First Call: Art Rooney II discusses Makai Lemon mishap; Penn State coach says offense ‘wasn’t built’ for Drew AllarVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” looks at Art Rooney II’s comments about the Makai Lemon fumble on draft night. One of Penn State’s coaches is backing the draft choice of Drew Allar by the Pittsburgh Steelers. A receiving target of Aaron Rodgers is heading to Dallas. A Duquesne men’s basketball player is...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ draft approach doesn’t mesh with attempts to retain Aaron Rodgers
If the Steelers truly want Aaron Rodgers to return as their quarterback in 2026, their approach to the NFL Draft didn’t make much sense. They are — presumably — holding out hope that a 42-year-old quarterback comes back for one more run to get a 10-7 team to a slightly...
Unlike 2012, Penguins need a few more strong starts to finish comeback vs. FlyersVideo
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been on this stretch of highway before. His team was down 3-0 in a dirty, nasty first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012. The club kept the series alive by winning Game 4. It headed back to Philly for Game 6 after a...
First Call: Mike Tomlin’s prediction on Aaron Rodgers; Cowboys address trading Makai Lemon pick to EaglesVideo
Mike Tomlin forecasts Aaron Rodgers’ future on NBC. The Cowboys address trading away their pick in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first round of the NFL Draft. The Steelers are bringing back a familiar face. The Penguins look to stay alive against Philadelphia. And the Pirates need to...
Madden Monday: Steelers’ draft was ‘a 2-part screw up’
As days have passed since the Pittsburgh Steelers’ failed attempt to land USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round of the NFL Draft, I’ve narrowed my focus on what truly bothered me from that night. I’m not upset that the Steelers ended up with Max Iheanachor as the...
Tim Benz: Sidney Crosby leads the way but isn’t alone in Penguins’ season-saving winVideo
Does the “Phans of Philly” group have any money left after they bought I-95 billboard space to mock Sidney Crosby? If they do, hopefully they buy similar billboard ad placement somewhere between Pittsburgh International Airport and PPG Paints Arena. Maybe the Penguins captain will see the signs on the way...
Tim Benz: What the Steelers didn’t get in the 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers draft won’t be remembered for who the franchise picked or who they left on the board. It’ll be remembered for who they missed. Here is the moment Makai Lemon thought he was getting drafted by #Steelers and realizing in real time that the #Eagles traded up,...
Tim Benz: What the selection of Drew Allar means for the Steelers’ quarterback roomVideo
During Monday’s pre-NFL Draft press conference, new Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy made his thoughts known about the size of his quarterback room. “I believe in having three. Potentially, we’d love to have four if we can make one work on the practice squad,” McCarthy said. After drafting Penn State...
‘Everything happens for a reason’: Max Iheanachor’s unconventional path to Steelers started long before draft night
The manner in which Max Iheanachor wound up in Pittsburgh isn’t unique. At least not to him. The massive offensive tackle was discovered by the D-I college football world while he was attending East Los Angeles College. Fresno State offensive line coach Saga Tuitele went there to check out a...
Beyond the Bylines: Pittsburgh looked great on draft night. The Steelers did notVideo
The city of Pittsburgh couldn’t have looked better during draft night Thursday. Day 1. pic.twitter.com/k1OzHypVLb— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) April 24, 2026 But the Steelers’ front office couldn’t have looked worse. They got punked by the Philadelphia Eagles before making their draft choice at No. 21. The Steelers were on...
First Call: Eagles GM discusses nabbing Makai Lemon from Steelers; coveted picks land in AFC North
Friday’s “First Call” has quotes from the Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager about stealing Makai Lemon from the Pittsburgh Steelers. We look at how moves within the AFC North impacted the Steelers. The Eagles took a little dig at the Penguins, and the Flyers did the same to the Steelers. And...
Tim Benz: I like Max Iheanachor but not what the Steelers did before or after drafting himVideo
It’s hard to evaluate the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft choice of Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in the moment. That’s because I’m not quite sure the moment is over yet. Is it? I sure hope it’s not. It feels like the Steelers are working backward on this one. If...
