Joe Rutter stories, Page 12
Steelers to open season on road against Jets, Justin Fields, will close it at home vs. Ravens
For the 10th time in the past 11 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers will open the regular season on the road. For the first time in 23 years, they will close it with a home game against the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL unveiled the 2025 schedule Wednesday night, and for the...
Steelers loaded up in draft on players from ‘best conference in football,’ says OLB Jack Sawyer
When Pittsburgh Steelers management set out to make the defense more physical this season, it probably wasn’t a coincidence that they targeted players from the Big Ten. The style of play associated with the Big Ten is of a gritty, hard-nosed variety. Contrast that to the glitz and glamour of...
Quarterback Will Howard taking nothing for granted as he begins rookie journey with Steelers
A two-year starter at Ohio State and captain for the national champions in 2024, linebacker Jack Sawyer felt like a second-stringer at his own draft party two weeks ago. After being taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round, Sawyer was anxious to see where teammate Will Howard would...
Still grieving death of mother, Derrick Harmon trying to make most of Steelers rookie minicamp weekend
Derrick Harmon hasn’t gotten around to taking the customary tour of Pittsburgh that the Steelers’ first-round draft pick typically enjoys. He hasn’t eaten at Primanti Bros., taken the incline to the top of Mt. Washington or received a close-up view of Acrisure Stadium. Harmon, the defensive tackle from Oregon, returned...
5 things to watch: D-line draft picks take center stage as Steelers hold rookie minicamp
The NFL officially turned the page toward the 2025 season in March with the start of free agency, the tipping point of the league’s new calendar year. Teams followed suit in April, before the draft, with the start of voluntary conditioning workouts. Another marker takes place this weekend for the...
Steelers trade WR George Pickens to Cowboys for draft picks
The Pittsburgh Steelers are done waiting for wide receiver George Pickens to correct his maturity issues. The Steelers traded Pickens, their mercurial fourth-year wide receiver, to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, completing a deal that had been discussed two weeks ago during the NFL Draft. The Steelers will receive the...
Time will tell if Steelers’ plan, patient approach at quarterback pays off
For much of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ plan for adding a third quarterback was that they didn’t seem to have one. They didn’t select one on the first day, passing on Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart. Or the second when they again passed on Sanders. Tyler Shough was...
Steelers address physicality in NFL Draft, beef up defense on Day 3
What transpired this weekend at the NFL Draft provided further confirmation that the Pittsburgh Steelers were sick of being pushed around in the playoffs. After losing a sixth consecutive playoff game in January — and trailing by at least 21 first-half points in four of the past five postseason matchups...
Harrisburg’s Donte Kent excited to be drafted by Steelers with second 7th-round pick
Donte Kent grew up in Harrisburg, but he didn’t grow up rooting for the team that selected him Saturday in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Kent, a 5-foot-10, 189-pound cornerback from Central Michigan, not only didn’t cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he wasn’t a fan of the Philadelphia...
Carson Bruener bio box: Steelers’ 7th-round pick (No. 226 overall) in 2025 NFL Draft
CARSON BRUENER Seventh-round pick, No. 226 overall Linebacker, Washington 6-foot-1, 227 pounds Stats: Led the Huskies with 104 tackles and three interceptions as a senior. Hometown: Woodinville, Wash. ???? 12 TKL???? 2 INTCarson Bruener was everywhere in @UW_Football's win over USC ????#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/29v6waIWzZ— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 3, 2024...
Steelers add to QB depth on 3rd day of draft, select Ohio State’s Will Howard in 6th round
On the third day of the NFL Draft and in the sixth round, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally got their developmental quarterback. With the No. 185 overall selection, the Steelers took Ohio State’s Will Howard. It was the fifth consecutive player the Steelers selected from a Big Ten program and second...
Yahya Black bio box: Steelers’ 5th-round pick (No. 164 overall) in 2025 NFL DraftVideo
YAHYA BLACK Fifth-round pick, No. 164 overall Defensive tackle, Iowa 6-foot-6, 336 pounds Stats: Started 27 games over the past two seasons at Iowa. In those two years, he totaled 85 tackles, including 12 for loss. He also had 4.5 sacks with seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Hometown:...
