Steelers Daily Links: Players Hit Offseason Plans; Ex-Steelers in Super Bowl

The Pittsburgh Steelers players are taking different approaches to getting away from football during their offseason, while at least one former member of the Black and Gold will be getting fitted for a Super Bowl ring this season.

It’s guaranteed that a former Steelers player will get a Super Bowl ring this year, as JuJu Smith-Schuster (Chiefs), Mike Hilton (Bengals), Javon Hargrave (Eagles) and Ray-Ray McCloud (49ers) will all play in the conference title games this weekend. 

It will also be the first Super Bowl ring for whichever player earns it. Hilton got there with the Bengals last year and fell short. Hargrave made it to the AFC Championship Game with the Steelers after his rookie season in 2016. Smith-Schuster and McCloud are playing in championship weekend for the first time.

Which one will it be? If you think you know, get on over to DraftKings and put your money where your mouth is. Or just leave a comment.

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🏈 Kenny Pickett told 93.7 The Fan that he attended his first Penguins game on Friday night and will be back at the Pete for Pitt basketball on Wednesday. He will then head back to New Jersey for some family time before getting back to work. Pickett’s personal quarterback coach Tony Racioppi is looking forward to the offseason work.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has already started his offseason training. Diontae Johnson joked on Instagram, “Always in that mode 😂💯 it’s ok to relax sometimes mink!!”

Guard James Daniels visited the Pearl Harbor National Museum in Hawaii on Monday.

🏈 CBS: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce now has four career playoff games with 10-plus receptions and 1-plus receiving touchdown, which is the most in NFL history. Kelce is ahead of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Steelers legend Hines Ward and Steve Smith Sr., who all did it twice.

🏈 ESPN: Ryan Clark thinks Dak Prescott is just not built for greatness. “Ever since [Dak Prescott] got the deal, we’ve been waiting for him to ascend to that next tier. The Patrick Mahomes, the Josh Allen, the Joe Burrow tier. And that’s just not who he is,” Clark said on ESPN’s Get Up.

🏈 Watch: Monday marked the 18th anniversary of the New England Patriots’ 41-27 win over the Steelers in the 2004 AFC Championship Game. It was Bill Cowher’s fourth career AFC Championship Game loss, all of which were at home.

Today in 2005…
The 2004 AFC Championship

The #Patriots exact revenge on the team that, earlier in the season, ended their NFL record 21-game winning streak, topping the #Steelers at Heinz Field, 41-27.

New England wins its second consecutive AFC title, its third in four years pic.twitter.com/MDGuf9HNom

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 24, 2023

STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

Steelers Draft Digest: Bryan Bresee to Pittsburgh, Hendon Hooker to Mobile

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Both Pitt and Wake Forest have adapted to the modern era of college basketball by building through the transfer portal. They have a crucial showdown at Petersen Events Center on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin has been playing much better lately after a rough start to the season.

West Virginia Sports Now: Chad Scott is the new West Virginia offensive coordinator, but head coach Neal Brown was non-committal about who will be calling the offensive plays during his end-of-season press conference on Monday.

Nittany Sports Now: Penn State alumni Micah Parsons and Saquon Barkley were both honored by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Andrew McCutchen will have many roles for the Pirates and his new, younger teammates.