Pittsburgh Steelers News & Updates & Schedule, Pittsburgh, PA (2026)

02/03/2026

Steelers add to coaching staff

Monday, February 2
3:30 p.m.

The Steelers continued to add to their coaching staff, as they named James Campen offensive line coach, Jahri Evans assistant offensive line coach, Ramon Chinyoung Sr. running backs coach, Adam Henry receivers coach and Tom Arth will remain as quarterbacks coach.

Campen brings a wealth of experience with him, including playing, coaching and scouting in the NFL.

Campen most recently was with the Green Bay Packers as a scouting consultant.

Prior to his time in that role, he spent two seasons (2022-23) with the Carolina Panthers as the team's offensive line coach.

Campen spent the 2021 season with the Houston Texans and the 2020 season with the Los Angeles Chargers as the offensive line coach. He also spent the 2019 season as the associate head coach/offensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns.

Campen spent 15 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, starting as an assistant offensive line coach/quality control coach in 2004-05, and assistant offensive line coach in 2006. He was promoted to offensive line coach in 2007 and then added the title of run game coordinator in 2018. He worked with Coach Mike McCarthy during his time with the Packers.

Under Campen, the Packers had seven Pro Bowl offensive linemen.

Campen played eight seasons in the NFL, three with the New Orleans Saints (1986-88) and five with the Packers (1989-93).

Evans spent the last three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, including the 2025 season as the team's assistant offensive line coach.

Prior to his most recent role, Evans was an offensive assistant with the Saints in 2023-24. He also worked as a training camp intern for the team in 2022.

Evans was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, the 108th overall selection.

He spent 11 seasons with the Saints, finishing out his NFL playing career with the Green Bay Packers in 2017 under McCarthy. He started a total of 183 career games, 169 with the Saints, as well as 10 Saints postseason games.

Evans was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time Associated Press All-Pro selection and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2010's All-Decade Team.

During his time with the Saints, the team finished in the top 10 in total offense in all 11 seasons. The Saints gave up only 196 sacks during that time frame, the lowest in the NFC and second lowest in the NFL.

Evans was selected to the Saints Hall of Fame in 2020, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, and the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and Saints Ring of Honor in 2024. He was also a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 and a finalist for the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025.

Evans played college football at Bloomsburg, where he was a finalist for the Division II Gene Upshaw Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2004 and 2005.

Chinyoung just finished his third season with the Dallas Cowboys, and his first as an assistant offensive line coach. He spent the previous two seasons as an assistant offensive line/quality control coach.

The Cowboys finished the 2025 season ranked second in total offense, with the pass game ranked second and the run game ranked ninth. The Cowboys were ranked second in first downs per game, fourth in total yards per play, and sixth in sacks per pass play.

In 2024, Chinyoung assisted the offensive line to help the offense average 327.5 yards-per-game and 100.3 rushing yards-per-game.

In his first season with the Cowboys, Chinyoung worked with offensive lineman Zack Martin, who was named first-team Associated Press All-Pro, and Tyler Smith, who earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors. Both players were also voted to the Pro Bowl.

He broke into the NFL as an offensive quality control coach for the Denver Broncos.

Prior to the NFL, Chinyoung spent time coaching in the high school ranks. He was the head coach/campus coordinator at Fort Bend Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas from 2020-21. He also spent eight seasons (2012-19) at Westfield High School in Houston as the assistant offensive line coach (2012-15), before being promoted to assistant head coach/offensive line. (2016-19).

He attended South University where he was named first-team All-SWAC twice and a first-team All-Louisiana selection in 2009.

Henry spent the last three seasons (2023-25) as the receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills' offense finished second in the AFC, fourth overall in the NFL, in 2025, and seventh in the AFC in the passing game. The Bills were second in net passing yards per game in the AFC.

Henry worked with receivers Brandin Cooks, Gabe Davis, Stephon Diggs and Khalil Shakir, while with the Bills. Under Henry, Davis had a career-high seven touchdown receptions in 2023, and averaged 16.6 yards per reception.

