Steelers/NFL category, Page 128
Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. finalist for defensive rookie of the year; T.J. Watt DPOY finalist
The NFL announced finalists for its eight most notable football-related awards Thursday. The Pittsburgh Steelers had two, both for defense. One was widely expected; the other, a pleasant surprise. T.J. Watt was a finalist for AP Defensive Player of the Year for a fourth time. The NFL’s sacks leader in...
Bill Cowher on AFC Championship Game losses: ‘It hurts more than losing the Super Bowl’
As Conference Championship Weekend approaches in the National Football League, now feels like a good time to point out that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the AFC Championship game more times (16) than any other team. I feel the need to do that because when they last qualified for...
First Call: Steelers interview 1st OC candidate; Mike Sullivan talks to Raiders; Teryl Austin likely staying
Thursday’s “First Call” has tons of news about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coordinators. Their defensive coordinator appears to be staying. One of the former offensive coordinators might be leaving, and a candidate to replace him has been interviewed. Meanwhile, the franchise will get an extra round against a Harbaugh brother in...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans argue about Mike Tomlin, rip media coverage of QBs, quote ‘Macbeth’
In this week’s “U mad, bro?” readers lash out at media coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback situation. They blast the Steelers’ secondary. They defend Mike Tomlin. They rip Mike Tomlin. And they quote Shakespeare. Of course they do. My readership is like, you know, totally well-read n’at. Sean wasn’t...
After whirlwind season, Steelers’ Trenton Thompson knows nothing is guaranteed
A week after most NFL training camps opened last summer, safety Trenton Thompson was little more than an unemployed ballplayer. “In my mind, I was prepping to get ready to play for the now-UFL, the United Football League,” Thompson said last week, referencing his mindset on the first day of...
Myles Garrett beats out Steelers’ T.J. Watt for Defensive Player of the Year
T.J. Watt won’t find out if he will win a second AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award for another two weeks. But Wednesday, it was announced he lost out to Myles Garrett for a similar honor. Garrett, the Cleveland Browns’ star edge defender, was named the Professional Football...
Mark Madden: Steelers should pursue veteran QB; expect familiar face as offensive coordinator
Refreshing sports notes: They’re popular, they’re a lazy writer’s retreat and they super-serve the limited attention span of the stupid. Everybody wins! • Lots of fuss is being made about prime targets for the Steelers’ offensive coordinator job: Zac Robinson, Kliff Kingsbury, etc. Here’s betting the Steelers get whoever the...
First Call: Kliff Kingsbury to ‘talk to’ Steelers about OC job; Mike Munchak perhaps interested in coaching again
A well-known NFL media member has quarterback and coordinator ideas for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Steelers coach may want to get back in the game. And we get an update on Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” King on Kingsbury According to longtime...
Tim Benz: Steelers fans likely to be disappointed with team’s QB situation next season
Most Pittsburgh Steelers fans want to see a significant shakeup at quarterback. And most of them are going to wind up upset. That’s my read after an informal web poll I conducted on social media. These are basically the four choices the Steelers have when it comes to what they...
Steelers sign 5 to reserve/future deals; strength and conditioning coach departs
The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to replenish their offseason roster, announcing the signing five players to reserve/future contracts Tuesday. Three of the signings are cornerbacks. Each of the five spent at least part of this past season on the Steelers’ practice squad: • Outside linebacker David Perales was among the undrafted...
Steelers notes: T.J. Watt presents Super Bowl trip to army vet, former exec let go by Panthers
An Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient was chosen to receive a trip to the Super Bowl as part of a promotion involving Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Wounded in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan, Army reservist Adam Alexander — like Watt — is a Wisconsin native. According...
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. named to PFWA all-rookie team
Joey Porter Jr. began his rookie season as a subpackage defender for the Pittsburgh Steelers. By midseason, he was their “shutdown” No. 1 cornerback. On Tuesday, he was honored as one of the top rookies in the league. Porter Jr. was named to the Professional Football Writers of America all-rookie...
