. I knew I was good enough to play but I couldn’t even watch football. To have that taken away from me, not because of injury or not even because somebody was telling me that somebody had beaten me out – there was no explanation – it was rough.”

But it made him stronger.

Darby (5-11, 195), who had seven interceptions in his final two seasons at Arizona State, finally came out of his house. He started working out again, hoping for another shot at the NFL.

When the Steelers called and offered a reserve/futures contract – basically a chance for players who were cut by other teams to try out for a spot on the 90-man offseason roster – he jumped at the opportunity.

“It was most definitely a driving (force),” Darby said of his release. “I turned to my faith. I told myself that praying wasn’t enough. God wants us to show him how much we want it. He wants to see it. It was crazy, the moment I got up and got back into my regular life and started working out, the same week I got a call. And I had never even spoken to the Steelers coming out of college. Nothing.”

But here he is. And he’s not planning on allowing the opportunity to slip away.

“I worked extremely hard to get back here. I don’t take anything for granted and I appreciate it and attack every day with a positive mindset,” Darby said. “I use that every day as my motivation.

“I don’t ever want to feel that feeling I had with the Chargers again. That’s my motivation. I tell myself that every day.”

The Steelers placed placekicker Shaun Suisham on injured reserve and running back Cameron Stingily on the Waived/Injured List. Both had knee surgery Wednesday morning after being injured in the loss to the Vikings. The team signed veteran wide receiver David Nelson and rookie running back Braylon Heard. … Linebackers Vince Williams and Lawrence Timmons, cornerback Cortez Allen and safety Mike Mitchell were among the players who did not practice Wednesday. … New placekicker Garrett Hartley made 8 of 11 field goal attempts in practice Wednesday. Two of the misses were from 57 yards.