In 2022, Henry spent one season at Indiana University, where he was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.

Henry spent two seasons as the receivers coach for the Dallas Cowboys (2020-21). In 2021, he helped CeeDee Lamb earn his first Pro Bowl selection when he finished the season with 79 receptions for 1,102 yards and six touchdowns. He also helped guide Lamb in 2020 establish a rookie Cowboys' record with 74 receptions, the previous one held by Bob Hayes at 46.

Henry spent two seasons as the receivers coach for the Cleveland Browns (2018-19), and in his second year both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. both had more than 1,000 yards receiving, the first time in franchise history the team had a pair of 1,000-yard receivers.

He also spent time as the receivers coach for the New York Giants (2016-17) and San Francisco 49ers (2015). Henry was the passing game coordinator and receivers coach at LSU from 2012-14.

He broke into the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders, as an offensive quality control (2007-08) and tight ends coach (2009-11).

He began his coaching career at McNeese State, starting as the receivers coach (1997-2005) and then offensive coordinator/assistant head coach (2006).

He played college football at McNeese State, and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1994.

Arth joined the Steelers in 2024, spending the last two seasons in his current role of quarterbacks coach.

In 2025, Arth worked with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, while helping develop rookie Will Howard, although he didn't see any playing time due to a training camp injury.

The offense averaged 202.4 passing yards per game, with 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

In 2024 he worked with the starting combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers averaged 192.0 passing yards per game, while having 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

Prior to joining the Steelers, Arth spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers where he was the team's passing game specialist. During his time with the Chargers, he was part of a staff that helped the offense rank fifth in passing offense and eleventh in total offense during his tenure. He also helped quarterback Justin Herbert continue to set NFL records.

Arth also spent nine seasons coaching in the college ranks, including three as the head coach at the University of Akron (2019-21). He also was the head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2017-18) and his alma mater, John Carroll, for four seasons (2013-16).

Arth's time in the NFL began when he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He spent three seasons with the Colts (2003-05).

Monday, February 2
2 p.m.

The Steelers named Jason Simmons defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs, Scott McCurley inside linebackers coach and Steve Scarnecchia chief of staff on Monday.

Simmons, who played for the Steelers, spent the last two seasons as the defensive pass game coordinator for the Washington Commanders and is entering his 16th season in the NFL. While with the Commanders, the pass defense was ranked third in the NFL in 2024, allowing 189.5 yards per game. Their opponents completed only 61.9% of their passes, ranking fourth in the NFL.

Prior to his time in Washington, Simmons was the defensive backs/pass game coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons (2022-23). His unit was responsible for three of the Raiders' five defensive touchdowns in 2023.

Simmons was the pass game coordinator/secondary coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21. Under his guidance, safety Jeremy Chinn was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team in 2020, leading all rookies with 116 tackles, while also winning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors twice.

He got his start in coaching in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers under Coach Mike McCarthy, spending nine seasons with the team.

He spent four seasons as a coaching administrator (2011-14), before being the assistant special teams coach for three seasons (2015-17). Simmons was the secondary coach in 2018, and the defensive backs coach in 2019.

Simmons was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Steelers, before signing with the Houston Texans in 2002, where he spent six seasons.

Simmons appeared in 212 games in his career, recorded 186 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions.

McCurley, who is a Western Pennsylvania native, joined the Steelers in 2025 and is entering his 20th season in the NFL. In his first season in Pittsburgh, McCurley helped linebackers Patrick Queen (120) and Payton Wilson (109) lead the team in tackles.

McCurley spent five seasons (2020-24) as the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys and a total of 19 years in the NFL, 16 in a coaching role.

