Tuesday’s “First Call” features a Pittsburgh Steelers special teams acquisition. A former Steelers coach shares one big regret, while an ex-Steelers quarterback talks about his new favorite target.
We also preview an important start for Pirates pitcher Andrew Heaney.
Special teams signing
It appears the Steelers are signing a long snapper. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, it’s Tucker Addington.
Addington is a former Texan. In some form or another, he has been with New England, Miami, Dallas, Jacksonville and Washington.
#Steelers expected to sign veteran long snapper Tucker Addington, per a league source. New Braunfels native last with #Texans and has snapped for multiple #NFL teams including #Patriots #Dolphins #Cowboys #Jaguars #Commanders @SamHoustonState @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 23, 2025
A product of Sam Houston State, Addington will absorb the open spot created when running Jonathan Ward was released last week.
The Steelers still have Christian Kuntz as their starting long snapper. Kuntz is a graduate of Chartiers Valley and played his college ball at Duquesne. He’s had the Steelers job since 2020.
Buttering him up
Appearing at a Fanatics event over the weekend with new teammate Malik Nabers, quarterback Russell Wilson said he joined the New York Giants because of Nabers’ presence on the roster.
Via Empire Sports Media’s Anthony Rivardo, the ex-Steeler said, “I came here because of him. I really wanted to play with someone who is special like him.”
Russell Wilson says Malik Nabers is the reason he signed with the Giants.
“I came here because of him. I really wanted to play with someone who is special like him.”
This connection is going to be special ???? #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/KU2H9nvi0e
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) June 21, 2025
That may be true. However, Wilson also didn’t appear to have many other options besides the Giants by the time he signed.
That said, Nabers is a promising target. Nabers posted 1,204 yards over 15 games as a rookie.
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Time not healing for Todd
Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley was on the ESPN “This is Football” video stream with Kevin Clark on Monday.
He called the Super Bowl XLIII loss he suffered to the Steelers while a member of the Arizona coaching staff the most difficult moment of his career.
“Those pains will never go away. In this league, any game, let alone the biggest game in the world, you feel like you have the game won, and you don’t win it. The experience was phenomenal, but those scars are deep, and they just don’t go away,” Haley said.
Haley says his former quarterback, Kurt Warner, constantly harps on the game’s outcome.
“Every time you talk to him, he wants to talk to you about it, and we play the blame game back and forth,” Haley added. “There’s a lot of games that you obviously would love to have back, but that one just because of the magnitude.”
When Haley says he thought the Cardinals “had the game won,” that’s because Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald went 64 yards for a touchdown to give the Cards a 23-20 lead with just over two minutes remaining.
Thankfully, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes had other ideas about how that game should end.
On this day in 2009, Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes linked up for one of the most spectacular TD grabs in @SuperBowl history!@_BigBen7 | @ToneTime10 | @steelers pic.twitter.com/jOaC2oxXMw
— NFL Legends (@NFLLegends) February 1, 2022
That contest was played in February 2009. That offseason, Haley became head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and stayed in that role until 2011.
After being fired there, Haley took over as Steelers offensive coordinator in 2012 and remained in that job until 2017.
Run it back?
Clearly, the Pirates would like to copy their 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night when the teams rematch Tuesday.
Especially Nick Gonzales. He went 5 for 5 with two RBIs. The infielder led a 14-hit attack for the Pirates, who have been notoriously sleepy at the plate this season.
One guy who wants to change a few results, though, is Andrew Heaney (3-6). He’s got a 3.94 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP to go along with 61 strikeouts and 27 walks. Those numbers are pretty decent compared to Heaney’s career averages (4.42 ERA, 1.26 WHIP).
But his last outing was rough. Heaney pitched the first half of a doubleheader in Detroit last Wednesday. He gave up seven earned runs in four innings, and the Bucs lost 9-2.
In fact, the lefty’s last five outings have been tough. The Pirates have lost four of them. He is 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA and 18 earned runs (six home runs) allowed.
Meanwhile, Freddy Peralta counters for the Brewers. He is 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP and 90 strikeouts. The 26-year-old right-hander has dropped just one decision since May 13.
The Pirates are 32-48, last in the NL Central. Milwaukee is 43-36, tied with St. Louis for second in the division.
