Pat Freiermuth was beaming after practice Friday. And not just because it was the final practice before the regular season begins.
“It was cool seeing him walk off the field,” Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson said of Freiermuth, his No. 1 tight end. “Pat is always smiling — but just to see such a big smile on his face was huge.”
Freiermuth was happier than usual because he and the Steelers had agreed to a five-year contract that will keep the 25-year-old tight end with the organization through the 2028 season.
The contract is worth $49.88 million, according to a league source. It includes $48.4 million in new money.
Freiermuth was entering the final year of his rookie contract that included a $1.48 million base salary for 2024.
“Just so happy for that man,” Wilson said.
“He’s worked so hard, and he’s passionate about the game of football and he’s a great teammate, a great leader.”
Freiermuth, the team’s second-round pick out of Penn State in the 2021 draft, has 155 receptions for 1,537 yards and 11 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Steelers. Although Freiermuth had career lows with 32 catches, 308 yards and two touchdowns last season, he is expected to be a big part of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme.
“Pat is a unique player,” Smith said Thursday. “He had a lot of early success in this league, a lot of success at Penn State. He has a great feel in space. … You see guys that just get it. They find windows in the zone, they know how to set up guys in man (coverage). He has a really good feel as a tight end, as a space player.”
The Steelers were trying to sign Freiermuth to a new contract before their negotiating window closed Saturday afternoon. Per franchise policy, the Steelers cease contract negotiations once the team embarks on travel for its regular-season opener. The Steelers leave for Atlanta on Saturday in advance of Sunday’s game against the Falcons.
Earlier this week, the Steelers signed defensive tackle Cameron Heyward to a three-year, $45 million contract through the 2026 season.
Friday’s news was met with an impromptu celebration at the Steelers facility. Tight end MyCole Pruitt joked as he walked through the locker room, “Pat’s buying everyone shoes.”
“We made some jokes with him about how he’s paying for the next offensive (unit group) dinner,” quarterback Justin Fields said. “Glad he was able to work that out, and excited to see him play on Sunday.”
