Robert Spillane ranks in the all-time elite tier for linebackers — a career that places Spillane in the top 5% of all players at the position. The Knox value model assigns Spillane a career score of 73, reflecting sustained impact that most players at the position never approach.
Robert Spillane
Height6'1"
Weight229 lb
BornDec 14, 1995
Age30
ConferenceMid-American
Rookie yr2018
An all-time caliber linebacker (top 5% all-time) who combined elite production with excellent availability over their career. Iron Legends define eras — they show up, every game, for years on end.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 121 · #862 · High-ValueWorth 121 points of value above a freely-available replacement linebacker — top 20% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 6 of 6 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +20.2 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
6 cleared
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
47
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
6
Seasons over
cleared the bar
×
+20.2
Avg surplus
peak +34
6 seasons × ~20.2 surplus ≈ VORP 121
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.
3 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Defense | Snap Counts | Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% | |||||
| 2018 | — | TEN | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.0% | — | 0.0% | 20 | 45.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | PIT | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 1 | 1.0% | 168 | 75.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | PIT | 8 | — | 39 | 33 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 377 | 64.8% | 156 | 46.5% | 30 | 16 | 0.5 | 51.4 | 5.1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 6 | 0.1 |
| 2021 | — | PIT | 10 | — | 43 | 21 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 346 | 41.9% | 244 | 60.9% | 24 | 16 | 0.7 | 85.6 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 0.1 |
| 2022 | — | PIT | 16 | — | 65 | 38 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 588 | 61.9% | 134 | 32.9% | 43 | 36 | 0.8 | 109.2 | 5.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 5 | 0.1 |
| 2023 | — | LV | 17 | — | 131 | 65 | 66 | 7 | 4 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 1,101 | 97.2% | 32 | 16.8% | 55 | 40 | 0.7 | 83.1 | 3.3 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 12 | 0.1 |
| 2024 | — | LV | 17 | — | 143 | 76 | 67 | 10 | 3 | 2.0 | 15.0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 1,095 | 98.4% | — | 0.0% | 67 | 49 | 0.7 | 101.8 | 4.5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 11 | 0.1 |
| 2025 | — | NE | 13 | — | 96 | 47 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 740 | 95.5% | 47 | 14.2% | 48 | 39 | 0.8 | 81.8 | 3.8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 9 | 0.1 |
| Career | — | 84 | — | 518 | 281 | 237 | 31 | 12 | 9.5 | 52.5 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 4,248 | 65.8% | 801 | 41.6% | 267 | 196 | — | — | — | 26 | 10 | 6 | 214 | 47 | — | |
Defense
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 24 | PIT | 1 | 0* | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 25 | PIT | 8 | 8* | 39 | 33 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2.0 | 9.0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6.8 |
| 2021 | 26 | PIT | 10 | 0* | 43 | 21 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3.8 |
| 2022 | 27 | PIT | 16 | 10* | 65 | 38 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6.6 |
| 2023 | 28 | LV | 17 | 17* | 131 | 65 | 66 | 7 | 4 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12.3 |
| 2024 | 29 | LV | 17 | 17* | 143 | 76 | 67 | 10 | 3 | 2.0 | 15.0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11.7 |
| 2025 | 30 | NE | 13 | 12* | 96 | 47 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 9.5 |
| Career | 82 | 64* | 518 | 281 | 237 | 31 | 12 | — | — | 8 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50.7 |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Snap Counts
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 23 | TEN | 2 | — | — | 0.0% | — | 0.0% | 20 | 45.0% |
| 2019 | 24 | PIT | 8 | 0* | — | 0.0% | 1 | 1.0% | 168 | 75.0% |
| 2020 | 25 | PIT | 12 | 8* | — | 0.0% | 377 | 64.8% | 156 | 46.5% |
| 2021 | 26 | PIT | 14 | 0* | — | 0.0% | 346 | 41.9% | 244 | 60.9% |
| 2022 | 27 | PIT | 16 | 10* | — | 0.0% | 588 | 61.9% | 134 | 32.9% |
| 2023 | 28 | LV | 17 | 17* | — | 0.0% | 1,101 | 97.2% | 32 | 16.8% |
| 2024 | 29 | LV | 17 | 17* | — | 0.0% | 1,095 | 98.4% | — | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 30 | NE | 13 | 12* | — | 0.0% | 740 | 95.5% | 47 | 14.2% |
| Career | 99 | 64* | — | — | 4,248 | — | 801 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 25 | PIT | 12 | 8* | 30 | 16 | 0.5 | 51.4 | 5.1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 6 | 0.1 |
| 2021 | 26 | PIT | 14 | 0* | 24 | 16 | 0.7 | 85.6 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 0.1 |
| 2022 | 27 | PIT | 16 | 10* | 43 | 36 | 0.8 | 109.2 | 5.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 5 | 0.1 |
| 2023 | 28 | LV | 17 | 17* | 55 | 40 | 0.7 | 83.1 | 3.3 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 12 | 0.1 |
| 2024 | 29 | LV | 17 | 17* | 67 | 49 | 0.7 | 101.8 | 4.5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 11 | 0.1 |
| 2025 | 30 | NE | 13 | 12* | 48 | 39 | 0.8 | 81.8 | 3.8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 9 | 0.1 |
| Career | 89 | 64* | 267 | 196 | — | — | — | 26 | 10 | 6 | 214 | 47 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 73 · GreatA great career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 73 of 100, era-normalized against tackles/g peers across 6 scored seasons.
