Month: January 2025

How on Earth did eight Steelers make this year’s Pro Bowl?

I’m feeling snarky as of late. Yes, the disappointment of waiting for players to report to Latrobe, Pennsylvania six months from now has me feeling the winter blues. There’s supposed to be some optimism, as football isn’t over just yet – of course I’m talking about the Super Bowl next weekend and not the sham of a game or “games” the Pro Bowl, er, Games, has become.

Tina Rivers wrote about how the NFL’s All-Star game has fallen from grace and is openly mocked these days. Yet, shouldn’t we be proud that eight Steelers are participating in this weekend’s events?

That all depends. Years ago, when the game was a “real game” and played the weekend following the Super Bowl, we could probably get more excited about the accolades for these players. But as Brian E. Roach said the most recent SCU Podcast, we should consider renaming the Pro Bowl to the “Who we can get to play Bowl”. That’s because the Pro Bowl moved up fill the gap between the conference championships and the Super Bowl. Due to the scheduling change years ago, the Super Bowl participants now sit this weekend out – and those teams generally field the most talent. (As they should, they’re about to play in the Super Bowl.)

The opt-outs from the Super Bowl combined with players opting out due to injury creates an influx of replacement players. That’s how the Steelers jumped from having four starters initially named to the Pro Bowl, to doubling their representation to eight. However, we should look into each player’s 2024 season and examine why they were still worthy of being acknowledged as among the best in the league: provided they are worthy, and not just a warm body who’s willing to participate!

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Chris Boswell

Easily the most deserving of the Steelers named to the Pro Bowl, Boswell finally outgunned his longtime rival Justin Tucker for the honor. Boz went 41 of 44 on field goals this season and made all 35 of his extra point attempts.

His 41 field goals made was near the NFL record 44, as “The Wizard of Boz” led the NFL in scoring with 158 points. He was also named a first-team AP All-Pro.

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Minkah Fitzpatrick

I’m as big of a Fitzpatrick fan as anyone, but this one feels like a legacy pick – although fan votes only account for 33% of the total consideration. That means other players, and coaches, total the other 66%, with enough of Fitzpatrick’s peers believing he was worthy of being named a starter for the AFC.

The 2024 season will mark Minkah’s fifth Pro Bowl nod and third in a row. His stats took a tip this season, with only a single interception and one forced fumble, though he appeared in all 17 games for the first time since the NFL expanded to a 17-game schedule in 2021. His 96 tackles tied for second-most in a single season during his career.

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Cameron Heyward

Long snubbed by the Pro Bowl early throughout his career, Heyward is participating in his seventh appearance in eight seasons. He missed the calling in 2023 due to missing six games with injury, but bounced back in 2024 with eight sacks, a whopping 11 passes defensed, 12 tackles-for-loss and 20 QB hits.

Heyward was also named a first-team All-Pro and continues to cement his legacy as one of the NFL’s great defensive linemen.

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T.J. Watt

11.5 sacks is a down season for Watt, who had 19 in 2023. However, he continued to terrorize opposing offenses, forcing a league-high six fumbles, 19 tackles-for-loss and 27 QB hits.

Watt will not participate in the Pro Bowl due to the ankle injury he sustained, and played on, throughout the final stretch of the season.

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Miles Killebrew

Considered to be a “special teams ace”, Killebrew returns to the Pro Bowl as an alternate this season after making it as a starter last season. According to Steelers.com:

Killebrew, the Steelers special teams captain, had 13 special teams tackles, eight of them solo stops, which was tied for ninth most in the NFL this year.

He replaces New England Patriots special teamer Brenden Schooler, who is unable to participate due to injury.

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Isaac Seumalo

Seumalo is making his first Pro Bowl appearance in his career, replacing Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith.

According to Pro Football Focus, Seumalo allowed only two sacks and one quarterback hit in 2024. He appeared in 13 games during the 2024 season after missing the first four due to an injury.

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Russell Wilson

Wilson is another late addition to the Pro Bowl, replacing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who is unable to play due to an injury. It will be his tenth career appearance.

Wilson missed six games to start the 2024 season, but still completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

Fans laughing about Wilson’s selection would be hard-pressed to argue his extrapolated stats for a full 17 games: 3,836 yards, 25 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. However, his extrapolated 51 sacks raises a lot of eyebrows.

Wilson is a likely legacy pick as a replacement. Lamar Jackson was also replaced by New England Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye, rounding out the three AFC passers along with Bengals QB Joe Burrow. Wilson and Maye edged out other AFC quarterbacks such as Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, Bo Nix, and C.J. Stroud, all whom had an argument to be chosen over the former.

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Patrick Queen

Queen has been named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, replacing his former teammate, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. While Queen led all Steelers with 129 combined tackles, he was far from the league’s high mark in that category, which goes to fellow Pro Bowler Zaire Franklin of the Indianapolis Colts with 173 tackles.

Within the AFC, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker (and former Steeler) Robert Spillane had a more statistically impressive season on a worse defense. Spillane finished the year with 91 solo tackles (Queen had 65), 158 combined tackles, two sacks (one more than Queen) and an equal number of passes defensed as Queen (7). He also forced 10 tackles-for-loss to Queen’s six.

Jets LB Jamien Sherwood also led the NFL with 98 solo tackles and 158 combined tackles. The difference between Sherwood, Spillane, and Queen can only be found in forced fumbles, in which Queen had two will the others had zero. However, Queen being added as a replacement still suggests that the fan vote and availability may have played a role in his selection.

