Pat Freiermuth ‘flushes’ costly OT fumble, moves on for Steelers

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 5:24 p.m. | Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021 5:24 p.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth walks off the field after fumbling in overtime of Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field. Freiermuth said Wednesday he has moved on from the incident.

Pat Freiermuth, largely, has lived a charmed football life. State championships in high school. All-conference in college. A second-round NFL Draft pick who was getting rave reviews midway through his rookie season.

Then came Sunday, when the tight end’s fumble late in overtime cost the Pittsburgh Steelers a chance to win in what ended up a 16-16 tie with the winless Detroit Lions.

“It’s bound to happen,” Freiermuth said of making a costly mistake. “I think I’ve been lucky throughout my whole career at Penn State and up until that last weekend that I’ve never really had those hiccups, so it was bound to happen, so I’ve just got to learn from it and move on. Just kind of flush it and come into this week, make sure the emphasis is on ball security and all that.”

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth on moving on after his tie-causing OT fumble Sunday pic.twitter.com/ihG74XdjQp

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) November 17, 2021

Arguably, the trait that has drawn Freiermuth the most plaudits and perhaps is most responsible for his success is he’s so sure-handed. And while that is offered in the context that he rarely drops passes and has a way of coming down with receptions even when there is a heavy defensive presence, that typically would extend to not being prone to fumbles, too.

Sunday’s fumble came on a play that began with 15 seconds left in what was a rain-soaked game and the Steelers in position for a 57-yard field goal try. Freiermuth caught a pass that was going to be a short gain and appeared to be trying to get to the sideline in order to stop the clock.

“I think conditions played into it, (but) I just messed up,” Freiermuth said. “I wasn’t fundamental with it. I have to be better with it in those critical situations.”

Freiermuth said he abided by a “24-hour rule” that you leave every game — the good and the bad — in the past after a day has passed.

“Obviously, it (stunk) when it happened and after the game,” Freiermuth said. “But my parents have been great, and everyone in my support corner have been great. Guys on the team, they were awesome after the game in the locker room, coming up to me and making sure everything was OK. But I just have to flush it, learn from it and move on.”

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.