Pittsburgh Steelers / NFL category
Under Omar Khan, Steelers established trend of drafting champions
As Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham sat down to address media late last month in the immediate aftermath of the team taking cornerback Daylen Everette in the draft, the very first topic Graham addressed was that Everette came “from a good program down there in Georgia.” Indeed, Everette played...
First Call: Arizona WR is recruiting Aaron Rodgers; Robert Kraft pushes for 18-game NFL regular season
Wednesday’s “First Call” advances the conversation about whether the Arizona Cardinals are interested in Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There’s more talk about the NFL going to an 18-game schedule. It’s a Paul Skenes Day in Arizona. And Robert Morris hosts an opening round game in the men’s NCAA lacrosse...
3rd-round pick Daylen Everette has the size, demeanor Steelers look for in cornerbacksVideo
Of the 32 cornerbacks measured at the NFL Combine, only three weighed more than Daylen Everette’s 196 pounds. Among the cornerbacks who ran the 40-yard dash at the combine, only one had a faster time than Everette (4.38 seconds). It’s easy to see why the Pittsburgh Steelers were intrigued enough...
First Call: Ex-Steelers QB signs with Ravens; Chase Claypool’s tryout in Green Bay; Flyers down 0-2 to Carolina
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” an ex-Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback lands in Baltimore. Chase Claypool is still looking for work. Penguins fans can enjoy another Flyers loss in their current series against Carolina. And the Pirates look to stay hot in Arizona after their sweep to close out a homestand at PNC...
Steelers sign tight end Jaheim Bell
The Pittsburgh Steelers added another tight end to their roster with organized team activities on the horizon, signing Jaheim Bell on Monday. Bell, 24, appeared in 15 games as a rookie for the 2024 New England Patriots, who had drafted him in the seventh round. The 6-foot-2, 241-pound Bell played...
Attorney for Lions fan in DK Metcalf altercation: prosecutor’s decision has ‘no effect’ on civil case
The attorney representing the Detroit Lions fan involved in the December altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf brushed aside the decision by a prosecutor to decline to press charges. Jon Marko of Detroit-based Marko Law said last week’s announcement by the Wayne County prosecutor’s office that it is denying...
First Call: Steelers QB Drew Allar has a hot-selling jersey; new video of Dallas’ role in Makai Lemon draft saga
Monday’s “First Call” has unearthed footage related to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Round 1 NFL Draft drama. The NFL schedule release may be delayed. A Steelers rookie has a hot jersey on the market. And the Robert Morris lacrosse team is bound for the NCAA Tournament. Behind the scenes By now,...
Fullback Riley Nowakowski could find key role in Mike McCarthy’s ‘2-back offense’ with Steelers
Mike McCarthy designed quarterback-friendly passing attacks in both Green Bay and Dallas, but he always found room in his offense for a lowly fullback. The Pittsburgh Steelers had none on the roster until they used a Day 3 draft pick on Indiana’s Riley Nowakowski, a multi-positional player who could expand...
Size, speed, military background make Steelers’ Robert Spears-Jennings an atypical 7th-rounder
Content with his place among the organizational hierarchy — and perhaps self-aware of his lane and his strengths — Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach Joe Whitt Jr. gave an honest answer when asked when seventh-round pick Robert Spears-Jennings first got onto his personal radar. “When (the scouting department) gave me...
H.S. coach calls Steelers 2nd-round pick Germie Bernard ‘the complete package’
In the days leading up to the NFL Draft, Alabama receiver Germie Bernard heard from his agent that the Pittsburgh Steelers were interested at pick 53. So, once Day 2 of the draft got underway, family and friends gathered at his parents’ house in Las Vegas to count along with...
Prosecutor elects not to press charges against Steelers’ DK Metcalf for incident with Lions fan
Citing, in part, that the fan involved in the alleged incident was not injured, a prosecutor from the Detroit area denied a request to charge Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf for his role in an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan during a game in December. A spokesperson for the...
Beyond the Bylines: Steelers’ offensive tackle decisions, Penguins’ goalie plans, Pirates’ defense, 1980s board games
This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” covers lots of ground. Joe Starkey and I start off with the news about Broderick Jones failing to receive a fifth-year option from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then we navigate the Steelers’ constant tinkering with the offensive tackle position, Mike McCarthy’s continued praise for Will Howard...
