Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-14vs Miami (OH) | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 12-7vs UCF | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#55
Sean FitzSimmons
5th-year defensive lineman on Pittsburgh's 2026 roster.
6′3″ · 300 lb · Monaca, PA · Central Valley
CFB Index 22 · #288 of 330 interior linemenLow confidenceReturning to Pittsburgh for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
5 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, vs UCF
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive lineman on Pittsburgh's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Pittsburgh in 2022.
Sean FitzSimmons
Wins his gap play after play. He has spent five seasons in the Pittsburgh defensive front. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against Miami (OH), Week 1, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 5 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2022
- Signed with Pittsburgh3-star out of Central Valley
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Pittsburgh
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
1 coach2022–2026
Pittsburgh
Played his entire career under Pat Narduzzi.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
5 seasons under Pat Narduzzi — 29-24 over that span.
2022Pittsburgh9-4HC: Pat Narduzzi · Run-leaning
2023Pittsburgh3-9HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced, slow tempo
2024Pittsburgh7-6HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
2025Pittsburgh8-5HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
2026Pittsburgh2-0HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Low confidenceAscending
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.5 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pat Narduzzi
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
22 · #288 of 330 interior linemen
Three-star recruit. Now #288 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #64 of 73 ACC DLs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Pittsburgh | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Pittsburgh | 25 | 8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh | 32 | 13 | 4.5 | 1.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 66 | 24 | 8.5 | 3.5 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 12–7
vs UCF
2 TOT
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 5 at home.
With G. Russo — 40 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 51 LONG · M. Heintschel — 212 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 44.1 · 13 rush yds (7 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Pittsburgh
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Pittsburgh
Returning around him
- 1 Pittsburgh player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -5 net (16 in / 21 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Pittsburgh · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #64 · 2026 recruiting class #44
DNA match
Player DNA
Two-Gap Base
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Ty Hamilton’s 2023 season.
Matches Ty on
TFL rate
Weight
Sack rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Jamall Hickbottom's senior season at South Alabama (2023).
80%match
Matches Jamall on
Class year
Weight
TFL rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Sean FitzSimmons
Background
2025: Started and played in a career-high 10 games…posted 25 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack on the year…at West Virginia, had a season-high six tackles, 1.0 TFL and a sack…missed final two regular season games due to injury. 2024: Started all nine games he played in at defensive tackle…...
The defensive line · Pittsburgh
- #44Jimmy Scott7.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #2Isaiah Neal7 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Nick James6 tackles for loss · 2025
- #55Sean FitzSimmons3 tackles for loss · 2025
- #5Zach Crothers3 tackles for loss · 2025
14 more on the roster · Pittsburgh team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology