Your daily Steelers trivia game, Wednesday edition



Think you can figure out which Steelers player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Steelers fans! We’re back for another day of the Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

Today’s Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 game

If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article.

Previous games

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025

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Behind the Steel Curtain in-5 instructions

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Steelers player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Enjoy!

Browns Not Expected To Trade Up To No. 1 Pick

A few weeks ago, we saw Browns defensive end Myles Garrett make an about face on his stance for the team’s chances for contention on their current trajectory. While it hasn’t been said exclusively, one may assume that, in the team’s meetings and negotiations with Garrett, Cleveland gave him some insight into the team’s plans for becoming contenders.

One would assume that that would indicate some sort of improvement at the quarterback position, but so far, the Browns have exchanged Jameis Winston for Kenny Pickett and watched Deshaun Watson‘s rehab activities stall due to a second Achilles tendon tear that could hold him out for the 2025 NFL season.

One way that Cleveland could improve at the position is by drafting a talented rookie, but at No. 2 overall, the Browns sit just out of reach of the class’s best quarterback, Miami’s Cam Ward, who’s expected to be taken No. 1 overall by the Titans. While one might think it wouldn’t take too much to move up and exchange places with Tennessee, general manager Andrew Berry said at league meetings this week that the team is “unlikely” to trade up for Ward, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

In fact, Browns co-owner Jimmy Haslam seemed to indicate that they may not add a quarterback at all, saying to the media that they’re “not going to force it,” per Cabot. Instead, Cleveland may address Garrett’s position group by adding Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, who is widely seen as the top prospect in the class. Despite recent news of a stress reaction in Carter’s foot, Berry made it clear that the team is not concerned by the injury, stating that it shouldn’t “be prohibitive to a long, successful career,” per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.

By not further addressing the quarterback position, the Browns would be setting themselves up to enter the 2025 NFL season with only Watson — who is questionable to be healthy by that time — and Pickett as options at QB1. That doesn’t seem to worry Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who told the media today that he believes in Pickett to be the team’s Week 1 starter “if it lands that way.” Over three years with the Steelers and Eagles, Pickett has a 15-10 record as a starter in the NFL with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

NFL draft profile 2025: Omarion Hampton (Running back, UNC)


North Carolina v Florida State
Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

A battering ram out of North Carolina, Hampton would bring a physicality to Pittsburgh. But would he fit the team’s plans?

Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

When the Steelers declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Najee Harris last year, it became clear running back would be a position to watch for them in the 2025 draft. That’s even truer now. Jaylen Warren, third-down back Kenneth Gainwell and aging ex-wideout Cordarrelle Patterson do not make the most inspiring room for a team that seemingly has wanted to dedicate itself to a run-heavy, clock-grinding playstyle.

Fortunately, the 2025 running back class is shaping up to be one of the better groups in recent memory. It’s already drawing comparisons to the 2017 class, which had several noteworthy running backs, including former Steeler James Connor.

If the Steelers are looking for a back capable of being a bellcow, few prospects match that description quite as well as North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.

The basics on Omarion Hampton

  • Position: Running back
  • Class: Junior
  • Size: 6’0, 221 pounds, 30 1/2” arms, 9 3/8” hands
  • Age: 22
  • Projected draft round: Late 1st-Mid 2nd
  • Pro Comparison: Jonathan Stewart

Combine Results & RAS Score

Stats via Sports Reference


Omarion Hampton scouting report

A four-star recruit, Hampton chose to stay in his home state of North Carolina despite receiving offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, Florida and several other Big 10 and SEC schools. After playing sparingly during his freshman season, Hampton cemented himself as a workhorse with over 250 carries and 1,500 rushing yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons.

Hampton looks the part and his tough running style is part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect.

It’s one thing to be a tough runner. The NFL has had plenty of plodding, big-bodied backs carve out a role for a season or two. But what makes Hampton special is the short area burst he possesses. Take these two runs against Florida State below. The first is just a standard first down run — and UNC’s line does a good job of giving Hampton a big hole to hit — but in the blink of an eye he’s accelerated for six yards to keep the Tar Heels ahead of the sticks. In the second clip, Florida State initially seems to have done a decent job of muddying up the running lanes for Hampton. However, he finds a crease and never slows down his feet, hitting a small hole before winding back, doing a mini-hurdle over a tackler diving at his feet. Again, note how quickly he gets upfield.

That burst holds up if Hampton gets to the second level untouched. There are plenty of long, highlight-reel worthy runs on his tape to go with his broken tackles. Once Hampton has built up a head of steam, he is difficult to catch from behind.

Hampton plays best in a gap scheme. He possesses some agility, but he isn’t as consistent moving laterally as he is getting downhill. If he has to slow his feet, he can struggle getting back up to the same speed he was at. While I question if Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy scheme would be the best fit for Hampton, it’s important to note that he isn’t incapable of getting outside.