First Call: Steelers reportedly declining Broderick Jones’ option; Mike McCarthy labels Will Howard an NFL ‘starter’
Broderick Jones isn’t getting a fifth-year option from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The player the Steelers wanted to pick in the 2026 draft has already signed a contract in Philadelphia. Mike McCarthy continues to throw flowers at the feet of Will Howard. The Penguins-Flyers rivalry drew big TV ratings. And the...
Gabriel Rubio joins father, Angel, in being drafted by Steelers — and post-career interest in firefighting
Angel Rubio and his son were making a two-hour drive Thursday morning from their home in the St. Louis area to a family cabin remote enough that it’s devoid of cellular service. “I don’t have to take any (calls or emails),” Rubio said with a chuckle via phone while on...
U mad, bro?: Penguins’ playoff loss to Flyers, Steelers’ draft choices have fans on tilt
Losing to the Philadelphia Flyers always makes Pittsburgh fans mad. Losing in the playoffs makes Pittsburgh fans irate. Losing in the playoffs to the Flyers makes all of Pittsburgh enraged. That’s what happened Wednesday night, and it doesn’t appear that we are handling it well. At least everyone in the...
First Call: Mike Tomlin rumored as Patriots’ target if Mike Vrabel exits; Steelers ‘alerted’ Aaron Rodgers about UFA tag
Thursday’s “First Call” highlights a wild story about Mike Tomlin’s name coming up for a potential NFL coaching vacancy. There’s an update on that Aaron Rodgers UFA tag. George Pickens’ contract fate is known. And Robert Morris is going to be a lacrosse hotbed this weekend. Another Mike for Mike?...
‘A lotta respect for that program’: Steelers again and again turn to Iowa players in draft
Growing up in Pittsburgh’s South Hills and starring in football at Upper St. Clair High School in the 1970s, it was only natural that Kirk Ferentz would be a fan of the Steelers. “I mean, how could you not be?” Ferentz said, referencing the burgeoning Steel Curtain dynasty. These days,...
Tim Benz: Aaron Rodgers’ UFA tender from the Steelers is just a paper move, but the words still mean something
The most expeditious way to sift through the cumbersome language surrounding the UFA tag the Steelers placed on quarterback Aaron Rodgers this week is to simply call it “a paper move.” It’s just procedural. It’s insurance so the Steelers can extend the compensation formula window. It has closed for any...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger isn’t wild about Drew Allar; Art Rooney II addresses Jerry Jones’ ‘bad side’ comments
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Ben Roethlisberger’s reaction to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ selection of Drew Allar. Art Rooney II responds to Jerry Jones’ draft day concerns. The Penguins hope some bad karma impacts the Philadelphia Flyers. And I need to say goodbye to a friend. The jury is out In his...
Steelers draft pick Dunker made name for himself as hay-bale tossing champ in Iowa
How many NFL Draft prospects could claim to be a two-time champion of the Solon Beef Days hay bale toss? Forget about any all- conference honor or academic award. The beefiest accolade in this year’s class belonged to Gennings Dunker, a crowd favorite in Pittsburgh thanks to his audacious red-haired mullet....
Steelers bring back WR Brandon Johnson, release John Rhys Plumlee
The Pittsburgh Steelers brought back wide receiver Brandon Johnson, announcing his signing three days after the NFL Draft ended. Johnson, 27, has appeared in 23 NFL regular-season games, including three with the Steelers (with one catch) in 2024. Over 2022-23 as an undrafted rookie and second-year player with the Denver...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: What is the Steelers’ ideal quarterback depth chart?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo … Nolan in New Ken, @nolan_in_NK: Good day to you, Joe! As we sit...
Steelers tender Aaron Rodgers contract with 10% raise, hold his exclusive rights once camp startsVideo
A procedural deadline passed in NFL free agency Monday, and the Pittsburgh Steelers acted via a method that makes it a little more likely that they keep Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers extended a UFA tender to the 42-year-old, four-time NFL MVP quarterback, offering a salary at 110% of what he...
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...