McCurley oversaw the Cowboys linebackers who recorded 22 of the team's 52 sacks in 2024, while Micah Parsons recorded a team-high 12 sacks for the season, becoming the first player since Reggie White in 1982 to record at least 12 sacks in their first four seasons. Parsons went on to be named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl Games in 2024. Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks led the team with a career-high 145 tackles, including three tackles for a loss, three sacks and a team-high three forced fumbles, despite missing two games injured.

Injuries caused some shuffling at the linebacker position for the Cowboys in 2023, but the unit responded. Second-year linebacker Damone Clark moved to middle linebacker and led the team with a career-high 115 tackles, including four tackles for a loss. Markquese Bell moved from safety to linebacker and finished second on the team with 103 tackles.

The Cowboys defense was ranked third in rushing touchdowns allowed in 2022 with nine, and ninth in opponent negative rushing play percentage (9.8%). Leighton Vander Esch started 14 games, finishing second on the defense with 100 tackles, while Anthony Barr had 61 tackles. Rookie Damone Clark also stepped up under McCurley's guidance, and after missing the first seven games of the season injured, he recorded 50 tackles and two forced fumbles.

In 2021, first-round pick Micah Parsons set a Cowboys' rookie record with 13 sacks, tied for third-most in NFL history, and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Vander Esch and fellow linebacker Keanu Neal also had strong seasons and were second and third respectively on the team in tackles.

McCurley first broke into the NFL with the Green Bay Packers with Coach Mike McCarthy where he spent 13 seasons in multiple roles. He started off in coaching administration (2006-08) before spending five seasons as a defensive quality control coach (2009-13). McCurley was the team's assistant linebackers coach from 2014-17 and in 2018 was a defensive assistant.,

McCurley, who was born in New Castle, Pa. and attended Mohawk Area High School, joined the University of Pittsburgh football team as a walk-on linebacker and went on to earn a scholarship after his red-shirt season. He was a four-year letterwinner (1999-2002) and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in movement science with a coaching minor. He spent three years as a graduate assistant at Pitt, before breaking into the NFL ranks.

Scarnecchia is entering his 17th season in the NFL, his sixth in the role of chief of staff. He spent the last two seasons (2024-25) as chief of staff for the Atlanta Falcons, and the previous three seasons (2121-23) in the same role with the New York Jets. He also was the assistant to the head coach with the Falcons from 2015-20.

In his roles in Atlanta and New York, he was responsible for coordinating the team's daily meetings and practice schedules and the overall football activities calendar. In addition, he established the budget for football operations and scheduling practices and organized team and staff events and provided administrative assistance to the coaching and operations staff.

02/03/2026

Position Reviews: Wide Receivers

Wide receivers: Calvin Austin III, DK Metcalf, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Roman Wilson.

The focus with the wide receivers has quickly transitioned from what they produced in 2025 to what will be desired from the position moving forward thanks to some first-day insight provided by new head coach Mike McCarthy.

"As far as the receiver position as a whole, we were at our best in Green Bay, the Jordy Nelson era, because all those guys worked so well together," McCarthy explained at his introductory press conference.

Nelson played for Packers teams coached by McCarthy and quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers from 2008 through 2017. Nelson caught 45 passes for 582 receiving yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay's Super Bowl team in 2010. Between 2011 and 2016, Nelson surpassed 1,200 yards receiving four times in five seasons (he didn't play in 2015) and registered at least 13 receiving touchdowns three times.

In 2016 Nelson, 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, was named the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

"You know, this game is about match-ups," McCarthy continued. "Your ability to put your third receiver on the third corner, hopefully, that's a favorable match-up, or move those guys around.

"You want your receivers to be able to play all three positions. Your perimeter guys being able to play multiple positions is very important."

The state of the wide receiver group was such in 2025 that veterans Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen were added in-season (Valdes-Scantling was signed to the practice squad on Nov. 4 and Thielen was claimed off waivers on Dec. 2) and both wound up starting games by season's end (Thielen three times and Valdes-Scantling once).

The pair combined for 21 catches, 197 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Thielen announced his retirement after 13 NFL seasons on Jan. 15.

