Trai Essex

Trai Essex is a professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.

According to ESPN, Essex re-signed as a free agent with the Steelers on March 17, 2009. The two-year deal is believed to be worth $1.92 million, plus a $500,000 signing bonus.ESPN.com: Source: Essex, Steelers Agree

Trai Essex played college football at Northwestern Wildcats, where he was a three-year starter on the offensive line. He led led Wildcats to the Motor City Bowl in 2003 and helped the team allow only 12 sacks in the 2004 season. Essex was selected for ESPN.com's All-Bowl team in 2003 and was named to The Sporting News Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2001.

After college, he was chosen by the Steelers in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Essex played in six games and started for of them. The following season in 2006, he played in 15 regular-season games, but did not start in any of them. Essex started in his first playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008. Essex was a member of the Steelers' Super Bowl championship win in Super Bowl XL.Steelers.com: Trai Essex