69
Sustained
career value
×.6
77
Peak
best 3 seasons
×.4
×1
Longevity
career length
Blend 72.2 × longevity 1 = KV-H 73· confidence 100%
What builds the career mark of 69
On-field 52.1
Availability 16.9
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative tackles/g)
2020bestavg 67elite 702025
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position5
Depth
of 100
Reached 5% of the all-time Sacks leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
5% of the all-time Sacks leader5
0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0
A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 94%.
Per-Snap Impact
Linebackers · proprietary · 2012+40
Solid
SIS
Disruption/1002.036Snap share65.8%Def snaps4,248VolatileCV 0.45
Production per snap — the box score normalized by opportunity. SIS is z-scored within linebackers, shrinkage-regularized so small samples don't spike, over the NFL snap-count era (2012+).
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average · KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average linebackers aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Postseason Career
6 playoff gamesDefense
Tkl31Solo16Ast15PD2
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (Western Michigan), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Zach GentryTE5yCameron HeywardDE4yTyson AlualuDE4yChris BoswellK4yT.J. WattOLB4yMinkah FitzpatrickFS4yCameron SuttonCB4yDevin BushLB4yDiontae JohnsonWR4yTerrell EdmundsS4yChukwuma OkoraforOT4yBenny SnellRB4yMarcus AllenLB4yBen RoethlisbergerQB3yJoe HadenCB3yJuJu Smith-SchusterWR3yDerek WattFB3yJames PierreCB3yAlex HighsmithLB3yChris WormleyNT3yKevin DotsonG3yChase ClaypoolWR3yJames WashingtonWR3yThayer Munford Jr.OT3y
Franchise Succession
the room, before and afterRobert inherited the Pittsburgh Steelers LB room from T.J. Watt (2017–2025), and handed it to Alex Highsmith (2020–2025).
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 2025team change
Joined NE (from LV)
- 2025final season
Last recorded season with NE
- 2023team change
Joined LV (from PIT)
- 2019team change
Joined PIT (from TEN)
- 2018signing
Entered the NFL with TEN
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts6'1" / 229 lb
Frame
Injury History
2 career games missed (Out)From nflverse weekly injury reports · coverage begins 2009.
| Season | Team | Games Out | Designations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | LV | 0 | W9Questionable· Knee |
| 2023 | LV | 0 | W9Questionable· HandW12Questionable· Ankle |
| 2022 | PIT | 0 | W12Questionable· Back |
| 2021 | PIT | 1 | W14Out· Knee |
| 2020 | PIT | 1 | W14Out· Knee |
| 2018 | TEN | 0 | W6Questionable· Knee |
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →
Historical Knox · KV-H
Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 6-season peers. See all →
73
peak 77
Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season
C+2020
C+2021
B2022
B+2023
A2024
B+2025
Availability
Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 8 seasons.
83%
Era Translator
Tackles translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Tackles | Tackles/G | → 2025 Tackles | → 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 39 | 4.9 | 80+41 | 4.7 |
| 2021 | 43 | 4.3 | 70+27 | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 65 | 4.1 | 66+1 | 3.9 |
| 2023 | 131 | 7.7 | 130-1 | 7.6 |
| 2024 | 143 | 8.4 | 141-2 | 8.3 |
| 2025 | 96 | 7.4 | 126+30 | 7.4 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:snap_counts, nflverse:injuries · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026
Career Value · VORP
121 career value over replacement — #862 all-time of 4,642. 20.2/season above a replacement-level LB.
💔+24 stolen VORP·1.19 szns lostFan Rating
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