DK Metcalf's first season with the Steelers was at times spectacular but also inconsistent from a production standpoint. He had five catches for 126 yards, including a combustible, 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown on Sept. 28 against Minnesota and seven receptions for 148 yards on Dec. 7 against Baltimore, but those were the only two games in which Metcalf surpassed 100 yards receiving. Metcalf had 55 or fewer receiving yards 11 times in 15 games and finished the regular season serving a two-game suspension for his involvement in an interaction with a fan during the Steelers' 29-24 win on Dec. 21 at Detroit.

Metcalf's 59 catches surpassed only the 58 he caught as a rookie with Seattle in 2019. His 850 receiving yards was a career-low total for his seven-year career.

Calvin Austin III's numbers dropped from 2024 to 2025 in games played (17-14), catches (36-31), receiving yards (548-372) and touchdown receptions (four to three). But Austin made his touchdowns count. The first gave the Steelers a 31-26, fourth-quarter lead on Sept.7 against the Jets (along the way to a 34-32 victory). The second broke a 14-14 tie with 2:16 left in regulation in what became a 21-14 win on Sept. 21 at New England. And the third wound up as the game-winning touchdown with 55 seconds left in a 26-24 decision of Baltimore in the regular-season finale on Jan. 4 that delivered the Steelers the AFC North Division championship.

Roman Wilson missed all but one game of his rookie season in 2024 due to injury.

He appeared in 13 games in 2025 and finished with 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns. But Wilson was designated inactive for the regular-season final against the Ravens and for the Steelers' 30-6 loss to the Texans in the playoffs despite being healthy.

Ben Skowronek caught the first touchdown pass of the season in the opener against the Jets and three passes thereafter, and took over as special teams captain after safety Miles Killebrew was lost for the season due to injury.

Scotty Miller, like Skowronek, continued to bolster his reputation for providing reliability and professionalism in a variety of roles at wide receiver and in the kicking game when called upon.

02/03/2026

Skowronek enjoying his first Pro Bowl Games

Steelers special teams ace Ben Skowronek is the Steelers lone representative at the Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco, with linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Jalen Ramsey both unable to participate.

Skowronek is having a good time at his first Pro Bowl Games, enjoying the atmosphere surrounding several fun-filled days of competition that will be highlighted by a flag football game on Tuesday, February 3.

"This is awesome," said Skowronek. "It's been a goal of mine to make it to a Pro Bowl. This is my first one. I'm going to soak it all in.

"It has been awesome so far.

"It's a lot of fun getting out here having fun with the best players in the world."

The flag football game highlights the continued focus the NFL and the Steelers have on promoting flag football to a young audience.

And it's something Skowronek sees the importance of as well.

"Flag football is growing, especially with the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles," said Skowronek. "So, the Pro Bowl is a good way for NFL guys to get involved and be a part of the USA team coming up."

Skowronek played his share of flag football as a kid, but now enjoys the NFL version.

"I played a lot of flag football," said Skowronek. "A lot of fun. But I like tackle football.

"I learned from flag football to just go out there and compete, have fun. Flag football is a starting point for a lot of football players. So, it's fun, it's competitive. It's good for skilled guys especially."

The Pro Bowl Games will air on ESPN beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET), with the game starting at 8 p.m.

VIEW PICTURES & VIDEOS
https://www.steelers.com/news/skowronek-enjoying-his-first-pro-bowl-games

02/02/2026

Six times 'Super'

February 1, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Florida
Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23

It took last second heroics in both halves of Super Bowl XLIII for the Steelers to make history and become the first NFL franchise to win six Super Bowl championships.

The Steelers were holding on to a 10-7 lead near the end of the first half when the Cardinals Karlos Dansby intercepted a tipped Ben Roethlisberger pass at the Steelers 33-yard line. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner moved his team into scoring position with completions to Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

With the ball at the one-yard line and just 18 seconds to play in the half, the Cardinals were anticipating Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison blitzing, but Harrison gambled and dropped back in coverage and intercepted Warner's pass at the goal line.