Steelers continue to address defense in 4th round by selecting Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer
Bypassing a quarterback again to start the third day of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers addressed defense for the second time when they took Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer in the fourth round Saturday. Sawyer was the No. 123 overall pick. He was selected even with several quarterback...
Steelers select Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in 3rd round of NFL Draft
Getting their running back to replace Najee Harris — and passing on a quarterback for the second day in a row — the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night. Johnson, a bruising 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior, was the Big Ten...
Art Rooney II: Steelers getting ‘same signals’ from Aaron Rodgers on signing with team
Entering the second night of the NFL Draft, team president Art Rooney II said the Pittsburgh Steelers remain in the market for a quarterback prospect, and he is optimistic 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers is going to join the organization. Rodgers remains unsigned as he deals with personal issues. He visited with...
Steelers select Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in 1st round of NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to take a highly rated quarterback in the NFL Draft when their turn came up Thursday night. They opted to fix a leaky defensive line instead. The Steelers stuck with conventional wisdom and selected Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon rather than take a chance...
Could this be year Steelers buck history and trade back in 1st round of NFL Draft?
In 2001, Mike Tomlin was in his first season as an NFL assistant coach, hired by Tony Dungy in Tampa Bay to coach defensive backs. Omar Khan was new to the Pittsburgh Steelers, hired by second-year director of football operations Kevin Colbert to handle business operations and negotiate contracts. That...
Joe Rutter’s mock draft: Steelers will turn attention to defensive line, draft Derrick Harmon
In his first two drafts as Pittsburgh Steelers general manager, Omar Khan went to great lengths to fortify the offensive line. Expect him to begin a reconstruction of the defensive line this year. Cameron Heyward was the last defensive lineman taken by the Steelers in the first round, and he’s...
Steelers notebook: Jaylen Warren signs 1-year tender; DL group has players in all ‘shapes and sizes’
As they consider adding a running back from a deep draft class, the Pittsburgh Steelers secured a veteran to a contract for the 2025 season. Jaylen Warren, who is entering his fourth season, signed his restricted free-agent tender Tuesday, guaranteeing his $5.35 million salary. The Steelers tendered Warren at the...
NFL Draft preview: CB/WR Travis Hunter brings unique value to top of his class
If the top of the NFL Draft unfolds the way most experts predict, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be facing the Heisman Trophy winner — and an unprecedented two-way talent — two times a season. The AFC North rival Cleveland Browns are projected to take Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter with...
NFL Draft preview: Steelers could stand pat at safety amid class that gets little love from experts
Minkah Fitzpatrick encountered a third partner at safety in as many seasons when the Pittsburgh Steelers signed free agent DeShon Elliott last offseason. The Steelers thought enough of the pairing — they used Terrell Edmunds in 2022 and Keanu Neal in 2023 — that they apparently will maintain the status...
NFL Draft preview: Son of former Steelers player, Carson Bruener trying to make name at ILB
Carson Bruener wanted to play college football. Just like his father. Check. He wanted to attend Washington. Just like his father. Check. He wanted to be a tight end. Just like his father. Um, not so fast. Bruener, a draft-eligible inside linebacker and son of former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick...
NFL Draft preview: Potential Steelers draft pick Derrick Harmon ready to take next step
Feeling he needed a change of scenery, Derrick Harmon left the comforts of home, flew across the country and spent a season on the West Coast. All to prove he had the potential to be a high NFL Draft pick. If some draft experts are correct, Harmon’s future will involve...
NFL Draft preview: Deep edge rusher class could be intriguing to Steelers
Daniel Jeremiah misinterpreted the question. The NFL Network draft analyst was asked in February about the Pittsburgh Steelers restocking an aging defensive line in the first round of the NFL Draft. Jeremiah thought the question was about edge rushers and listed a few possibilities for the team. Two months later,...
Aaron Rodgers dealing with personal issues, not holding Steelers or ‘anyone hostage’ as he decides future
Citing personal matters that are commanding his attention, Aaron Rodgers isn’t ready to announce whether he will play for the Pittsburgh Steelers — or any other NFL team — in the 2025 season. Appearing Thursday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” the 41-year-old quarterback did not give an indication when...

