Joe Rutter stories, Page 16
5 storylines to follow for Steelers, NFL at annual scouting combine
With the Super Bowl, college playoffs and all-star showcases in the rearview mirror, the NFL ramps up its focus this week for the upcoming season. The annual Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with on-field workouts running from Thursday through Sunday. The NFL has invited...
Underwhelming class of quarterbacks awaits Steelers as they prepare for NFL Combine
The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers went hunting for a quarterback in the NFL Draft, they had the misfortune of doing so in one of the leanest classes in recent memory. When Kenny Pickett was taken with the No. 20 overall pick in 2022, he was the first quarterback to...
NFL Draft analyst: Fans would be ‘pretty pumped’ if Steelers got Michigan DT Kenneth Grant in 1st round
In his first two mockups, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting an offensive playmaker with the No. 21 overall pick. It was understandable considering the Steelers never exceeded 17 points during the five-game losing streak that ended their season. It also wasn’t surprising considering the...
Former Pirates relief pitcher Scott Sauerbeck dies at 53
Scott Sauerbeck, a late-blooming left-handed reliever who spent five of his major-league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, died Wednesday in Bradenton, Fla. Sauerbeck was 53. Former Pirates teammate Dave Williams wrote on Facebook that Sauerbeck died of a heart attack, and the Pirates confirmed Sauerbeck’s death in a social media...
New Castle native, Pitt grad Scott McCurley hired as Steelers linebackers coach
The Pittsburgh Steelers made official Wednesday the hiring of former Pitt player Scott McCurley as the team’s inside linebackers coach. McCurley replaces Aaron Curry, who left the Steelers to accept a position with the New York Jets. A New Castle native, McCurley, 44, spent the past five seasons with the...
Dynamic kickoff rule results in more returns in NFL, but data brings mixed reviews for Steelers
The Super Bowl capped the first year of the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rule. Based on that final-game sample size, the concept hardly lived up to its name but still was viewed as a success. Then again, the bar was set at ground level in the previous Super Bowl, and the...
Former Steelers trainer John Horwig to receive Hall of Fame’s ‘Award of Excellence’
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a continued presence at the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. Former head athletic trainer John Norwig will be honored as a member of the “Awards of Excellence” fourth class, the Hall of Fame announced Friday. He joins Ed Block and Pepper Burruss, bringing...
Penn State has 5 players invited to NFL Combine; Pitt will have 4 at event
Led by presumptive first-round picks Adbul Carter and Tyler Warren, Penn State had five players receive invitations to the annual NFL Scouting Combine, which will be held later this month in Indianapolis. Carter, a 6-foot-3, 252-pound defensive end, is viewed as one of the top players in the entire draft...
‘I hope they do it’: Members of ’70s Steelers, past dynasty teams weigh in on Chiefs’ 3-peat chase
The Kansas City Chiefs will have an unexpected fan Sunday when they attempt to win a record third consecutive Super Bowl. “Mean” Joe Greene, considered the greatest player in Pittsburgh Steelers history and anchor of their four Super Bowl titles in six seasons during the 1970s, says he’s rooting for...
Steelers to play game in Ireland during 2025 seasonVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be heading overseas for the first time in 12 seasons. To no surprise, given the franchise’s family roots, the destination is Dublin. The NFL announced Friday the Steelers will play a game at Croke Park in Ireland’s capital city during the 2025 season. The Steelers will...
Steelers’ Art Rooney II will be watching to see if Chiefs or Eagles offense is one to emulate in 2025
The Super Bowl matchup next weekend between Kansas City and Philadelphia presents a clash of offensive styles that is as contrasting as the quarterbacks who run them. The Chiefs rely on the right arm of Patrick Mahomes, a two-time MVP who is gunning for a record third consecutive championship and...
Steelers lose linebackers coach Aaron Curry to Jets in 1st offseason change among assistants
The first change to the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff was revealed Friday when linebackers coach Aaron Curry left the organization to join the New York Jets. NFL Network was first to report the switch in teams for Curry. Curry spent two seasons with the Steelers and six as an assistant...
Steelers positional analysis: Led by Chris Boswell, specialists provide stability heading into 2025
This is the 11th and final part in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Specialists If you could put a wager on which Pittsburgh Steelers position group would return intact for training camp, the safest bet would be on the specialists....
Steelers positional analysis: Cornerback stability tested with Donte Jackson set for free agency
This is the 10th part of a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Cornerbacks When the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired cornerback Donte Jackson from Carolina in March, they swapped one player entering the final year of his contract for another. The Steelers paid...
Steelers positional analysis: Starting safeties return to secondary that wilted down stretch
This is the ninth in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Safeties When Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II discussed the team’s roster during his annual season wrapup this week, he talked about the need to get stronger on the defensive...
Steelers QB Russell Wilson added to Pro Bowl games roster as injury replacement
The Pittsburgh Steelers benefited from another player being unavailable to play in the Pro Bowl games when quarterback Russell Wilson was named as a replacement for Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Earlier in the day, guard Isaac Seumalo was selected to replace Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is not...
Steelers deciding whether to bring back Russell Wilson or Justin Fields as QB for 2025
Calling it the “biggest piece of the puzzle that we have to address,” Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said determining which quarterback to pursue before the start of free agency will dominate discussions this offseason. Russell Wilson started the final 11 games of the regular season and the wild-card...
Steelers owner Art Rooney II shares frustration with way season ended, maintains support of Mike Tomlin
Art Rooney II doesn’t need to listen to talk radio or read newspaper columns to understand the frustration surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers after their latest collapse. All the team’s owner has to do is turn on his computer and check his email. “My inbox has been pretty full lately,” Rooney...
Steelers positional analysis: More splash sought from Patrick Queen, rest of inside linebackers
This is the eighth part of a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Inside linebackers The Pittsburgh Steelers found an ironman for the middle of their defense when they signed Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million contract in March. It was...
Steelers positional analysis: Outside linebacker could have different look if T.J. Watt is on move
This is the seventh in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Outside linebackers T.J. Watt’s future with the Pittsburgh Steelers undoubtedly will be a topic of discussion within the organization this offseason. It’s not just that the former NFL Defensive Player...
Steelers positional analysis: Time for organization to restock defensive line
This is the sixth in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Defensive line As the string of seasons without a playoff victory extended to eight for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the longest-tenured player on the roster struggled to make sense of the...
Steelers positional analysis: Future at QB seems like either/or decision — for now
This is the fifth in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Quarterbacks As Pittsburgh Steelers fans discovered last year, predicting the team’s starting quarterback in January is an exercise in futility. Twelve months ago, Kenny Pickett appeared to be poised to...
Steelers positional analysis: Was Pat Freiermuth underutilized in Arthur Smith’s offense?
This is the fourth in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster, position by position, heading into the offseason. Today: Tight ends When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed tight end Pat Freiermuth to a five-year contract worth nearly $50 million in September, it was done with the expectation he would become...
NFL finalizes dates for 2026 draft in Pittsburgh
Dates have been finalized for the NFL Draft that will be held in Pittsburgh next year. The league announced Thursday that the draft will take place April 23-25, 2026. Last May, Pittsburgh outbid other cities for the chance to host the draft, one of the league’s tentpole events of the...
Steelers OLB T.J. Watt among 5 finalists for AP defensive player of year award
On the day he withdrew from participating in the Pro Bowl games because of injury, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt again was named a finalist for the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award. Watt is not considered to be a front-runner to win the award. Watt, who...
