6 years since last NFL game, 9 years since last for Steelers, Brad Wing to punt for them Sunday

Brad Wing had an eventful day on New Year’s Eve 2017. Playing for the New York Giants, Wing tied a career high with nine punts and had one of five career tackles during an 18-10 win against Washington.

But as Wing walked out of MetLife Stadium that evening, he couldn’t have thought his NFL career was ending. Unlikelier still? That it was just about to embark on a six-year hiatus.

On Sunday, Wing is on track to appear in his first NFL game since then. Signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad earlier this week, Wing is the proverbial next man up now that regular Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III was ruled out of playing against the Houston Texans on Sunday because of a hamstring injury.

“It’s been surreal,” Wing said after practice Friday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Just very grateful to be back here, obviously very appreciative toward coach (Mike) Tomlin and everybody here, and looking forward to having an opportunity.”

Now 32 years old, Wing’s game experience over the six years since being released by the Giants has been limited to 13 games and 58 punts for the Memphis Express and San Antonio Brahmas. The former was part of the failed Alliance of American Football during the spring of 2019 and the latter as part of the third installment of the XFL earlier this year.

Despite just three live games worth of punting over the prior five years, Wing in 2022 happened to come across an Instagram post featuring notice of a combine for specialists for the XFL’s anticipated 2023 reboot.

He ended up on the Brahmas, who are coached by former Steelers star Hines Ward.

“I loved it, man,” Wing said. “I thought my football days were over, I thought I’d never play again, so I was just really grateful to be out there playing, and having Hines Ward just made it a whole lot sweeter.”

Adding to the Steelers ties was that another franchise Super Bowl icon, Joey Porter, was on the Brahmas coaching staff. Wing recalled how late last season on a team bus ride he noticed a young man who he thought was signed to the roster.

“Someone said, ‘No, that’s Joey’s son,’ ” Wing said.

Joey Porter Jr., of course, is now a rookie cornerback with the Steelers.

Until Wednesday, similar to Porter Sr. and Ward, Wing too was a former Steeler. He served as their punter in 2014, getting traded at the end of the 2015 training camp after battling against fellow Australian Jordan Berry throughout the preseason.

“I love this place,” Wing said. “I’ve always loved this place, even when I went to play elsewhere. This is a special place. I stayed in contact with a lot of people here. To be brought back in, not only the signing or the opportunity, just see the faces, it’s amazing. It’s just been awesome.”

Wing makes his home in Baton Rouge, La., where he has a 10-year-old son.

“He’s playing offensive line,” Wing said with a smile. “Couldn’t be more different.”

Plans were being made for that son to make it to Houston — a four-hour drive — for Sunday’s game. Pending Harvin’s status — Harvin early Friday did not rule himself out to punt against the Texans — Wing could be back home in Louisiana by early next week.

If so, he’ll vow to have himself ready to punt for the San Antonio Brahmas next spring.

“(Ward) was telling me that he wanted me back there next year,” Wing said, “if nothing else happened.”

Note: Aside from Harvin and starting right guard James Daniels, all other players on the Steelers’ active roster practiced fully Friday and were given the official green light to play Sunday. That includes receivers Allen Robinson (ankle) and Gunner Olszewski (concussion), tight end Darnell Washington (knee) and defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (foot).

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here