How on Earth did eight Steelers make this year’s Pro Bowl? appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert Joining Colorado State

After spending a few years out of football, Kevin Colbert has reemerged in the college ranks. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the former Steelers executive is joining Colorado State as a consultant.

According to Thamel, Colbert’s new role will see him working closely with coach Jay Norvell and Colorado State’s player personnel department to help build up the school’s “football front office.” Colorado State is focused on staying “at the forefront for the new era of college football,” and they’re turning to a long-time NFL executive to help their cause.

Colbert spent more than 20 years in Pittsburgh, working his way up from director of football operations to general manager. The executive earned a pair of Super Bowl rings during his time with the organization, and he had the distinction of being the organization’s first official GM when he was promoted to the role in 2010.

During his time guiding the front office, Colbert was credited with adding foundational players (including Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu). The executive also had a prominent role in the team’s transition from Bill Cowher to Mike Tomlin. Colbert stepped down from his role following the 2022 draft, and he’s been out of football since.

Steelers to watch in the Pro Bowl Games

The traditional Pro Bowl game has been replaced by the Pro Bowl Games, which includes the Skills Show and will culminate with an AFC vs. NFC Flag Game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, February 2.

The Skills Show will air in Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. In the first part of the two-day event, the AFC and NFC players will compete in the Pro Bowl Skills show, featuring skills challenges. This made-for-TV event takes place in the Nicholson Fieldhouse at the University of Central Florida, only on ESPN from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Pro Bowl Games Flag Football and Skills will air on Sunday, February 2 at 3 p.m. on ESPN and ABC from Camping World Stadium. It includes a 7-on-7 flag football game and more skills, including Tug-of-War, Punt Perfect, and the Great Football Race.

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Steelers Participants

Several Steelers were named to the Pro Bowl Games. Initially, Chris Boswell, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and linebacker T.J. Watt, were voted in as starters. Special teams ace Miles Killebrew and guard Isaac Seumalo were named as an injury replacements as the main rosters were revealed.

In addition, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was named to the Pro Bowl Games as a replacement for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who is unable to play due to an injury. Wilson will be making his 10th Pro Bowl appearance (2012-15, 2017-21, 2024), which is tied for fifth-most among quarterbacks in NFL history.

On Wednesday, linebacker Patrick Queen was named to the Pro Bowl Games as a replacement, replacing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith.

In all, a grand total of eight Pittsburgh Steelers were named and/or are participating in this week’s event.

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How it works

Scoring for the Pro Bowl Games works in the following way:

  • The winning conference of each skill competition earns three points towards their team’s overall score, with 33 points available across the 11 skills events.
  • Points from the Flag game (four, 12-minute quarters played on Sunday) will be added to points earned from Skills competitions to determine the winning conference for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.
  • The winning conference at the conclusion of the Flag game will be crowned the winner of the Pro Bowl Games.

A staple of the annual AFC vs. NFC competition, the NFL’s top players are set to participate in the following new and fan-favorite Pro Bowl skills competitions that showcase their football and non-football skills (subject to change).

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Thursday, Jan. 30

Passing The Test (three points available)

Quarterbacks try to hit targets at various distances around the field worth different point values in 40 seconds. Before the challenge, each quarterback will select a Pro Bowl Games teammate to answer five trivia questions about current Pro Bowl players. For every correct answer, the quarterback gets an additional 10 seconds. The winner of the competition is the team with the quarterback who scores the most points.

AFC NFC
QB Joe Burrow (CIN) QB Jared Goff (DET)
Trivia Nico Collins (HOU) Trivia Josh Jacobs (GB)
QB Drake Maye (NE) QB Sam Darnold (MIN)
Trivia Jonnu Smith (MIA) Trivia Fred Warner (SF)
QB Russell Wilson (PIT) QB Baker Mayfield (TB)
Trivia Myles Garrett (CLE) Trivia Mike Evans (TB)

Satisfying Catches presented by SNICKERS® (three points available)

One wide receiver, tight end and defensive back from each conference will compete in a challenge obstacle course, including catches from a jugs machine at three different distances, to test every aspect of catching a football. Each teammate will complete the course back-to-back with the lowest combined time winning the challenge.

AFC NFC
WR Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) WR Justin Jefferson (MIN)
TE Brock Bowers (LV) TE Trey McBride (ARI)
DB Derek Stingley Jr. (HOU) DB Jaylon Johnson (CHI)

The Big Spike (three points available)

Three big men from each conference step up to the Spike-o-Meter and have three attempts to score the highest number on their spike. The player with the highest score, measured by power and impact, will win their conference three points.

AFC NFC
OL Rashawn Slater (LAC) OL Chris Lindstrom (ATL)
DL Quinnen Williams (NYJ) DL Dexter Lawrence (NYG)
OL Joel Bitonio (CLE) OL Frank Ragnow (DET)

Relay Race (three points available)

A simultaneous relay-style event where four players from each conference complete a 40-yard dash before handing a football to the next athlete on their team, continuing until the fourth and final leg crosses the finish line. The conferences will compete in three rounds, with the fastest team winning.