In the passing game, Hampton wasn’t used too often as a blocker. While I did see a few reps in the games I watched, the vast majority of the time, he was either running a route or chipping and doing a late release. As a pass catcher, North Carolina mostly limited Hampton to screens and swing routes, but he was effective in those instances.

Strengths

  • Size-speed freak
  • Good contact balance with his makes him difficult to bring down
  • Capable as a pass catcher with traditional running back routes

Weaknesses

  • Not as elusive at the second level
  • One-speed runner who can be impatient at times
  • Linear runner, not as fluid moving laterally

What others are saying about Omarion Hampton

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com

High-volume battering ram with a three-ingredient recipe of size, strength and aggression. Hampton is a linear runner lacking creativity and wiggle, but once the gas is engaged, he runs like a downhill truck whose brake lines have been cut. He has the base, balance and power to batter tacklers and reignite runs after contact but he fails to recognize alternative run lanes that offer easier paths and more yardage. He needs to work on his pass protection but can create positive plays on swing passes and screens. Hampton is a tone-setting future starter who can handle a heavy workload, but he absorbs rare levels of heavy contact that could create durability or longevity issues if he doesn’t learn to pick and choose his battles.

Kyle Crabbs for The 33rd Team

The blend of burst and pliability at first contact makes him someone who absorbs contact quite well, and as a result, he’s a pile pusher and a churner through second-level contact. With surprising mobility throughout his lower half, Hampton plays with strong contact balance and pairs that with light feet that step over and around trash at his feet as he presses the line of scrimmage.

This is a big back with a slippery feel — not just thanks to his feet and power but thanks to strong vision and processing out of the mesh point. He’s quick to ID and attack holes that are present immediately but is also accustomed to having to press the line of scrimmage and make a snap decision through a small crease.

Dame Parson of Bleacher Report

Hampton is built like an NFL running back. He runs behind his pads with a strong leg drive. He has good body control and contact balance to bounce off tacklers and gain yards after contact. He converts speed-to-power well to run through defenders and fall forward. Hampton is at his best when his shoulders are squared to the line of scrimmage. He is an ideal fit for downhill gap scheme run offenses with a mixture of inside zones. He is a strong short-yardage and red-zone runner because of his physical and powerful running style.

Omarion Hampton’s fit with the Steelers

If the Steelers were able to get four 1,000 yard seasons out of Najee Harris despite some obvious scheme-fit issues, I have no doubt Hampton could make a positive impact for the Steelers. When the draft cycle first started picking up in Demember, Hampton was my RB4. After watching film on all of the top running backs, he’s climbed up to my RB2. He just checks so many boxes: size, acceleration, toughness, vision, receiving ability.

Truthfully, Arthur Smith’s zone scheme is not the best fit for Hampton. Hampton thrives making quick reads and decisions, something a gap scheme can simplify for a back. While I think Hampton has good enough vision and burst to work running zone, that scheme rewards patience in a runner, and Hampton currently is better off in schemes where he can stick his foot in the ground and take off right away. Still, Smith had success with Derrick Henry, who I wouldn’t describe as a particularly twitchy back.

There’s a solid chance the Steelers won’t have a realistic shot at Hampton. He’s being talked about as a potential first-round pick, and I struggle to see the Steelers taking one that early. Even if he falls out of the first round, the Steelers would have to acquire a second round pick to bring him to Pittsburgh. That’s why it’s far more likely we’ll see him suit up for an AFC North rival.

TL;DR: Hampton is a battering ram with enough speed to fit in any system, though there is reason to doubt his fit with Arthur Smith’s offense. However, based on where he is projected to be picked, there is a strong chance that we see him land with a team like the Browns or Ravens.

What are your thoughts on UNC RB Omarion Hampton? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!

NFL enacts rule change for regular-season overtime in 2025


A view of the NFL Logo displayed on the field during the Philadelphia Eagles vs Kansas City Chiefs game at Caesar’s Superdome.
Set Number: X164677 TK1

NFL owners are voting on rule changes and various proposals for the 2025 season this week at the NFL Annual Meeting, wrapping up April 1.

Two of the proposed rules have passed, including a proposal to “expand the league’s replay-assist system” and a rule that will allow both teams possession of the ball in overtime in the regular season. This rule will apply even if the first team to possess the ball in overtime were to score a touchdown. Rule changes required the approval of at least 75% of clubs (24).

In 2022, the league approved a rule that would allow both teams to possess the ball in overtime, only during the postseason. The rule was enacted just once over that three-year period, during Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. In overtime, the 49ers possessed the ball first, opting to kick a field goal, only to be outscored by the Chiefs on the final drive with a touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to WR Mecole Hardman.

