Spencer Anderson
Who Is Spencer Anderson?
Spencer Anderson is an American professional football guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He wears jersey number 74. He was born on June 7, 2000, in Bowie, Maryland.
At 6 feet 5 inches and 305 pounds, Anderson is a physically imposing interior lineman. However, what truly defines him is his versatility. He has lined up at every position on the offensive line throughout his football career — a quality that has made him one of Pittsburgh’s most valued depth pieces.
Anderson has played in 42 regular-season games and made 11 starts over his three-year career with the Steelers.
Early Life: Chess, Football, and a Family Built on Sport
Growing Up in Bowie, Maryland
Spencer Anderson grew up in Bowie, Maryland. He is the son of Robert and Anita Anderson. His father played football at Howard University. He also has one older brother.
Sport clearly ran in the family. However, Anderson’s competitive instincts extended beyond the football field. He started playing chess at eight years old and has said he has “a chess-like mindset on the football field.” Anderson went undefeated on his high school chess team.
That strategic mindset — the ability to read situations quickly and react — translates directly to his approach as an offensive lineman.
A Famous Cousin in Professional Sports
Anderson is not the only athlete in his extended family. He is a cousin of professional basketball player Harry Giles. Athletic talent runs deep in the Anderson bloodline.
High School: Bishop McNamara
Anderson attended Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, where he played under coach Keita Malloy. He was rated the 16th overall player in the state of Maryland by 247sports.com and earned an Honorable Mention All-Metro selection as a senior.
He received college offers from North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Wake Forest. However, he chose to stay close to home.
College Career: Maryland Terrapins (2018–2022)
Choosing Maryland
Anderson committed to the University of Maryland in June 2017. He began his college career with the Maryland Terrapins in 2018. Over the next five seasons, he became one of the most respected and versatile offensive linemen in the Big Ten Conference.
Positional Versatility Across Five Years
Anderson appeared in 45 games and made 42 starts at Maryland. He started 13 games in 2022, 12 at right guard and one at right tackle. He started nine games at right offensive tackle and four at center in 2021, four at left tackle and one at center in 2020, and played 11 games in 2019.
Therefore, he had first-hand starting experience at virtually every position along the offensive line by the time he entered the NFL Draft.
The 2021 Season: Big Ten’s Best Pass Blocker
Anderson’s junior season was a standout. He earned an 86.6 pass-blocking grade via Pro Football Focus, the highest of any offensive lineman in the Big Ten and 13th-highest among all Power Five players.
He also started all 13 games for a Maryland offense that helped set a program record for most passing yards in a season with 3,960. As a result, he earned an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection at the end of the year.
Career Honors and Academic Achievement
Anderson’s college career produced several notable honors. His full list of achievements at Maryland includes:
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Pro Football Focus Preseason Second Team All-Big Ten | 2022 |
| East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 | 2022 |
| Honorable Mention All-Big Ten | 2021 |
| Big Ten Distinguished Scholar | 2020–21 |
He ended his Terrapins career starting 31 consecutive games. Additionally, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Management from the University of Maryland.
The Redshirt Senior Season (2022)
Anderson returned for a fifth season in 2022. He was a leader in the offensive line room. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection in 2021, but believed he could have earned first- or second-team honors. His return was motivated by a desire to prove himself further before the NFL Draft.
He accepted an invitation to the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, playing alongside the nation’s top draft-eligible prospects.
NFL Career: Pittsburgh Steelers (2023–Present)
The 2023 NFL Draft: A Seventh-Round Steal
On April 29, 2023, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Spencer Anderson with the 251st overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. The pick was made via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams.
A seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Spencer Anderson did well to even make the roster as a rookie. However, he did exactly that — and made his NFL debut in Week 4 of the 2023 season in Houston.
Rookie Season (2023): Getting Established
Anderson’s rookie year was primarily about learning. He played in 8 games and made no starts. Nevertheless, the Steelers valued his versatility enough to keep him on the active roster throughout the season.
2024 Season: First Starts and Growing Confidence
The 2024 season marked a significant step forward. Anderson played in all 17 regular-season games for the Steelers in 2024, making four starts on the offensive line. He started the first three games at left guard and his first career game at tackle in Week 11.
He made his NFL starting debut in Week 1 of the 2024 season against Atlanta. Furthermore, he stepped in when veteran Isaac Seumalo missed time due to injury and held his own.
2025 Season: The “Swiss Army Knife” Role
The 2025 season cemented Anderson’s reputation as one of Pittsburgh’s most valuable utility pieces. Uniquely used as a do-it-all blocker in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ jumbo packages throughout the 2025 season, Anderson split his snaps between left guard and a tackle-eligible role. The Steelers averaged 4.9 yards per carry when Anderson was on the field.
He made 7 starts in 17 games and logged 382 offensive snaps — his most productive season to date. Additionally, the Pittsburgh coaching staff publicly praised his development.
2026 Season: The Starting Opportunity Arrives
Entering 2026, Anderson finds himself in a contract year — and in the best position of his career to earn a full-time starting job. Spencer Anderson has gone from seventh-round afterthought to potential starter over his three-year career. Entering the final season of his rookie contract, he figures to compete for the left guard position.
In the 2026 season, Anderson earned a 56.5 overall PFF grade, ranking 42nd among 68 qualified offensive guards. His run-blocking grade of 61.3 ranked 39th at the position.
His 2026 salary cap hit stands at $1,164,444, the final year of the four-year rookie contract he signed with Pittsburgh in May 2023.
NFL Career Statistics
| Season | Team | Games | Starts | Offensive Snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17 | 4 | 308 |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17 | 7 | 382 |
| 2026 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 2 | 134 |
| Career | 44 | 13 | 824+ |
Contract Details
Spencer Anderson signed a four-year, $3,917,776 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a $77,776 signing bonus and $77,776 guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $979,444. In 2026, his base salary is $1,145,000.
Personal Life: Beyond the Football Field
Spencer Anderson keeps his personal life largely private. He is the son of Robert and Anita Anderson. His father, Robert, played college football at Howard University, making Spencer a second-generation football player.
He has one older brother. Beyond family, Anderson is known for his love of chess — a game he has played since childhood. His chess-like approach to football reflects a player who processes the game intellectually as much as physically.
Additionally, his cousin Harry Giles had a professional basketball career in the NBA, making the Anderson family one of the more athletically gifted in Maryland.