AFC NFC
RB Jonathan Taylor (IND) RB Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)
CB Pat Surtain II (DEN) CB Jaycee Horn (CAR)
DE Danielle Hunter (HOU) DE Micah Parsons (DAL)
FB Patrick Ricard (BAL) SS Brian Branch (DET)
FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT) CB Devon Witherspoon (SEA)
ST Marvin Mims (DEN) ST KhaDarel Hodge (ATL)
LB Joey Bosa (LAC) DE Nick Bosa (SF)
CB Denzel Ward (CLE) RS KaVontae Turpin (DAL)
WR Jerry Jeudy (CLE) WR Malik Nabers (NYG)
LB Kyle Van Noy (BAL) LB Bobby Wagner (WAS)
LB Nik Bonitto (DEN) LB Jared Verse (LAR)
SS Derwin James (LAC) SS Budda Baker (ARI)

Helmet Harmony (three points available)

A game show to test player knowledge of their teammates, with every correct answer worth one point. The team with the most correct answers wins.

AFC NFC
Cameron Heyward (PIT) Vita Vea (TB)
Miles Killebrew (PIT) Tristan Wirfs (TB)
Dion Dawkins (BUF) Jonathan Greenard (MIN)
Connor McGovern (BUF) Brian O’Neill (MIN)
Marlon Humphrey (BAL) Rashan Gary (GB)
Kyle Hamilton (BAL) Xavier McKinney (GB)

Dodgeball presented by Bud Light (six points available)

A two-round tournament of classic dodgeball featuring four teams of seven players. Teams will be a mix of AFC offensive, defensive and special teams players competing against a mix of NFC offensive, defensive and special teams players. Each match is worth three points.

AFC NFC
Jeffery Simmons (TEN)* Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA)
Logan Cooke (JAX) Erik McCoy (NO)
Ronnie Stanley (BAL) Leonard Williams (SEA)
Chris Boswell (PIT) Bijan Robinson (ATL)
Joe Mixon (HOU) Robert Hunt (CAR)
Isaac Seumalo (PIT) Taylor Decker (DET)
Tyler Linderbaum (BAL) Jack Fox (DET)
Patrick Queen (PIT)* Kyle Juszczyk (SF)
Quenton Nelson (IND) Tyler Smith (DAL)
Zaire Franklin (IND) Andrew Van Ginkel (MIN)
Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) George Kittle (SF)
James Cook (BUF) Andrew DePaola (MIN)
Ross Matiscik (JAX) Brandon Aubrey (DAL)
Trey Hendrickson (CIN) Byron Murphy (MIN)

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Sunday, February 2nd

Punt Perfect (three points available)

Two players (one punter, one non-punter) from each conference punt from the 35-yard line, attempting to place as many punts as possible in one minute (or 12 punts) into a set of six buckets in the end zone. Each bucket is worth one point, with every fourth punt worth three points. The two players with the highest combined score will be the winners.

AFC NFC
P Logan Cooke (JAX) P Jack Fox (DET)
CB Marlon Humphrey (BAL) FB Kyle Juszczyk (SF)

Madden NFL 25 Competition (three points available)

Two AFC players and two NFC players meet in a high-stakes showdown in Madden NFL 25. The entire event, hosted by Charissa Thompson and Kurt Benkert, will be streamed live on EA Sports Madden’s Twitch channel on Saturday, Feb. 1, with a full replay available on the NFL’s YouTube channel. In addition to being streamed live on Saturday, ESPN will air a clip as part of Sunday’s Pro Bowl Games coverage.

AFC NFC
Derwin James (LAC) Justin Jefferson (MIN)
Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) Micah Parsons (DAL)

The Great Football Race (three points available)

Six players from each conference will face off in a relay race consisting of five different challenges, culminating with a sled push. The team to cross the finish line first wins and earns three points for their conference.

AFC NFC
DE Myles Garrett (CLE) DE Micah Parsons (DAL)
C Tyler Linderbaum (BAL) C Frank Ragnow (DET)
T Rashawn Slater (LAC) T Tristan Wirfs (TB)
K Chris Boswell (PIT) K Brandon Aubrey (DAL)
LS Ross Matiscik (JAX) LS Andrew DePaola (MIN)
C Connor McGovern (BUF) C Erik McCoy (NO)

Tug-of-War (three points available)

A five-on-five demonstration of teamwork, strength and strategy, and positioned above a foam pit, players are challenged to pull backwards on the rope, attempting to move the opposing team in their direction. The competition will be the best of three, and the winner who pulls the opposing team into the foam pit twice wins and earns three points for their conference.

AFC NFC
Quenton Nelson (IND) Chris Lindstrom (ATL)
Isaac Seumalo (PIT) Tyler Smith (DAL)
Joel Bitonio (CLE) Robert Hunt (CAR)
Ronnie Stanley (BAL) Brian O’Neill (MIN)
Dion Dawkins (BUF) Taylor Decker (DET)
Trey Hendrickson (CIN) Rashan Gary (GB)
Danielle Hunter (HOU) Nick Bosa (SF)
Jeffery Simmons (TEN)* Dexter Lawrence (NYG)
Cameron Heyward (PIT) Vita Vea (TB)
Quinnen Williams (NYJ) Leonard Williams (SEA)