Prior to 2022, if the team that possessed the ball first in overtime scored with a field goal or touchdown on the first drive, the other team did not have an opportunity to possess the ball. Since 2022, teams that won the coin toss in overtime hold a 30-17-2 record.

The NFL’s overtime rules have long been a topic of discussion, especially when contrasted with the overtime rules in college football, which have long offered a bit more excitement and parity, giving teams multiple opportunities to possess the football.

The Steelers have had 18 regular-season overtime appearances under HC Mike Tomlin dating back to 2007, holding a 9-7-2 record in such games. Two of those nine wins came on touchdowns, while seven were won on field goals.

Among other rule changes proposed were a ban on the infamous “Tush Push” set forth by the Green Bay Packers, as well as a proposal from the Detroit Lions to “eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty for defensive holding and illegal contact.”

Report: Aaron Rodgers’ contract hits snag over Steelers jersey number

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted free agent veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers for over six hours a little over one week ago. The official visit was deemed important as it solidified speculation that both sides have been talking throughout the offseason.

Rodgers, a 41-year-old Super Bowl-winning quarterback, is looking for another starting quarterback gig on the backend of his star-studded career after being released by the New York Jets in March. The Steelers, along with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, are rumored suitors for the future Hall of Famer.

Many assume Pittsburgh is the frontrunner to land the four-time NFL MVP, but Rodgers left the Steel City without signing a contract, and further news has been quiet on his possible intentions. Several reports indicate the holdup over an agreement isn’t about money, but other demands from Rodgers’ agents.

One of the items the two sides reportedly couldn’t come to terms on is what uniform number Rodgers will wear in Pittsburgh.

As preposterous as that may sound to fans, a player’s jersey number is an important part of their branding and psyche. For any player, a sleek number may contribute to their bottom line in jersey sales. But for Rodgers, a psychological approach to football has always been a priority.

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Before the end of his tenure with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers took a “darkness retreat” for several days to decide on the future of his career. He has also been known to take vacations to remote locations during the offseason, such as a reset in Egypt, as the star quarterback prioritized his mental health over team activities.

The emotional and psychological side of football took precedent again during Rodgers’ talks with the Steelers, as the former inquired about wearing number 12 for the latter. Rodgers wore 12 during his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. As the most famous Packer to don the digits, and the last to do so, there’s little doubt the team will immortalize 12 as a retired number once his playing days are over.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially retired three numbers in team history: Ernie Stautner’s #70, “Mean” Joe Greene’s #75, and Franco Harris’ #32. Traditionally, Pittsburgh was reluctant to officially retire uniform numbers, opting instead not to reissue those digits worn by franchise legends. They have relaxed their policy in recent years, retiring Greene’s #75 in 2014 and Harris’ #32 in 2022. Yet, they have not reissued several others over the years.

The problem in the Rodgers discussion isn’t that #12 is retired, but that it’s not. 12 is one of the unofficially reserved numbers the Steelers do not reissue, having last been worn by Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.

Bradshaw, a former four-time Super Bowl winner, is rumored as next in line to have his jersey immortalized alongside Stautner, Greene, and Harris. That cannot happen if Rodgers were to wear 12, which would also break the Steelers’ longstanding policy of reissuing numbers that are unofficially retired out of tribute to those legends. One might think that Bradshaw would make a personal exception for a proven, high-caliber player.

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However, Bradshaw, a legend turned FOX Sports analyst, has had short words on several occasions for Rodgers. While Bradshaw has had a hot and cold relationship with the Steelers over the years, giving away his uniform number could be the tipping point in their fragile relationship, let alone whatever relationship Terry has with Aaron.

This isn’t the first time Rodgers has come to grips with a uniform number. A similar request was made of the New York Jets, who had already retired #12 for Joe Namath back in 1985. While Namath obliged, Rodgers resigned to wearing #8, his collegiate number at California, for the last two seasons. Rumors suggest Rodgers is unwilling to wear 8 again, wishing to sever any ties he had to the Jets while also avoiding the superstition surrounding it in Pittsburgh.

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The number 8 has been a cursed one, exhumed from the 1940s when QB Tommy Maddox brought the number into the 21st century, followed by K Josh Scobee, S Karl Joseph, LB Melvin Ingram, QB Kenny Pickett, and most recently, P Corliss Waitman. While Waitman’s future is to be determined, the others have fizzled and faded into obscurity after wearing 8, a fate Rodgers is aware of and prefers to avoid.

Rodgers has also contemplated retirement, saving the embarrassment of wearing a different number or believing another April Fool’s Day hoax. (Yes folks, if you made it this far this is written for fun and is 100% satire. Happy April Fool’s Day!)

Report: Aaron Rodgers’ contract hits snag over Steelers jersey number appeared first on Steel City Underground.