It all started with a DM, that snowballed into a trans-Pacific search for the man in the Australia A jersey at Super Bowl XXX. Just who was he, and why on earth is he wearing a cricket jersey at a Super Bowl?
They're big and small. They've been lost while surfing in Hawaii and dancing at Studio 54. They've been found in taxis and hotel nightstands. Each ring, and its wearer, has a unique story to tell.
Though a severe spinal injury kept Ryan Shazier on the PUP list the last two seasons, the Steelers chose to honor his contract. But his contract won't toll in 2020. "We'd love to have Ryan back in some capacity," Art Rooney II said. "I don't want to get ahead of Ryan. I don't want to say he's given up on the idea of being a playing. He's here every day working out. He's a remarkable young man, a determined young man. I don't want to speak for him in terms of where he wants to go from here."
Like Mike Tomlin, Art Rooney II also wants Bud Dupree to return next season, and securing the OLB is a top priority. Dupree, an unrestricted free agent, is eligible to be franchise tagged, but the Steelers will have to balance a tight cap to get it done. "We'd like to have Bud back, no question about it," Rooney II said. "And we'll do our best to figure out how to make it happen. But we'd like to have him back, and I'll stay optimistic that we'll be able to figure out how to make that happen."
The Steelers went without a QB coach in 18 and 19, but Tomlin's familiarity with Matt Canada from his season as Pitt's OC led to his hire. "I think Mike and I both felt it was an opportunity we had and good to add somebody to the staff that can help with the young quarterbacks, help with the offense," Art Rooney II said. "We're happy that somebody like Matt, who we knew from down the hall here was a known quantity for us, liked him and liked the work he'd done. We're happy to have him on board."
The Steelers still don't have a concrete timeline for QB Ben Roethlisberger's rehab on his season-ending elbow injury, but Art Rooney II is encouraged. "Everything we hear so far is positive," he said. "In particular, Ben's attitude about things. He seems to feel good about it. He really, still, is in the early stages of his rehab. He hasn't been able to do a whole lot yet. That's going to start to ramp up here over the next couple of months, obviously. We're anxious to see his progress."
Art Rooney II voiced his support for Mike Tomlin after what he called "one of the craziest seasons" he'd been around in more than 50 years of football. "No question Mike did a great job," Rooney said. "I think one of the head coach's biggest jobs is to keep the team focused, keep the team fighting through adversity. We certainly had more than our share of it to fight through this year. I think being able to do that starts with your head coach and some of the leadership we have on this team."
Steelers CB Joe Haden is heading your Orlando for the Pro Bowl, replacing injured Ravens Marcus Peters. "Joe made the splash plays, so he deserves the recognition, but I can't say enough about those low-maintenance, high-production veteran corners that provide a nice high floor for us in terms of performance," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. Haden finished with five interceptions, 65 tackles, 17 pass defenses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
In an interview with local media, Steelers owner and President Art Rooney II said he's optimistic about GM Kevin Colbert returning next season. Currently, Colbert's contract runs through this year's draft. "Have to get something done as far as an extension, address that as soon as we can." Colbert didn't sign an extension with coach Mike Tomlin last season, instead working on a year-to-year contract.
A look at the 15 men -- including Jimmy Johnson, Paul Tagliabue and Alex Karras -- in the Hall of Fame's Centennial Class, which was announced on Wednesday.
Steelers get another in the Hall as former safety Donnie Shell was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Centennial Class. In 14 seasons with the Steelers, the five-time Pro Bowler played in 201 games, won four Super Bowls and racked up 51 interceptions. He held the NFL safety interception record at the time of his retirement three decades ago. He joins former coach Bill Cowher as Steelers representatives in the HOF Centennial Class.
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue made the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his fifth attempt as he was among the 15 members of the Hall's Centennial Class announced Wednesday.
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II, whose family was instrumental in the creation of the NFL's diverse hiring policy, expressed disappointment in the lack of minority head coaches hired this offseason.
Will the Titans give Ryan Tannehill a big contract? Will Jadeveon Clowney leave Seattle? Here are the roster questions facing every team.
Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher was formally named the first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's centennial class Saturday.
The Immaculate Reception. The Minneapolis Miracle. These rank among the postseason plays that are so amazing, so iconic, they're burned into our brains.
Steelers announce they've signed WR Anthony Johnson to a Reserve/Future contract. Johnson, a University of Buffalo alum, was undrafted last year and participated in Tampa Bay's training camp. He was in the Chargers practice squad for most of the 2019 season. In two seasons at Buffalo, Johnson had 133 receptions for 2,367 yards and 25 TDS.
Steelers have signed RB Darrin Hall to a Reserve/Future contract. A Pitt product, Hall spent time on the Steelers practice squad last season. In his senior season with the Panthers in 2018, Hall rushed for 1,144 yards and 10 TDs.
Clarity on Jameis Winston. An edge rush upgrade in Atlanta. A WR1 for Oakland. A new coach for the Giants. What does each team need?
The Steelers missed the postseason again. Now they need to clear cap space to keep their defense intact and address their struggling offense.
| TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 531 | 282 |
| Pittsburgh | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 289 | 303 |
| Cleveland | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 335 | 393 |
| Cincinnati | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 279 | 420 |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(10) | Devin Bush | ILB | Michigan |
| 3(2) | Diontae Johnson | WR | Toledo |
| 3(19) | Justin Layne | CB | Michigan State |
| 4(20) | Benny Snell Jr. | RB | Kentucky |
| 5(3) | Zach Gentry | TE | Michigan |
| 6(2) | Sutton Smith | OLB | Northern Illinois |
| 6(19) | Isaiah Buggs | DT | Alabama |
| 6(34) | Ulysees Gilbert III | ILB | Akron |
| 7(5) | Derwin Gray | OG | Maryland |