The following players set to participate in the NFL Flag football game on Sunday

AFC NFC
QB Joe Burrow (CIN) QB Jared Goff (DET)
QB Drake Maye (NE) QB Sam Darnold (MIN)
QB Russell Wilson (PIT) QB Baker Mayfield (TB)
RB Joe Mixon (HOU) RB Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)
RB Jonathan Taylor (IND) RB Josh Jacobs (GB)
RB James Cook (BUF) RB Bijan Robinson (ATL)
FB Patrick Ricard (BAL) FB Kyle Juszczyk (SF)
WR Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) WR Justin Jefferson (MIN)
WR Jerry Jeudy (CLE) WR Malik Nabers (NYG)
WR Nico Collins (HOU) WR Mike Evans (TB)
WR Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA)
TE Brock Bowers (LV) TE Trey McBride (ARI)
TE Jonnu Smith (MIA) TE George Kittle (SF)
C Tyler Linderbaum (BAL) C Frank Ragnow (DET)
C Connor McGovern (BUF) C Erik McCoy (NO)
OLB Kyle Van Noy (BAL) OLB Jared Verse (LAR)
OLB Nik Bonitto (DEN) OLB Jonathan Greenard (MIN)
OLB Joey Bosa (LAC) OLB Andrew Van Ginkel (MIN)
ILB Patrick Queen (PIT)* ILB Fred Warner (SF)
ILB Zaire Franklin (IND) ILB Bobby Wagner (WAS)
CB Marlon Humphrey (BAL) CB Jaycee Horn (CAR)
CB Denzel Ward (CLE) CB Jaylon Johnson (CHI)
CB Pat Surtain II (DEN) CB Byron Murphy (MIN)
CB Derek Stingley Jr. (HOU) CB Devon Weatherspoon (SEA)
FS Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT) FS Xavier McKinney (GB)
SS Kyle Hamilton (BAL) SS Budda Baker (ARI)
SS Derwin James (LAC) SS Brian Branch (DET)
RS Marvin Mims (DEN) RS Kavontae Turpin (DAL)
ST Miles Killebrew (PIT) ST KhaDarel Hodge (ATL)

*Jeffery Simmons replaced Nnamdi Madubuike and Patrick Queen replaced Roquan Smith on Wednesday after the 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters were announced.

 

For more information on the Pro Bowl Games, visit probowl.com/watch.

Statistics and game information courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or National Football League.

Steelers to watch in the Pro Bowl Games appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steelers Want To Improve At WR, No Pickens Contract Talks To Date

Steelers owner Art Rooney II admitted that the team will be looking to improve their receiver room this offseason after struggling to find consistency at the position in 2024 outside of George Pickens.

“I think we have positions in the wide receiver room we’re going to have to address,” said Rooney (via Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show).

Bringing in a high-profile wideout to take targets away from Pickens could cause tension with the mercurial 23-year-old, something Rooney addressed in his press conference.

“I think every team seems to have one or two guys in that room that you have to manage them correctly,” said Rooney. “I still think George has enough talent that we’ve got to try to work and see if we can get him to fulfill the talent that he really has.” Indeed, despite repeated incidents at Georgia and in Pittsburgh, Pickens has been the Steelers’ best receiver since he was drafted. Head coach Mike Tomlin is no stranger to getting the most out of intense personalities (Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell), which Rooney referenced as well.

“But when you have guys that are as talented as some of the guys you’re probably thinking of, you try to work with them and have them help you be successful,” he said, adding that the team has yet to work on an extension for Pickens.

Pickens is under contract for 2025, as is Calvin Austin, the team’s second-leading receiver, but Van Jefferson and Mike Williams are both set to hit free agency. Rooney’s comments indicate that he is planning to go in another direction, though he’s more focused on the Steelers’ future at quarterback.

“That’s priority No. 1,” said Rooney. “The quarterback position is a key piece of the puzzle that needs to be addressed.” 

But the Steelers’ offseason resources – the 21st overall pick and more than $40MM in cap space, per OverTheCap – are better attuned to bolster their receiving corps. It’s unlikely one of the draft’s top quarterbacks falls to Pittsburgh, and none of the available veterans profile as high-upside options. The 2025 receiver class is far deeper in both the draft and free agency, forcing the Steelers into a tough offseason dilemma. They can improve their weapons on offense, but that may not be enough to break their playoff win drought without a better long-term quarterback.

Steelers Expected To Release Preston Smith

When the Steelers obtained Preston Smith at the deadline, the trade looked to have given them a deep cadre of edge rushers. Smith joined T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig as Pittsburgh OLBs. But the new addition was not much of a factor.

Smith played in eight games but registered just two sacks and two QB hits. He was not active for Pittsburgh’s playoff tilt against Baltimore. Following the former Washington and Green Bay EDGE’s underwhelming performance in Pittsburgh, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes he is soon expected to become a cap casualty.

Pegging the odds of a release at roughly 99%, Pauline anticipates Smith hitting free agency soon. Teams will begin to cut players following Super Bowl LIX, and Smith can aim for a fresh start around that point. A post-June 1 cut would not be relevant here, as no dead money is in this equation, so Smith could be cut within a few weeks. The Steelers, who are already projected to hold more than $40MM in cap space, would save $13.4MM by releasing the formerly productive edge rusher.

The Packers gave Smith a four-year, $52.5MM contract in 2022, doing so upon moving on from Za’Darius Smith. Staying in Green Bay for 5 1/2 seasons, Preston Smith racked up 44 sacks with the team. This included four seasons with at least eight sacks; a 12-sack 2019 — when the Packers returned to the NFC championship game — headlined this successful stay. As the Packers wanted to free up more playing time for Lukas Van Ness, they moved on from Smith for a mere seventh-round pick.