First Call: A free-agent CB may remain in Pittsburgh; other NFL hires may impact Steelers’ OC search
Tuesday’s “First Call” features some speculation about the future of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Levi Wallace. We have some NFL coaching and front-office news with Steelers connections. And in local college hoops news, both Pitt and Duquesne are in action. Still liking Levi? According to at least one national post,...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin says Steelers are closer to NFL’s elite than they were last year. Is he right?
During his season-ending press conference Thursday, head coach Mike Tomlin was asked if he thought that the gap between his Pittsburgh Steelers and the teams playing in this weekend’s divisional round of the NFL playoffs was smaller than it was a year ago. “Certainly. But we’re watching and not playing,”...
Steelers notes: Rams’ Zac Robinson reportedly to interview for O-coordinator
Los Angeles Rams pass-game coordinator Zac Robinson will interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers for their vacant offensive coordinator job, Sports Illustrated reported Monday. Robinson, 37, just completed his fifth season on the Rams’ staff under head coach Sean McVay. Following two seasons as assistant quarterbacks coach and one as assistant...
Steelers’ 2024 schedule highlighted by 1st trip to Washington in 8 years, both N.Y. teams at home
Only two players on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ current roster have played in a game for the team in the greater Washington, D.C., area. How long has it been since the Steelers played there? The team was called the Redskins. Two naming iterations later, the Steelers this year will make a...
Madden Monday: Steelers will try to protect Kenny Pickett by letting Mason Rudolph walk
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden from 105.9 The X joined us from Las Vegas. And if he is in a gambling mood, Madden says he’ll be betting against significant changes coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. Particularly at offensive coordinator, even though the Steelers insist that...
Tim Benz: Another offseason for the Steelers, more of the same old debates
As the Pittsburgh Steelers hit the 2024 offseason, it occurs like so many others in the recent past. • The 2020 offseason followed an 8-8, non-playoff year with questions about how a surgically repaired elbow would impact Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback. • The 2021 offseason followed a 12-4 year that...
First Call: Former Patriot mocks Steelers’ attempt at defending him; ex-Steeler heads back to UFL team
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hearing some trash talk from a former Patriot about the 2016 AFC Championship Game long after it happened. A former wide receiver on the club is heading back to his old team in the UFL. The Penguins are now using the Arizona Coyotes as a measuring...
Thomas Jefferson great recalls memorable tryout with Steelers
Gary Gomolak is a big-time name in Thomas Jefferson football lore. Considered one of the best players in team history as a 6-foot-3, 197-pound tight end/safety, Gomolak was one of the most heavily recruited athletes at TJ. Gomolak received offers from Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Indiana, Purdue, South Carolina,...
Mike Tomlin says Steelers’ Keeanu Benton could be ‘dominant.’ Benton wants to prove him right
Mike Tomlin isn’t exactly known as the type of coach who freely dispenses praise for young players. So when in answering the 58th question asked of him during his season-ending news conference last week, Tomlin didn’t restrain in extolling rookie Keeanu Benton, it opened eyes. “I think he’s capable of...
3 things that went right for Steelers offense, 3 that new offensive coordinator must fix
Mike Tomlin is going outside of his comfort zone — and the organization — to find his next offensive coordinator. Not since Todd Haley was hired in 2012 have the Steelers looked beyond the walls of 3400 South Water Street for the person in charge of leading the offense. The...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Don’t expect many surprises from Steelers this offseason
A summation of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 offseason before it happens: • Mike Tomlin retained as coach, given contract extension. (Already halfway home on that.) • Somebody connected to the organization or city hired as offensive coordinator. Byron Leftwich seems the heavy favorite. #BuddySystem • Mitch Trubisky cut. Mason Rudolph...
Examining potential offensive coordinator candidates for Steelers
For only the second time since 1999, the Pittsburgh Steelers will go outside the organization to find their offensive coordinator. Coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that he wants to bring in a newcomer as the full-time replacement for Matt Canada, who was dismissed in November midway through his third season...
Steelers’ T.J. Watt will skip Pro Bowl event because of injury
Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt will not participate in the NFL’s Pro Bowl games because of a knee injury that prevented him from playing in last week’s playoff game. The Cleveland Browns gave word of Watt’s absence via the announcement that two of their players — linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah...
