Steelers/NFL category, Page 131
Steelers sign 5 to reserve/future deals; strength and conditioning coach departs
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to replenish their offseason roster, announcing the signing five players to reserve/future contracts Tuesday. Three of the signings are cornerbacks. Each of the five spent at least part of this past season on the Steelers’ practice squad: • Outside linebacker David Perales was among the undrafted...
Steelers notes: T.J. Watt presents Super Bowl trip to army vet, former exec let go by Panthers
An Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient was chosen to receive a trip to the Super Bowl as part of a promotion involving Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Wounded in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan, Army reservist Adam Alexander — like Watt — is a Wisconsin native. According...
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. named to PFWA all-rookie team
Joey Porter Jr. began his rookie season as a subpackage defender for the Pittsburgh Steelers. By midseason, he was their “shutdown” No. 1 cornerback. On Tuesday, he was honored as one of the top rookies in the league. Porter Jr. was named to the Professional Football Writers of America all-rookie...
First Call: A free-agent CB may remain in Pittsburgh; other NFL hires may impact Steelers’ OC search
Tuesday’s “First Call” features some speculation about the future of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Levi Wallace. We have some NFL coaching and front-office news with Steelers connections. And in local college hoops news, both Pitt and Duquesne are in action. Still liking Levi? According to at least one national post,...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin says Steelers are closer to NFL’s elite than they were last year. Is he right?
During his season-ending press conference Thursday, head coach Mike Tomlin was asked if he thought that the gap between his Pittsburgh Steelers and the teams playing in this weekend’s divisional round of the NFL playoffs was smaller than it was a year ago. “Certainly. But we’re watching and not playing,”...
Steelers notes: Rams’ Zac Robinson reportedly to interview for O-coordinator
Los Angeles Rams pass-game coordinator Zac Robinson will interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers for their vacant offensive coordinator job, Sports Illustrated reported Monday. Robinson, 37, just completed his fifth season on the Rams’ staff under head coach Sean McVay. Following two seasons as assistant quarterbacks coach and one as assistant...
Steelers’ 2024 schedule highlighted by 1st trip to Washington in 8 years, both N.Y. teams at home
Only two players on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ current roster have played in a game for the team in the greater Washington, D.C., area. How long has it been since the Steelers played there? The team was called the Redskins. Two naming iterations later, the Steelers this year will make a...
Madden Monday: Steelers will try to protect Kenny Pickett by letting Mason Rudolph walk
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden from 105.9 The X joined us from Las Vegas. And if he is in a gambling mood, Madden says he’ll be betting against significant changes coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. Particularly at offensive coordinator, even though the Steelers insist that...
Tim Benz: Another offseason for the Steelers, more of the same old debates
As the Pittsburgh Steelers hit the 2024 offseason, it occurs like so many others in the recent past. • The 2020 offseason followed an 8-8, non-playoff year with questions about how a surgically repaired elbow would impact Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. • The 2021 offseason followed a 12-4 year that...
First Call: Former Patriot mocks Steelers’ attempt at defending him; ex-Steeler heads back to UFL team
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hearing some trash talk from a former Patriot about the 2016 AFC Championship Game long after it happened. A former wide receiver on the club is heading back to his old team in the UFL. The Penguins are now using the Arizona Coyotes as a measuring...
Thomas Jefferson great recalls memorable tryout with Steelers
Gary Gomolak is a big-time name in Thomas Jefferson football lore. Considered one of the best players in team history as a 6-foot-3, 197-pound tight end/safety, Gomolak was one of the most heavily recruited athletes at TJ. Gomolak received offers from Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, South Carolina,...
Mike Tomlin says Steelers’ Keeanu Benton could be ‘dominant.’ Benton wants to prove him right
Mike Tomlin isn’t exactly known as the type of coach who freely dispenses praise for young players. So when in answering the 58th question asked of him during his season-ending news conference last week, Tomlin didn’t restrain in extolling rookie Keeanu Benton, it opened eyes. “I think he’s capable of...