Smith, 32, requested a trade months after the Packers had shifted to a 4-3 scheme. Smith had played in 3-4 looks in Washington and during his first five Green Bay seasons, and while he slid into a second-string role in Pittsburgh’s long-held alignment (after starting nine games with the Packers last season), no major impact occurred to justify the Steelers signing off on a $12MM 2025 salary. While the Steelers could try to dangle Smith in trades, his fetching a seventh-rounder last year probably points to a simple release coming soon.

The Steelers remain in great shape at OLB moving forward. Watt is under contract for 2025, with the team understandably prepared to hammer out a second extension with the future Hall of Famer. Highsmith’s 2023 extension runs through the 2027 season, while Herbig (5.5 sacks last season) is under contract through 2026 on a rookie deal.

The NFL may have just killed-off the Pro Bowl forever

In the past few years, fans of the National Football League – who vote for players to be sent to the annual All-Star game, now games – have become disillusioned by how the league has taken away what used to be an honor: being named a Pro Bowler. With recent changes for the upcoming Pro Bowl Games, the NFL may have just killed-off any hopes of resurrection of fan interest, and investment, in what has become more of an exhibition of silliness rather real competition.

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The changes that led up to current disaster

Longtime NFL fans remember when players named to the Pro Bowl used to be the top stars among all players in the league. It was a badge of honor to have Pro Bowlers on the historical record of teams. Those days, sadly, are gone.

When the league decided to make the event a skills competition (try not to smirk) as players casually got together like they were at a backyard picnic, adding a flag football game as an event screamed of unseriousness. As Joe Kuzma wrote in 2023:

“Fans still panned the game, which saw all of the Super Bowl participants bow out now… Less than worthy alternates filled in for those star players, as the game continued to devolve into anything but a competition.”

Why the league continues to ask fans to vote when the players they vote for often choose not to show up is even more discouraging. It undermines the whole point: sending players to an event with any real meaning. And, it’s not lost on fans that the process has become something of a sham.

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A final death toll?

The bell may have just rung the loudest it ever has as teams began announcing that replacements were being sent in place of others who had opted out, and the opt-outs  weren’t just players who were headed to the Super Bowl who were preparing for the big game.

The latest drop-out, Lamar Jackson, just lost a playoff game and remains in the running for NFL MVP for the 2024 NFL season. In his stead, the league chose Russell Wilson. That’s fun for Wilson fans (some who will also be Pittsburgh Steelers backers), but it has fans – in general – asking how he was selected over other potential quarterbacks. The AFC will now be represented by Wilson, Joe Burrow, and Drake Maye.

Maye started in 12 games for the New England Patriots went 3-9 with him at quarterback; his rank among all NFL QBs (2024 regular season) 17th per ESPN stats. Burrow ranked 3rd, which is respectable, but Wilson ranked 22nd.

Did fan voting totals factor into how the replacements are chosen? Did Wilson have more votes than Justin Herbert (rated 11th) for example? How exactly does the system even work anymore?

The original AFC Pro Bowl roster at quarterback was Josh Allen, Jackson, and Burrow, for perspective.

Every media outlet has been informed that the original roster should be considered in flux. That means it has become apparent that the NFL’s choices surrounding the All Star event aren’t transparent. The moves are alienating fans, by fans’ own admissions across social media, that they’re apt to just boycott the games to send a message to the league.

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The scheduled events are almost laughable

With Eli and Peyton Manning as the “coaches” representing the NFC and AFC, respectively, the first half of the week the “skill” competitions will take place. “The Big Spike” sounds like an attempt to imitate the NBA’s slam dunk competition, but is spiking a football a skill worth watching? What in the world is “Helmet Harmony”?! Will professional football players play a match game while holding a cold beer or singing Kumbaya? How are helmets harmonious? And let’s not forget “Satisfying Catches.” I think fans wish they could see more than just something satisfying at such a heralded event.

The second half of the festivities – that used to be a serious game of true All Stars battling for the chance to earn a win that mattered for their conference – will feature a game, at least. It will be a 7-on-7 flag football match, of course, where players dress in random attire (including sunglasses and sweats) and goof around. A win is like being the victor at the family Thanksgiving game after dinner at grandma and grandpa’s.

The EA Sports Madden NFL 25 Challenge, Punt Perfect, Great Football Race, and Tug-of-War round out the Pro Bowl Games this year.

Let’s just call the Pro Bowl Games what it truly has become: a chance for NFL players to hang out in a chill environment with other players and have a good time.

The NFL has not improved their image of competitive football with the switch between what the Pro Bowl was to what the Pro Bowl Games are. They’ve come up with a gimmick, and fans aren’t pleased.

The NFL may have just killed-off the Pro Bowl forever appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steelers Considering Extension For T.J. Watt

T.J. Watt is set to enter the final year of his contract, and with the pass rusher attached to a $30MM cap hit for 2025, there have been some rumblings that the Steelers could look to move on from their franchise star. Art Rooney was quick to dismiss that idea, as the Steelers owner said the team wasn’t considering parting with Watt.

“I’d have to put it in the ‘unlikely’ category,” Rooney said (h/t Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com). “He’s certainly been one of the real, solid pieces we have on that defense. I think he’s the kind of guy we want to have in the locker room going forward.”

