On Thursday nights, 45 miles south of Pittsburgh, an inmate at the State Correctional Institution-Fayette will watch the Steelers game. Unlike the thousands of fans across Western Pennsylvania, he won’t be wearing a team jersey or waving a Terrible Towel—items not permitted in his maximum-security prison cell. But his connection to the game is more profound than most.
Wayne Smith is the older brother of Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith, and for the first time in his 10-year incarceration, he can watch his brother’s every move on the field. Following Jonnu’s trade from the Miami Dolphins over the summer, the prison now falls within the Steelers’ local broadcast market. This twist of fate means Wayne can watch every game, including Thursday night simulcasts, during his final years behind bars.
“It was God moving the chessboard,” said their mother, Karen Smith. “The entire family, we could not believe it, because they’ll be in the same state now. How ironic is that? Wayne said, ‘I get to see him play the entire game, not just the highlights.'”
The newfound proximity has led to more than just shared game days. Last week, Jonnu brought six teammates to the prison to visit Wayne and speak with over 100 other inmates about rehabilitation and preparing for reentry into society. The visit continued Jonnu’s lifelong commitment to service and created a new foundation for outreach between the Steelers and incarcerated communities.
“Jonnu has a heart to help others,” Karen said. “I know that it was something that they wanted to do, but it was not just for Wayne. Jonnu is interested in people evolving for the better.”
Jonnu’s journey this year has been defined by two pivotal phone calls. The first came in January while he was at the Pro Bowl, informing him that Wayne’s sentence was eligible for reduction. Wayne was convicted in 2015 of third-degree murder and other charges related to a 2010 street fight that resulted in a fatal shooting. He was initially sentenced to 25 to 50 years.
Throughout his brother’s imprisonment, Jonnu worked tirelessly to secure him a second chance, funding appeals and hiring new attorneys. His efforts paid off when the Philadelphia Conviction Integrity Unit granted Wayne the right to a new trial based on previously undisclosed evidence. Rather than relitigate, Wayne accepted a new sentence of 16 to 32 years. Having already served 15 years, he is now scheduled for release in July 2026.
“[Jonnu] spearheaded leading these attorneys,” Karen said. “This is how my son gets to come home. His brother became his guardian.”
Growing up in North Philadelphia, Wayne was Jonnu’s protector while their mother worked multiple jobs after their father died in an accident. As Wayne got older and drawn to street life, he made sure to shield his younger brother from it. Their paths diverged sharply in 2010 when Wayne was arrested. Two days later, Karen sent Jonnu to live with his aunt in Florida, a move she believes saved him.
Despite being worlds apart, the brothers spoke nearly every day. The second life-changing call came in late June, when Jonnu learned he was being traded to the Steelers, placing him just an hour’s drive from Wayne.
“As men of faith, we definitely believe that this was a God-ordained moment,” Jonnu said.
He soon arranged the prison visit with teammates Pat Freiermuth, Connor Heyward, Corliss Waitman, Matt Sokol, and Calvin Anderson. The players met with a small group of inmates, including Wayne, before addressing a larger assembly in the gymnasium. They shared stories of overcoming adversity and listened as the incarcerated men spoke of their efforts toward rehabilitation.
“Our mission was to come to inspire, but ultimately we were the ones that were inspired,” Jonnu said. “Outside of me being traded, there hadn’t been a Pittsburgh Steeler to step foot in that prison. For us, the visitors, the outlook that we got on life was that your situation doesn’t have to define you.”
The event was unprecedented for the facility. “In 26 years of service in the Department of Corrections, I’ve never had a player himself reach out,” said SCI-Fayette Superintendent Tina Walker. “It sends a message to our inmate population about second chances, personal growth, and accountability.”
The impact was immediate. “Wayne talked about it for days afterwards,” Karen said. “He said, ‘Mom, that was the best day of all the days that I’ve spent in jail.'”
Now, Jonnu looks toward July 18, 2026—the day his brother is scheduled to be released. While his own future with the Steelers beyond this season is not guaranteed, his commitment to his brother is absolute. He plans to continue his work in prison reform through his nonprofit, the Nu Family Foundation, with Wayne by his side.
“That is going to be, up until that point, the happiest day of my life,” Jonnu said. “He went to jail when he was 20 years old. He was a baby and had to become a man on his own. And I’m proud of the man that he’s become, because the man that he’s become impacted this man right here.”
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