Pat Freiermuth Hopes to Stay with Steelers Long Term

During an appearance on the Around the 412 Podcast with Zachary Smith of Steelers Now and Tyler Weeks on Wednesday, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth acknowledged that 2024 will be a pivotal season in getting a second contract with the team.

This is Freiermuth’s last season on his rookie deal. He and his agent have had conversations about it being a contract year, but didn’t want to talk about conversations with the team. He said he likes where things currently stand, however.

“I want to be in Pittsburgh for the rest of my career,” Freiermuth said. “Hopefully it shakes out that way. I want to continue to play for Pittsburgh because it reminds me of where I’m from and how I was raised. Growing up and going through the hard times and good times together. I feel like the Pittsburgh media and fanbase and everyone kind of does that together. I feel very at peace and very comfortable in Pittsburgh. So, hopefully it shakes out the way that I want it to in the next coming year or whenever that may be.”

Freiermuth missed five games in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, but overall his numbers dropped from the two previous seasons. The subpar quarterback play and being in Matt Canada’s offense certainly didn’t help matters. In Freiermuth’s rookie season with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, he recorded seven touchdowns. He has a combined four touchdowns in the past two seasons.

With Arthur Smith now in charge of the offense and either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at quarterback, Freiermuth could be unleashed.

Suppose Smith uses Freiermuth like he should be used, which is getting up to the second level and digging out those linebackers and safety rather than down-blocking into defensive ends. In that case, Freiermuth has the potential to unlock this offense. He started to block at a high level towards the end of the year, finally getting into the right spots that would allow him to succeed while playing at a high level.

But his mismatch ability in the receiving game was not used nearly enough. Freiermuth is an underrated route runner and, with play action in effect, could be a serious weapon down the field for the Steelers under Smith. He will play more than ever before on top of that, so expect Freiermuth to see himself take the leap if he gets used in the correct fashion while letting Darnell Washington clear lanes.

Friermuth also revealed on the podcast that he and wide receivers Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson all recently worked out with Wilson in San Diego.

Other important notes from the podcast with Freiermuth included his girlfriend waking him up to tell him that Wilson signed with the Steelers and that he has spent the past two to three weeks working with his uncle to improve on his blocking. Freiermuth’s uncle, Michael Foley, used to be an offensive line coach at UMass.