Rooney also said he’d be interested in extending the veteran pass rusher (via Mark Kaboly), further indication that Watt will be sticking in Pittsburgh long-term. An extension always seemed like the likeliest path forward; the front office could reduce Watt’s impending cap hit (and, potentially, his $21MM in true earnings) by handing the star another long-term pact.

Watt is about to conclude his second contract with the organization, a four-year, $112MM deal he inked in 2021. The former first-round pick has generally been worth every penny. While he was limited to 10 games and career-worst marks during the first season of his extension, he’s rebounded by compiling 30.5 sacks and 38 tackles for loss over the past two campaigns. That includes a recently-completed 2024 season where he led the NFL with six forced fumbles.

Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, and Trey Hendrickson could all look to reset the edge-rusher market this offseason, and Watt’s next deal could be a reflection of those pacts. The Steelers star currently ranks fourth among edge rushers with a $28MM average annual value, and while he may be able to garner similar financials on his next deal, the contract’s term will surely be a sticking point between the two sides. The 2025 campaign will represent Watt’s age-31 season, and with the Steelers potentially focused on improving the offensive side of the ball, the team may be pinching pennies on defense.

For what it’s worth, Watt recently made it clear that he wants to stick in Pittsburgh for the rest of his career. On the flip side, the four-time All-Pro noted he is uncertain of how long he plans on playing in the NFL, so there’s a chance his next contract ends up being the final deal of his career.

Revisiting Bill Cowher’s coaching tree

Following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ embarrassing exit from the playoffs this season, disgruntled fans begin unearthing every stone for answers to their questions. A recurring theme that circulates from “rage bait” farmers in the media to satisfy this appetite is that of Mike Tomlin’s coaching tree.

For the uninitiated, a coaching tree is thought of as assistants under a head coach who go on to be hired as a head coach elsewhere. For example, Mike Tomlin is thought of as being a branch off of Hall of Famer Tony Dungy’s coaching tree.

Coaching trees are thought of as being important because the NFL is a copycat league. Seldom are assistant coaches ever poached from losing teams – unless that assistant has prior head coaching experience and is successful in the current role. A current example is Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders who spent the last several seasons prior as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys.

Usually, assistants are signed off of conference championship teams. The Detroit Lions just lost both of their coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, to the Bears and Jets respectively.

A knock on Mike Tomlin over the years is that he has no branches from his tree. While there are reasons for that (and it’s patently false in others) the coaching tree narratives around the league are overrated at best.  It’s believed these branches will bring success to the franchise that hires the new coach, but often that’s not the case.

That would be true of Tomlin’s predecessor Bill Cowher as well, who had great measures of success in the Steel City that every other team wanted to emulate. Yet, when Cowher assistants left Pittsburgh, it was usually met with failure.

Those failures have been forgotten with time, so I wanted to revisit Bill Cowher’s coaching tree to remind everyone of how poorly some of Cowher’s great assistants performed when they were hired to be the head coach elsewhere. (Parentheses denote years as a head coach and overall record.)

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Dom Capers (8 seasons, 48-80)

Dom Capers was one of Bill Cowher’s earliest assistants who was hired away by the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995. Capers would famously lead the Panthers to the NFC title game in 1996 – their second season in existence – but was largely a failure otherwise with campaigns of 7-9 (twice) and 4-12 before being let go.

He would resurface again with another expansion team, the Houston Texans, in 2022. Capers would have four losing seasons, combining for a record of 18-46 including a 2-14 campaign in 2005 that was ultimately his last season as a head coach anywhere.

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Chan Gailey (5 seasons, 34-46)

Serving as Bill Cowher’s offensive coordinator in 1996 and 1997, Gailey was hired by the Dallas Cowboys and lasted two seasons with a surprisingly winning record, but would find that his second year going 8-8 would be his last. He would land in Buffalo in 2010, coaching the Bills to records of 4-12, 6-10, and 6-10.

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Jim Haslett (7 seasons 47-61)

Haslett served as Cowher’s defensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999, replacing Capers. He would go on to head the New Orleans Saints in 2000 for a total of six seasons. Haslett would lead the Saints to a winning record and a playoff berth, including a win, in his first year but failed to qualify for the playoffs again during his tenure. His final season with the Saints, a 3-13 campaign, was his last.

He would resurface as a defensive coordinator in St. Louis with the Rams and replace Scott Linehan (who was fired after starting the season 0-4). However, Haslett’s leadership wasn’t much of a difference maker as the team went 2-10 under his helm. He would continue coaching as a coordinator with Washington, following this stint.

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Mike Mularkey (6 seasons, 36-53)

Mularkey was the engineer of some dynamic Steelers offenses utilizing “Slash” Kordell Stewart and also giving new life to former first round bust Tommy Maddox (who had fallen out of the league entirely and returned with the Steelers in 2001 as a backup.)

Mularkey is a good argument for where coaches “branch” from. He was a former Steelers tight end who played under Chuck Noll for three seasons, retiring in 1992 when Cowher arrived. He would coach tight ends for Tampa Bay, and then the Steelers, before moving up to the OC spot. Whether that makes him a branch from Noll and Cowher is a debate for a later time – and one I reserve for former Tomlin players-turned-coach too.

However, what’s not of debate is Mularkey’s coaching record, which was met with success but also fraught with failures. Mularkey would be a head coach three times: two seasons with the Buffalo Bills, one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14) and then two full seasons with the Tennessee Titans, including a partial season where he replaced another Cowher branch, Ken Whisenhunt.

