An Unbreakable Bond: Jonnu Smith and His Brother’s Redemption Story
In an unusual scenario, 45 miles south of Pittsburgh, a man prepares to watch an American football game. Unlike many fans, this supporter will not wear the black and gold colors nor wave the “Terrible Towel.” The reason: he is watching the game from his cell at the State Correctional Institute-Fayette, a maximum-security prison. This man is not a lifelong Steelers fan, but he shares an unbreakable bond with one of the players on the field: his brother. Wayne Smith, older brother of Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith, will experience the game intensely. For Wayne, who has been in prison for a decade after being convicted of third-degree murder in 2015, this is a special opportunity. Coinciding with his last year of incarceration, Wayne can enjoy every game of Jonnu’s, including Thursday night’s game, something that hadn’t been possible since the games moved to Amazon in 2022. This moment is the result of a dream that Wayne, 35, began to conceive since he knew that Jonnu, five years younger, would be traded to the Steelers from the Miami Dolphins.The situation is somewhat ironic, as they will now be in the same state, which will allow them to see each other more frequently. Wayne will be able to watch his brother play the entire game, not just the highlights. A week ago, another dream came true. Jonnu took six Steelers teammates to prison to visit Wayne, meet more than 100 inmates, listen to their stories, and introduce them to resources for their social reintegration. For the brothers, this visit was the continuation of a commitment to service and second chances that Jonnu has championed throughout his life, establishing a foundation for unprecedented work by the Steelers in often underserved and stigmatized prison communities.“It was God moving the chessboard,” commented Karen Smith, mother of Wayne and Jonnu.
Karen Smith
In the last nine months, two phone calls marked Jonnu’s life. The first one arrived in January, while Jonnu was playing in his first Pro Bowl. He received the news that Wayne’s sentence was eligible to be reduced. Sentenced in 2015 for third-degree murder, Wayne was sentenced to between 25 and 50 years. Jonnu, while playing college football and then in the NFL, worked tirelessly to give his brother a second chance, seeking and paying for lawyers to appeal and covering Wayne’s expenses in prison. Thanks to the Conviction Integrity Unit, Wayne obtained the right to a new trial due to undisclosed evidence. Instead of retrying the case, he accepted a new sentence of 16 to 32 years. Since he had already served 15 years, his release is scheduled for July 2026. This first call was the result of years of effort by Jonnu to give Wayne a second chance. Jonnu, who was previously protected by his older brother, reversed the roles and fought for him during his incarceration. The image shows Karen Smith, expressing her happiness at the closeness between her children, Jonnu and Wayne. Courtesy of Jonnu Smith. As the brothers grew up, Wayne protected Jonnu while Karen worked to support her children. Karen always knew the bond between them was special. The brothers’ paths diverged when Wayne was arrested in June 2010. Two days later, Jonnu went to live with his aunt. Despite the separation, they communicated almost daily. Jonnu sought Wayne’s advice as he got married, had children, and played on different NFL teams. Wayne, for his part, strived to improve to be ready for the next stage of his life. The second call that changed Jonnu’s life came at the end of June 2025: he was traded from the Dolphins to the Steelers. The change brought him closer to Wayne during his last year of incarceration. Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith was selected for his first Pro Bowl after last season, where he had 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins. Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire On June 30, Jonnu gave Wayne the news. Both believed this was a divine moment. The proximity to Wayne gave Jonnu another idea: What if he and some of his Steelers teammates visited the prison? In August, he contacted the Steelers’ director of community relations and the administrators of SCI-Fayette. The visit took place on October 7, when Steelers players Pat Freiermuth, Connor Heyward, Corliss Waitman, Matt Sokol, and Calvin Anderson met with Jonnu in prison. The six players first met with a small group of 12 inmates, including Wayne. Then, the players went to the prison gym for a larger program attended by 100 inmates. The non-profit organization Community Kitchen, which assists in training programs and employment opportunities, gave a presentation. The players answered questions about how to overcome adversity and stay focused. Anderson, who has worked in extension programs in prisons, understands the value of this work. SCI-Fayette Superintendent Tina Walker has received positive feedback from inmates following the Steelers’ visit. Karen also received a glowing review of Jonnu’s visit from her eldest son. On July 18, 2026, Wayne will be released after 16 years of imprisonment. While Jonnu’s future in Pittsburgh is uncertain beyond this season, what is certain is that he will be alongside his brother in every step of his transition to the next phase of life. Jonnu plans to continue working on prison reform with his brother and through their foundation, the Nu Family Foundation. “July 18, 2026 will be, until then, the happiest day of my life,” Jonnu said. “He has his whole life ahead of him. He went to prison when he was 20 years old. He was a boy and had to become a man on his own. And I am proud of the man he has become, because the man he has become impacted this man here.”“His heart wants to help people,” Karen said about Jonnu. “It’s something innate in him. Jonnu has a heart to help others.”
Karen Smith
