Daily News & Links: Anniversary of Legendary Steelers Draft Class; J.J. Watt Rips Pro Bowl
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🏈 On this day in 1974, the Pittsburgh Steelers conducted a draft class for the ages. The class headed by Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, and a free agent signing, Donnie Shell, would become heralded. All five of those players became Hall of Famers, and it’s rare for one team to grab five starters in a draft, let alone Hall of Famers.
🏈 J.J. Watt thinks the Pro Bowl has turned into a joke.
“When you get 5 alternates deep, just call it the Participation Bowl,” Watt wrote on X.
🏈 Tuesday marked the 56-year anniversary of the Steelers drafting future Hall of Famers and four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Greene and Jack Ham.
🏈 The Steelers produced a league low 4.5 yards per play on first downs in 2024, according to Matt Williamson of Steelers.com.
🏈 Assistant director of graphic design for Pitt athletics Dan Lee recreated Jerome Bettis’ famous play of running over Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher in the snow for a touchdown in 2005. Lee used roughly 300 Jerome Bettis and Brian Urlacher football cards to create the image.
🏈 Steelers president Art Rooney II spoke with Bob Pompeani of KDKA-TV about several topics as he enters the offseason after another failed playoff run.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in his season-ending press conference that changes were going to be made this offseason, but nothing has happened yet.
“When you talk about change, last year, we made significant changes on the offensive side of the ball, brought in a new coordinator, brought in some new position coaches on the offensive side, so I would say it’s not as though we haven’t made any changes,” Rooney said. “[I’m] looking forward to the second year under Arthur Smith in terms of the offense, preferably with one of the two quarterbacks we had on the roster this year so we can continue to develop that way.”
🏈 Art Rooney II said the team has no intentions of trading Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt.
“I’d have to put it in the ‘unlikely’ category. 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 told Pompeani.
🏈 Art Rooney II also discussed the fans frustrations over the five-game losing streak to end the season.
“I understand their frustration with how we finished 2024. It just wasn’t good enough, not what we expected, and everybody in this building knows that we have work to do and we’ve got to be better than that,” Rooney said. “We’ve got some big decisions to make and we’re going to be rolling up our sleeves and doing the best we can to make sure we’re better next year.”
🏈 The La Vegas Raiders have the best odds at +150 to land Russell Wilson, according to Bovada Sportsbook. The Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants are tied for the second-best odds at +850. With Pete Carroll being named the new head coach in Las Vegas, a reunion with Wilson seems very likely.
🏈 Former NFL Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is coming out of retirement to join the Baltimore Ravens as their senior secondary coach.
🏈 Steelers legend Brett Keisel welcomed the Professional Bull Riders with open arms to Pittsburgh last week at PPG Paints Arena.
STEELERS NOW CONTENT FROM JAN. 28
🏈 Five Steelers Takeaways from First Day of Senior Bowl Practice
🏈 Mike Tomlin, Steelers All Over Defensive Linemen at Senior Bowl
🏈 Steelers QB Russell Wilson Gets Pro Bowl Nod
🏈 Steelers Afternoon Drive: Pro Bowl Russ, Senior Bowl Scuttlebutt
🏈 Steelers Rookie Center Zach Frazier Gets Snubbed from Pro Bowl
🏈 Former Steelers Cornerback Signs With UFL Team
🏈 Possible Steelers QB Target in 2025 NFL Draft Grew Up a Ravens Fan
🏈 Bad Year to Need QB: Former NFL Scout Low on 2025 NFL Draft Class
🏈 Steelers Heavy Hitters Are at the Senior Bowl
🏈 Eight Players to Watch for Steelers at 2025 Senior Bowl
🏈 Rooney Says Steelers Must Make Free Agent Splash in 2025
🏈 Familiar-to-Steelers Problem Could Have Alabama QB Tumbling Down Draft Boards
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