Mularkey would only lead one of his teams to the postseason. Incidentally, he was let go after that team one a playoff game in 2017 but didn’t make it past the Divisional Round.

(Side note: Current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith could be a branch from Mularkey’s tree, having served as a tight ends coach there but outlasted several different head coaches in various roles for the Titans between 2011 to 2020.)

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Ken Whisenhunt (8 seasons, 48-71)

One of the more well-known Cowher branches was in final contention to succeed him as head coach before Mike Tomlin was hired. Whisenhunt would instead branch out on his own after three seasons as the Steelers OC, taking the head job with the Arizona Cardinals and leading them to an NFC Championship and showdown with his former team in Super Bowl 43.

Whisenhunt’s first three seasons were all successful to some degree, leading the Cardinals to records of 8-8, 9-7, and 10-6, with the Super Bowl trip in-between. Following the 10-6 playoff team that lost in the Divisional Round, “Whiz” was unable to capture his previous success with campaigns of 5-11, 8-8, and 5-11, before being let go.

He would be hired by the Titans, accruing a 3-20 record before being fired after Week 8 and being replaced by Mularkey.

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Dick LeBeau (3 seasons, 12-33)

Everyone’s favorite “Coach Dad” has a strong argument for being a dual Hall of Famer as a player and coach, if assistants were considered for the honor. However, as a head coach, LeBeau would falter.

The question for this article is: Does LeBeau count as a “branch” from Cowher after serving as an assistant for three different teams (Eagles, Packers, Bengals) between 1973 and 1991 before joining Bill’s staff?

LeBeau would serve three seasons as the Steelers defensive back coach before being promoted by Cowher in 1995 to replace Dom Capers. LeBeau would lead the Steelers defense for two seasons before returning to the Cincinnati Bengals following the Steelers loss in Super Bowl XXX. He served as Cincy’s defensive coordinator from 1984 to 1991, and would take over the same role again from 1997 to 1999.

In 2000, LeBeau would replace Bruce Coslet after three games and remain the head coach through the 2002 season. His records with the Bengals: 4-9, 6-10, and 2-14.

The architect of “Blitzburgh” would return to Pittsburgh in 2004 after serving one season as an assistant head coach with Buffalo. He would also serve in the same capacity for Mularkey’s three years in Tennessee.

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Marvin Lewis (16 seasons, 131-122)

Finally, who gets to claim Marvin Lewis as a branch? Would it be Cowher, where Lewis served as a linebackers coach for four seasons in the 1990s? Or would it be Ted Marchibroda or Brian Billick, under whom Lewis served as defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens between 1996-2001?

Or does Steve Spurrier get the credit, as Lewis’ one-year stint with Washington landed him the head coaching position with the Bengals the very next season?

This is why coaching trees get overblown. Regardless, Lewis has a winning record throughout his long tenure as a head coach in the NFL, spending 16 consecutive seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals but always fell short in defeat to either Cowher or Tomlin when the playoffs rolled around.

Lewis has seven postseason appearances – all losses, but can claim four AFC North division titles on his resume. (That’s why many compare Tomlin to him.)

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Hiring Former Head Coaches

Cowher wasn’t immune to a similar practice of Tomlin’s in hiring formerly displaced head coaches. While Tomlin famously brought aboard previously fired heads such as Todd Haley, Mike Munchak, Brian Flores, and Arthur Smith, Cowher also had his share of failed heads hired as assistants.

Among them are Ron Erhardt (21-28 as a head coach) and Kevin Gilbride (6-16). Each severed as an offensive coordinator with the Steelers under Cowher. Erhardt was run out of Pittsburgh after four seasons following the Super Bowl XXX loss to the Cowboys while Gilbride only lasted two seasons with the Steelers, between 1999 and 2000.

Revisiting Bill Cowher’s coaching tree appeared first on Steel City Underground.

Steelers Unlikely To Retain Russell Wilson And Justin Fields

The quarterback position looms as one which faces uncertainty for the Steelers as the 2025 league year approaches. Owner Art Rooney II‘s latest comments on the subject confirmed changes should again be expected in the near future.

Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are both pending free agents, and each saw playing time this past season as the team evaluated its options for 2025 and beyond. Rooney indicated his “preference” would be to re-sign one of the two while adding a commitment longer than one season would be ideal. That would seem to point Pittsburgh in Fields’ direction, but in any case keeping that tandem in place would be surprising.

“I wouldn’t close the door, but I’d say it’s probably unlikely,” Rooney said of keeping Wilson and Fields (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I think both of them see themselves as starters and I don’t know that they want to share the same job again next year. So, I would say most likely we probably don’t wind up bringing them both back.”

Rooney also noted that an ideal 2025 QB setup would see both of the Steelers’ top options possessing the same skillset (h/t Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show). That is a common goal for many teams, of course, but in this case it is another indication Pittsburgh will look to commit to either Wilson (and a new pocket passer to supplement him) or Fields (with another mobile passer being added). Free agency does not figure to provide many attractive options, and the Steelers are unlikely to that take route to make a notable addition.

“We’ve got a whole quarterback room to fill, and so there’s jobs open in there,” Rooney added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we look in the draft as well either this year or next, and so that’s got to be the priority.”