What happened after that, nobody could ever have expected. Harrison headed up the sideline, following his blockers and evading would-be tacklers for a 100-yard touchdown return and 17-7 Steelers lead going into the half.

"I got the pick," said Harrison after the game. "You know we had them matched up and it was kind of like, give it time, and I slid over to the right, and he threw it right to my hands, and I took off. I was just trying to get to the other side and score seven. It was about my teammates helping me get to the other end. Will and determination to try and do what you need to do and help the team win the game.

"It was very tiring, but it was all worth it. I was just thinking that I had to do whatever I could to get to the other end zone and get seven. I just wanted to help my team win, that was it. That was all I was thinking about."

The Steelers added a third quarter field goal for a 20-7 lead, but the Cardinals mounted a major fourth quarter comeback. Warner connected with Fitzgerald for a 1-yard touchdown to bring the Cardinals within a score at 20-14.

Things continued to go in the Cardinals' favor when they pinned the Steelers back at their own one-yard line. On third down, center Justin Hartwig was called for holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety to close the gap to 20-16.

The Cardinals got the ball right back and scored in just seconds when Fitzgerald caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Warner, taking their first lead of the game, 23-20.

The odds were stacked against them, but the Steelers weren't going to be denied. With just 2:30 remaining on the clock Roethlisberger took control, completing four passes for 78 yards, including a 40-yarder to Santonio Holmes, to give the Steelers the ball at the six-yard line. With time ticking away, Roethlisberger found Holmes in the corner of the end zone where he remarkably managed to keep both feet in bounds for the 27-23 lead.

"I said to (Ben) that I wanted to be the guy that made the plays for this team," said Holmes postgame. "I wanted to continue to be great and great players step up in big time games and make great plays."

The Cardinals had one final gasp at pulling out the win, but when linebacker LaMarr Woodley sacked Warner, forcing a fumble that Brett Keisel recovered, history was made.

VIEW VIDEO & PHOTOS
https://www.steelers.com/news/six-times-super-x4111

02/02/2026

HBCU Spotlight: L.C. Greenwood

As a part of Black History Month, we are highlighting those involved with the Steelers organization who attended HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

In today's spotlight, we are highlighting defensive end L.C. Greenwood, who attended Arkansas AM&N.

L.C. Greenwood
Defensive End (1969-81)

Former Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood, who is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 in the Seniors category, was drafted by the Steelers in the 10th round of the 1969 NFL Draft, the 238th overall pick out of Arkansas AM&N (now Arkansas Pine Bluff). While at Arkansas AM&N, he was a 1968 Ebony All-American in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Greenwood played 13 seasons for the Steelers, becoming a starter in his third season, and was a key part of the Steelers four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s.

Greenwood was a member of the Steel Curtain defense, along with Joe Greene, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes, that dominated opposing offenses.

Greene credited Greenwood with some of his success.

"I would not have had nearly the success without L.C.," said Greene. "We were partners."

"L.C. helped me and Jack Ham immensely on that side. I could do things because I knew that L.C. could cover me. We had a lot of fun together. But we won a lot together. And he was a huge part of that."

Greenwood, who was known for his gold high top shoes, was a mountain of a man who played like a nimble linebacker.

"L.C. was about six-five and a half, maybe six-six, 238-240 pounds, and he could run a four-six forty," said Greene. "He ran by me many times to get to a play and places that I couldn't get to. L.C., at his size, weight, particularly his weight, most guys that size didn't play the way he did.

"L.C. had the ability, because of his length, he could get separation, he could get stalemates at the line of scrimmage against the bigger guys. And he was an adept, astute pass rusher. In our time together, L.C. was the number one sacker on the team. And he stayed that way for a long time, until as of late."

