Steelers' tight end corps as close-knit as it is brimming with potential

Zach Gentry was talking to the media after a practice earlier this summer when he was asked about how close-knit the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight ends position room is.

As if on cue, at that exact moment Pat Freiermuth politely interrupted the interview to quickly confirm the pair’s plans for later that evening, complete with a brief “bro hug.”

“We are all super close off the field,” Gentry said, “as Pat is standing right there, trying to take my attention. But seriously, we are all super tight, which makes it really easy to work with those guys and have the real conversations about things that need to get done.”

Freiermuth, Gentry, Kevin Rader, Connor Heyward and Jace Sternberger form one of the smallest position groups on the team, and they might be the position room with the closest bond. Rader and Gentry are in their fourth training camps with the Steelers, Freiermuth his second and Sternberger is in his eighth month as part of the organization. Heyward is a rookie sixth-round pick.

With Freiermuth poised for a possible breakout, Gentry’s evolution into an ideal “TE2,” Rader’s development as a strong blocker, Sternberger’s pedigree as a 2019 third-round pick and Heyward’s intriguing potential, the Steelers feel good about the position headed into the season. The organization showed as much when it allowed veteran Eric Ebron to leave via free agency and made no addition to the position other than taking Heyward late in the draft.

“I think that they expressed confidence in us,” Freiermuth said. “With drafting Connor and keeping Jace, I think that we have a really good tight end group right now. We compete every single day and are excited to show it.”

There have been indications that the Steelers will deploy more multiple tight end looks this season.

“The chemistry between us is awesome,” Rader said. “Really, the environment, even bringing Connor in, we are very welcoming. He’s fit in great. That’s a really great room.”

Headed by a sterling rookie season from Freiermuth, the Steelers tight ends combined for 101 catches, 810 yards and eight touchdowns last season (including playoffs). The only production lost from that was Ebron’s 12 catches for 84 yards. Gentry emerged late in the season, totaling 13 catches for 103 yards over the final four games, and Heyward has been one of the surprises of training camp with how productive he has been as a former college running back.

Heyward figures to have usage in coordinator Matt Canada’s offense as an H-back in addition to being an in-line and receiving tight end. Heyward, once a featured ball carrier at Michigan State, even took some reps at fullback this past week at Saint Vincent when starter Derek Watt was injured.

Like Heyward, Gentry also converted from a different college position. A one-time highly recruited quarterback prospect, Gentry began to blossom last year. At 6-foot-8, 265 pounds, he has become a weapon in the passing game and as a blocker.

Freiermuth has had none other than Ben Roethlisberger gush about his catch radius and hands. Freiermuth had the fifth-most touchdowns among NFL tight ends in 2021 with seven, as well as the 12th-most catches with 60. Only three rookie tight ends in NFL history had more touchdowns than Freiermuth did last season.

It all adds up to a group Canada is understandably excited about. The players couldn’t be happier for each other.

“All of us get along well. All of us want to get better, and we are all just happy to be here,” Heyward said. “I’m appreciative of them taking me in, and I feel good about the group and what it can accomplish.”

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