The Steelers are set to select 21st in April’s draft, leaving the team out of range of the top quarterback prospects (albeit in a class which is not held in high regard). Pittsburgh’s last major draft investment under center – Kenny Pickett – was added from a similar position in 2022, but he was traded away as part of the team’s mass changes at the QB spot last spring. With Kyle Allen also on track for free agency, multiple new faces could be in place by Week 1 next season.

Fields, 25, has not lived up to his draft stock but the former Bears first-rounder helped the Steelers to a 4-2 record at the start of the season. He could generate a free agent market based on his potential upside compared to other options, but in all likelihood he would once again find himself competing for a QB1 gig even in a new environment. Wilson’s play took an unwanted turn at the end of the campaign, and making a long-term commitment in the 36-year-old would carry signficant risks. With Pete Carroll back on an NFL sideline as head coach of the Raiders, a reunion in Vegas has been floated as a possibility.

Mike Tomlin will remain in place as the Steelers’ coach for 2025, and a number of roster moves will be made before the start of next season. Until the quarterback situation becomes clearer, though, that will remain the focus of Pittsburgh’s offseason.

Takeaways: Chiefs, Eagles secure Super Bowl spots

Another weekend of football in the National Football League, another weekend Pittsburgh Steelers fans had to choose who else to cheer for. The AFC and NFC championship games offered plenty for Steelers fans to wager over as they bemoaned the state of their own team’s current status. We offer our takeaways as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs walked away as their division’s champions, respectively, en route to Super Bowl LIX.

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Chiefs fend off the Bills

For the Chiefs, things couldn’t have gone better unless the NFL was scripted – which many fans have actively proposed with crazy calls going in favor of Kansas City during the 2024 NFL season. Foil hat craziness, or not, officiating in the league has been under heavy scrutiny throughout the past few seasons, so we’ll put pettiness aside. Are you ready for another Taylor Swift montage of coverage? Yeah, we’ll spare you that as well.

Andy Reid has found a winning formula for Kansas City despite coaching a team that won 17 straight games decided by one score or less when they held on to fend off Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Although they led 21-10 late in the first haf, the Bills rallied to go up 22-21 by the end of the third quarter. As they have throughout the season, Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes rallied late in the game to score 11 points and take the AFC. Harrison Butker kicked a 35-yard field goal that gave the Chiefs the 32-29 lead that they were able to hold onto until the game clock hit zero.

One of our biggest takeaways from this game was that just one week removed from a big game against the Houston Texans, Travis Kelce recorded just two receptions for 19 yards. Receivers Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hollywood Brown, and Xavier Worthy worked the Bills defense over, instead. Brown and Smith-Schuster had just five catches combined, but those plays resulted in 95 yards of positive offense.

As for the Bills, they failed to get James Cook off to a hot start and that put their defense back onto the field too often in the opening half. Cook did find the end zone twice and had 85 yards in the game. The Bills defense wasn’t at full strength without safety Taylor Rapp (out due to a hip and back injury) and suffered when cornerback Christian Benford had to leave the game due to a first quarter concussion.

Our second biggest takeaway was that Buffalo was just sloppy with the ball. Allen threw two near-interception passes and fumbled the ball three times (and recovered them). Ray Davis also fumbled a carry he was able to recover. They were costly errors that affected game flow and were only shown-up by the special teams unit allowing a 41-yard punt return that set up a Chiefs touchdown.

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Eagles rout the Commanders

We all know what Jaylen Hurts is capable of at quarterback, but add “unselfish” to the list of traits. Getting back to the ground game was key to the win over Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders as Saquon Barkley put on a clinic. Barkley ripped off a 60-yard run on Philadelphia’s first offensive series and tacked on three touchdown. Hurts, who didn’t appear to have issues with a left knee injury on his way to three rushing touchdowns and one through the air.

As a rookie, Daniels had an impressive regular season and postseason. On Sunday, his heroics couldn’t save the Commanders from defeat, though, due to four turnovers that dug too deep of a hole. He threw for 255 yards and a touchdown and ran one ball into the end zone, posting 48 yards rushing in the game.

Marshon Lattimore was a liability in coverage for Washington’s defense; he was beaten several times and had an on-field meltdown. Adding insult to injury, teammate Dyami Brown fumbled after a catch at the Commanders 48-yard line that allowed the Eagles to set up a touchdown for a lead Washington had to chase for the remainder of the game.

As for defense, it was Philly who was more dominant – a step up that made their victory a compete team win. Washington, who’d forced five turnovers against the Detroit Lions to advance, earned zero takeaways and forced just two punts. Unable to stop the run, the Commanders lost their opportunity to be victorious.

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Who will Steelers fans choose to win the Super Bowl?

This matchup between the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and that “other team in Pennsylvania” – Philadelphia Eagles – may have Steelers fans split in who they cheer-on in the big game.

As fans of a team that has experienced a dynasty, the loyal black and gold may hold an affinity towards the Eagles knocking the Chiefs – representing the AFC conference – down a peg.

Then again, there’s little love between Steelers fans and the Eagles – even if, at one time, the two teams combined in NFL history to be the “Steagles.” Pittsburgh prefers being the big brother when it comes to the in-state rivalry.

Stay tuned to our coverage leading up to Super Bowl LIX (such an unfortunately awkward number) to get updates on that game and other Steelers-related content.

Takeaways: Chiefs, Eagles secure Super Bowl spots appeared first on Steel City Underground.