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How Steelers Greats Shaped Markus Golden’s Game

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Steelers OLB Markus Golden

PITTSBURGH — When Markus Golden arrived in Pittsburgh, he noted that growing up and watching from afar, he was a Steelers fan for years. So much, that he developed an affinity for some of the star outside linebackers of the late 2000s for the Steelers.

Those two players were James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. As an outside linebacker, those two are not bad guys to pull from when you are trying to create some pass-rush moves and a plan. So, they were the guys that Golden gravitated towards, and Pittsburgh’s aggressive style of defense appealed to him from the jump.

“For me, it was James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, watching those guys play back in the day,” Golden said. “For a long time, I’ve been a Steelers fan. How can you not love the Steelers defense? They had Troy Polamalu and all of those guys. Those guys play like how I play. I modeled my game after those guys when I was younger in how I played on the field. It’s not just about making a sack, but making plays down the field even when other teams make a big play. I’m all about being around the ball. Watching the Steelers made me really like them and want to play with them coming out of college.”

Saying that you are a Steelers fan can often feel cliche when talking about these players, but Golden seems to have a strong appreciation for the team and their culture overall. He harkens back to a bit of the old days of Pittsburgh with some of the references he makes and how much he loved Mike Tomlin’s early defenses with the team. Tomlin turns out to be one of his favorite coaches as well, and Golden is fitting into the locker room with the other outside linebackers like a glove.