In Greenwood's first year as a starter in 1971 he had five fumble recoveries. He led the Steelers in sacks with 8.5 in 1973, following by a career-high 11 sacks in 1974, both which were 14-game seasons. He finished his career with 73.5 sacks, a number that still ranks fifth all-time in Steelers history.

Greenwood also had 12.5 postseason sacks, which is tied for fifth all-time in the NFL for postseason sacks.

"He gets less credit than he deserves playing next to Joe," said Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham. "No question Joe deserves all the accolades he has received. But L.C. deserves them too."

He was a two-time first team Associated Press All-Pro selection (1974, 1975) and a six-time Pro Bowl selection (1973-76, 1978-79). He was also a member of the Steelers 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team and was a member of the inaugural Steelers Hall of Honor Class of 2017.

"In my view, when L.C. was playing, he was easily in the top three, four defensive ends that were playing during that time," said Greene. "L.C. was a partner of mine on the line for 13 years and he was a wonderful teammate. When we were rookies, he played backup to the left defensive end and the right defensive end, Lloyd Voss and Ben McGee. He made such an impact, it forced the release and change of positions of the other two defensive ends. Lloyd Voss was waived. He was getting close to retirement. Ben McGee was moved to inside as a tackle. And L.C. became a full-time starter.

"With L.C. beside me, and us working together, we accomplished some pretty good things together. I emphasize together because our ability to communicate and work together on certain things and different times during games, we worked against different formations and knew what was happening.

"We would be on the same page through a look, a tap on the helmet or grab each others's face mask, and they meant different things. We never missed a call. Actually, the only call we missed was in the Super Bowl. That was when Chuck Foreman ran inside for 11 yards. And that was it. For that game they only got 19 yards. And it was on me because I didn't make the signal."

02/02/2026

The start to a legendary career

February 1, 1972
Running back Franco Harris selected in the first round of the NFL Draft

Franco Harris will forever be remembered for the greatest play not just in Steelers' history, but one recognized by many as the greatest play ever in NFL history, the Immaculate Reception.

"It's still as exciting," said Harris in 2022, prior to his passing just days before the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. "If you look at the season we had in 1972, after the first 40 years of the franchise, and then to have the incredible season, the team's first playoff win and to win that first one in dramatic fashion really started to change a lot of things.

"What really made it special and big was the decade that was to come and the importance of the play, setting the tone for winning. We proved that no matter how dire the situation, we can win. All of the things that followed made that play so big and important in Steelers history."

That play was just the start of Harris' greatness as well. Harris, the Steelers first-round draft selection in 1972 out of Penn State and the 13th pick overall, finished his rookie year with 1,055 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Harris, a member of four Super Bowl championship teams, carried the load for the team for 12 seasons, bringing his powerful style to the ground game, and also playing a key role in the passing game.

He is the team's all-time leading rusher with 11,950 yards and leads with 91 rushing touchdowns. He had eight 1,000-yard seasons and rushed for at least 100 yards in 47 games. Harris added 307 receptions for 2,287 yards, and his net yardage of 14,622 yards ranked as third highest when he retired.

VIEW PHOTOS
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01/31/2026

Position Reviews: Tight Ends

Tight ends: Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, J.J. Galbreath, Donald Parham, Jr.

A playmaking group of tight ends entered the 2025 season with sparkling numbers and the hope of adding punch to the Steelers' offense. It was the largest of those tight ends who drew the loudest raves.

Darnell Washington, in his third season, became known for much more than his ballyhooed blocking. The 6-foot-7 battleship became a terror with the ball in his hands.

That became evident to the football world Nov. 16 in the rematch against the Bengals, when Washington caught 4 passes for a career-high 67 yards. It was the way he gained those yards that made him a YouTube sensation.

Highlight 1: Washington flared left off the line to catch a short flare from Aaron Rodgers. He barely turned upfield and stiff-armed Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter to the ground. Washington then lowered his shoulder on safety Geno Stone and sent him flying. Still chugging, Washington eyed cornerback D.J. Turner near the sideline, lowered his head and shoulder, and threw a stiff-arm, to send Turner flying to the ground. Washington went out of bounds with a 31-yard gain to set up Chris Boswell's field goal.