First Call: Ty Simpson says he would ‘fit in great’ in Pittsburgh, praises Aaron Rodgers; Bill Cowher’s advice for Mike Tomlin
Thursday’s “First Call” has some quotes from Ty Simpson about the idea of playing in Pittsburgh. Ex-Steelers coach Bill Cowher discusses Mike Tomlin’s decision to join the TV broadcasting game. Dallas is done negotiating with George Pickens’ agent about an extension, and we look at the Pirates’ next series in...
U mad, bro: Penguins fans infuriated by 0-3 start vs. Flyers; pre-draft fretting from Steelers fansVideo
The Penguins’ surprisingly strong 2025-26 has meant that we have had much less of a hockey presence on a weekly basis here at “U mad, bro?” Based on how things have been going so far in the playoffs, you can be sure that is going to change this week. We...
New Steeler Michael Pittman Jr. endorses WRs Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon as potential draft choices
New Steeler wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. remembers his draft day experience. He was selected with the second pick in the second round by the Indianapolis Colts. “I was in my draft training apartment with my wife, my brother and my nephews. I got called, and then I went fishing,”...
Tim Benz: Flyers are playing WWE hockey, and the Penguins just got hit with a steel chair
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been outplayed so definitively in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers that they could lose it in four games. Thanks to the officials hurting the cause, the Penguins have basically lost it in just three. The Pens are now down 0-3 after a 5-2...
First Call: Mike McCarthy ‘would love to have 4′ QBs; another potential Steelers trade partner; Pens’ history down 0-2
Wednesday’s “First Call” has an interesting quote from Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy about quarterbacks. The Steelers may have another trade partner in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. NHL television ratings look good. The Penguins have some history on their side when it comes to...
Art Rooney II on waiting for Aaron Rodgers: ‘I wish I could tell you we’re at the end of the discussion’Video
For the first time, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II expressed a little fatigue with the Aaron Rodgers situation. Last year’s starting quarterback still hasn’t signed a contract for 2026 as he decides whether to play in Pittsburgh for a second year, retire or try to latch on elsewhere. Last...
First Call: Steelers pumping up USC WR Makai Lemon; Pirates face Andrew McCutchen in Texas
Tuesday’s “First Call” has high praise from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a potential first-round wide receiver. Kicker Chris Boswell was probably happy to hear some news from Dallas. While the Penguins and Flyers are slugging it out in one Metropolitan Division matchup, the other is now up 2-0. And the...
Tim Benz: Want the Steelers to make a splash at the draft? Here’s a way to do it that makes sense
Perhaps the most overcooked angle surrounding what the Steelers should do at the NFL Draft is whether the team should make a splashy pick to satisfy the masses in the live audience outside of Acrisure Stadium. Of course, the answer is no. They shouldn’t. And my sincere hope is that...
NFL Draft offers a stage for visitors to understand the depth of Steelers fandomVideo
On Super Bowl Sunday 2006, I was entering my final hour of broadcasting for the week on ESPN Radio 1250. I had done multiple shows per day, every day, plus phone hits, television hits and interviews all over Detroit in advance of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ showdown against Seattle for Super...
Tim Benz: Penguins’ power play was the biggest villain in Game 2 loss to Flyers
After the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, goaltender Stuart Skinner channeled the musical “Annie.” “When the sun comes up tomorrow, it’s a new day. A new opportunity for us to get better and become tighter as a group,” Skinner said after the Pens fell...
First Call: How Steelers could deal with Broderick Jones’ ‘setback’; Will Howard to get QB1 reps if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t signVideo
After a busy weekend, we wrap up a lot of what’s going on in Monday’s “First Call.” Broderick Jones might be dealing with a neck setback. Art Rooney II spoke about the prospect of drafting a quarterback. We also discuss the crowded National League Central, check in on a former...
Tim Benz: As Acrisure Stadium hosts NFL Draft week, here are the top 25 Steelers picks since the building opened
The Pittsburgh Steelers have drafted 25 rookie classes since Acrisure Stadium replaced Three Rivers Stadium in 2001. Last week at “Breakfast With Benz,” we tried to determine the best player from each of those draft classes. With draft week upon us at Acrisure, we conclude our retrospective by ranking the...
Madden Monday: About the Pens-Flyers Game 1 — ‘If we want to point fingers, I don’t have enough hands’
Not only did the Pittsburgh Penguins lose their 2026 playoff opener to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena, they also did so in concerning fashion. The team managed just 17 shots on goal during the 3-2 loss. The power play was feckless on both of its...
