Isaac Seumalo brings experience, respect, history of winning to Steelers offense

New Pittsburgh Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo played next to two of the best offensive linemen in the NFL last season.

Two of the best and two of the most experienced.

Seumalo had 35-year-old Jason Kelce to his left and 32-year-old Lane Johnson to his right with the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson was first-team AP All-Pro right tackle; Kelce the first-team center. The pair has combined for eight All-Pro nominations and 10 Pro Bowl berths.

Now, the 29-year-old Seumalo can bring what he learned to Pittsburgh.

“The biggest thing for me,” Seumalo said of joining the Steelers as a free agent, “is that coming from a team where I wasn’t necessarily the oldest guy, now I am like one of the older — if not the oldest — guy on the offense. That has definitely been a cool deal for me.”

Seumalo, who took part in his first practices with his new team last week at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, is the third-oldest player on the Steelers offense, behind only reserve tackle LeRaven Clark and No. 3 wide receiver Allen Robinson.

Isaac Seumalo on joining an organization he says is family-like pic.twitter.com/7htdz2dcgE

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 25, 2023

“As you get older, especially physically, (there are) a little more creaks, a little more cracks, a little more pre-practice and pregame prep and post-practice stuff,” Seumalo said.

“I don’t know everything (even as a veteran), so I am here to learn. I am here to get better. And if I can help other guys, cool. If not, that’s cool, too. I am here for whatever I can do. I just want to win.”

Seumalo did that last season, playing 96% of the offensive snaps while helping the Eagles to the NFL’s best record (14-3) and NFC championship that facilitated his start in Super Bowl LVII.

When the Steelers signed him to a three-year, $24 million contract in March, Seumalo became a commodity Steelers fans aren’t accustomed to admitting is needed in this town: a veteran coming from a winning organization brought into Pittsburgh, in part, to help establish the winning culture for the Steelers.

“I know it hasn’t been recent, but there is a big winning culture here,” Seumalo said of the Steelers. “The fan base is similar to where I was the last couple years. Coach (Mike) Tomlin is everything that (his reputation from the outside suggests); being close to him, he’s been like that. And obviously the offense, the o-line room and the opportunity there has been really good.

“I am embracing the new challenge and opportunity and been enjoying it, for sure.”

Late on the sixth day since NFL teams were free to negotiate with this offseason’s free agents, the #Steelers nabbed one of the biggest names still available. https://t.co/ynySosYX0v

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) March 19, 2023

As the Steelers’ projected left guard this season, Seumalo almost certainly will have a 22-year-old rookie to his left. That Broderick Jones — as a first-round pick, college national champion and reigning All-SEC honoree — is no normal rookie doesn’t change the shift in dynamic of what is expected out of Seumalo. He has gone from looking up to more accomplished teammates to being that respected authority being looked up to.

Judging by what Kelce told reporters in Philadelphia last week, he believes Seumalo is more than ready for the duty.

“I think he’s one of the best guards in the NFL,” Kelce said. “ … one of the most consistent players I’ve ever been around, one of the most consistent people I’ve ever been around.

“He’s probably the smartest player I’ve ever been around. Really, really gifted physically, mentally, across the board. So I think the Steelers are getting a steal.”

The elder statesmen of the Steelers’ projected starting offensive line and the someone who has been on the field for more playoff wins (five) than everybody else on the starting offense combined, Seumalo believes that kind of postseason success has followed him to Pittsburgh.

“Offensively, we have a lot of weapons,” Seumalo said, “and as with all teams, it always starts inside in the trenches. So the better we can be, the better the team can be.”

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