3 things that went right for Steelers offense, 3 that new offensive coordinator must fix
Mike Tomlin is going outside of his comfort zone — and the organization — to find his next offensive coordinator. Not since Todd Haley was hired in 2012 have the Steelers looked beyond the walls of 3400 South Water Street for the person in charge of leading the offense. The...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Don’t expect many surprises from Steelers this offseason
A summation of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 offseason before it happens: • Mike Tomlin retained as coach, given contract extension. (Already halfway home on that.) • Somebody connected to the organization or city hired as offensive coordinator. Byron Leftwich seems the heavy favorite. #BuddySystem • Mitch Trubisky cut. Mason Rudolph...
Examining potential offensive coordinator candidates for Steelers
For only the second time since 1999, the Pittsburgh Steelers will go outside the organization to find their offensive coordinator. Coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that he wants to bring in a newcomer as the full-time replacement for Matt Canada, who was dismissed in November midway through his third season...
Steelers’ T.J. Watt will skip Pro Bowl event because of injury
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt will not participate in the NFL’s Pro Bowl games because of a knee injury that prevented him from playing in last week’s playoff game. The Cleveland Browns gave word of Watt’s absence via the announcement that two of their players — linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah...
Football Footnotes: Beyond the QBs, analyzing 5 other points Mike Tomlin made about improving the Steelers
This week’s “Football Footnotes” provides an in-depth look at many topics Mike Tomlin addressed regarding the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers during his season-ending press conference. Except for the quarterbacks. We talked about them already. But there are plenty of other marshmallows in this bowl of Lucky Charms. The big picture Tomlin...
Tim Benz: Mason Rudolph should charge Steelers a ‘trust tax’ if they try to sign him
During the course of quarterback Mason Rudolph’s unlikely three-game win streak to help push the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs, coach Mike Tomlin often seemed guarded in his praise of the former third-stringer. It was almost as if Tomlin didn’t want to feed the hype surrounding his resurgence. Or,...
Mike Tomlin looking for experienced NFL offensive coordinator to join Steelers’ staff
If Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin were placing a help wanted ad for a new offensive coordinator, he likely would include the following phrase: “Those without previous experience need not apply.” Tomlin said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference that he wants his next offensive coordinator to have NFL coordinating...
Kenny Pickett back to Steelers QB1 but Mike Tomlin hopes Mason Rudolph returns to competeVideo
He didn’t resort to trademark “Tomlinisms,” or deploy the extra wordiness he’s sometimes wont to do. Instead, Mike Tomlin’s use of an extraordinarily elongated vowel delivered most of his message when he was asked about the man who still seeks to be the Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise quarterback. “It’s a huuuuuuuge...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirms his return at season-ending press conference
Mike Tomlin is ready to fulfill the final year of his contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he’s confident the 2024 season won’t be his last with the organization. Fresh off his 17th season with the Steelers, Tomlin said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference that he is confident an...
Nebraska hires away Steelers offensive assistant Glenn Thomas as co-coordinator
The offseason coaching carousel has begun to spin, with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first assistant coach leaving the staff. The University of Nebraska hired Steelers offensive assistant Glenn Thomas as its co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the school announced via a release. Thomas, a veteran of more than two decades of...
First Call: Speculation about Aaron Donald’s plans; former Steelers WR Martavis Bryant staying with Cowboys
There are quite a few NFL items in Thursday’s “First Call.” Many of them have Pittsburgh ties. Greenfield’s Mike McCarthy is getting another crack with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are also keeping a former Steelers wide receiver. Penn Hills and Pitt legend Aaron Donald has to make a decision...
U mad, bro?: Another Steelers season ends without a playoff win, so fans are in an angry mood
A Steelers season has ended in playoff failure for the fifth time since 2016. So fans are mad at the coach, the players and, most importantly, the media that covers them. As a member of that media contingent, I take no responsibility for the Steelers’ shortcomings in the playoffs. I...
Steelers add 17 players to reserve/futures contracts, including former Saints WR Marquez Callaway
The Pittsburgh Steelers began the process of roster construction for the 2024 season by signing 17 players to reserve/futures contracts Wednesday. The group includes nine players who finished the season on the Steelers practice squad. Returning to the offseason roster are defensive back Luq Barcoo, wide receiver Denzel Mims, running...