Highlight 2: Mason Rudolph replaced an injured Rodgers at quarterback and threw a short pass to Washington on third-and-17. He again knocked over Stone, and willed his way 17 yards past a second Bengals DB for the first down. It led to another field goal in the 34-12 win.

"The play with the catch and run," said Rodgers, "the awareness level that he had to know 'I got a guy close to me, I'm going to catch this and I'm going to turn, then I'm going to stiff-arm this guy.' And he's faster than people probably think, because he's so tremendously large, and he's also shifty. Third-and-17, to drop it off on a checkdown and have him make a guy miss and then kind of fall forward and get a first down; that's not what you expect. But those are game-changing plays, and he's consistently, most of the season, made those plays."

Washington finished his third season with 31 catches for 364 yards and a touchdown. His 16 first downs were fourth on the team, and his 31 catches bettered his previous two seasons combined by five. His 364 yards bettered his career total by 103.

"They're getting scared of him, for sure. They should be," Rodgers said. "He's a mammoth, but he jumped over a guy, he stiff-armed a guy to the ground, ran a guy over, made another guy miss a tackle, then he had a block where he knocked two guys down. I'm just so proud of him, just his approach, and really the growth I've seen since training camp as he's continued to get his body in shape, get his mind in shape. He's a guy you don't worry about the details at all."

"He's one of the hardest working guys," said Rudolph. "Takes care of his body. Big-time studier. He's hungry.

"Really,we've got such a deep tight end room from Pat to Jonnu to Connor doing the quarterback sneak deal like he's done. But, yeah, Darnell adds a different element to it."

Washington was third among Steelers tight ends in catches behind Freiermuth (41) and Smith (38). Freiermuth compiled a career-high 11.9 yards per catch, and had his longest career catch, a 68-yarder against the Bengals.

Freiermuth was particularly clutch in the season-finale against the Ravens when he caught 3 passes for 51 yards, a couple on critical third downs. The first was a 14-yard catch on third-and-10 play in the third quarter. The Steelers finished the drive with the tying touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, on third-and-8, Rodgers found Freiermuth down the seam for a 31-yard gain to the Baltimore 5 that set up another go-ahead touchdown.

"I have a lot of respect for Pat, first and foremost, the way he's handled himself this entire season," said Rodgers. "With the emergence of Darnell and the big personnel that we've used, (Freiermuth) hasn't had as many snaps as he's used to or would've wanted. Not one time this entire year – and he's my locker mate so I can say this with absolute confidence and 100% honesty – not one time did I hear him complain about his snap count, about anything. There is a lot to be said for that."

Smith made his presence felt as a receiver, of course, but also as a runner. Smith matched his career high this season with 9 carries for 70 yards. His 14-yard touchdown helped beat the Dolphins.

The 2024 Pro Bowler will turn 31 in August as Smith prepares for his 10th NFL season.

Speaking of a tight end's rushing attempts, Heyward, in what the Steelers call their "Spartan" short-yardage alignment, lined up under center 16 times. The Steelers converted first downs 13 times. One of the misses, on third down, was converted on fourth down.

Overall, Heyward ran 15 times for 43 yards on 2 touchdowns. His 29-yard run around right end against Cleveland was Heyward's longest run since his freshman season at Michigan State.

Heyward also opened holes as a lead-blocking fullback. He can enter his fifth season as a free agent on March 11.

Also with the Steelers is J.J. Galbreath, who impressed over the summer with soft hands and athleticism. The rookie out of South Dakota – where he caught 93 career passes for 1,355 yards and 12 touchdowns – made the Steelers' practice squad and was signed to a futures contract last month.

Donald Parham, Jr., at 6-8 1/2, 237, is another massive tight end. He tore an Achilles' tendon in OTAs and missed the season. A potential free agent in March, Parham will turn 29 in August.

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