Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and around the Sports Now Group.
? During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson said nobody lost faith in Mike Tomlin during Pittsburgh’s three-game losing streak from Weeks 13-15.
“Coach is the same each and everyday. Everyday, each and every week, creates different obstacles, different challenges, and Coach understands that,” Peterson said. “There’s going to be ebbs and flows through every season. Everyone has ebbs and flows throughout their season. Last time I checked, there’s only one perfect season in the NFL, and that’s the Miami Dolphins (in 1972). So, you’re going to win games (and) you’re going to lose games.”
Peterson didn’t disclose the inner details but he said there was one team meeting where Tomlin forced some guys to look themselves in the mirror.
“That’s what a coach is supposed to do. Forces his guys to dig down deep to find their better selves. And Coach does a great job of doing that each and every week,” Peterson said. “I’m not saying that Coach is motivating grown men, but he does a great job of having guys understand the position that we are in and don’t take it lightly. And for me, that’s why I love being around Coach because a lot of coaches don’t give you that hope or that inspirational fire that you may need to go into a game.”
💻 @P2
The @steelers corner told us even throughout a season of ups and downs that has them on the verge of another playoff berth, why nobody lost faith in Mike Tomlin:#NFL #HereWeGo #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/q5ZSE074p1
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 4, 2024
? With Lamar Jackson sidelined due to the Baltimore Ravens having the No. 1 seed in the AFC locked up, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley is going to try to seize the moment against the Steelers on Saturday. It will be Huntley’s fourth career start against the Steelers. He’s 1-2 in his three previous starts against Pittsburgh.
“I’m just going to seize the moment and do what I do,” Huntley said, via the team’s website. “The Steelers are a physical team, and it’s always a good game. We’ve just got to score points, and our defense is going to handle the rest.”
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? Pro Football Talk: T.J. Watt, who led the NFL in sacks in both 2020 and 2021, is currently tied for the league lead this season, with 17 sacks. If he’s still the league leader after Sunday’s games, he’ll be the first player ever to have the official league lead in three different seasons.
Several players besides Watt have led the league in sacks in two different seasons, most recently his older brother J.J. Watt, who led the NFL in sacks in 2012 and 2015. Others who have done it are Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware, Michael Strahan, Kevin Greene, Reggie White and Mark Gastineau.
? Steelers.com: The Steelers announced a total of $489,250 in donations, from both the organization and individual players, to their Social Justice Fund Initiative this past year. Since its inception in 2018, the team and its players have donated total of $2,339,970.
Contributions were made to 26 organizations in Pittsburgh and several in players’ hometowns that focused on youth development, food access, criminal justice, community and police relations, equity and inclusion education, and housing.
? Steelers legend and former Hall of Fame head coach, the late Chuck Noll, was born on this day in 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio. Noll led the Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in a six-year span in the 1970s.
BOTD Chuck Noll#Steelers#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/zPzPZqtCit
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) January 5, 2024
? NFL Films captured the moment of Steelers rookie outside linebacker Nick Herbig’s strip sack and fumble recovery on Geno Smith in the Steelers’ 30-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It was the turning point of the game.
“I’m gonna have to start calling him ‘Mr. Herbig,'” Mike Tomlin said.
Defense wins games, and keeps you over .500 😏
Rookie Nick Herbig blew by multiple blockers to keep the @Steelers playoff hopes alive #NFLTurningPoint pic.twitter.com/EQyN7z6Vqu
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 4, 2024
? Happy Birthday to former Steelers inside linebacker Hardy Nickerson, born on January 5, 1965 in Compton, California. Nickerson was a fifth-round pick by the Steelers out of the University of California in the 1987 NFL Draft. Nickerson played 84 games (61 starts) for the Steelers from 1987-1992, recording 426 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one interception. Nickerson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1993 offseason. It’s in Tampa Bay where his career took off, making five Pro Bowls and selected All-Pro four times. He was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team.
? Friday marks the 21st anniversary of the Steelers’ 36-33 win over the Cleveland Browns in the 2002 AFC wild-card game at Heinz Field. Tommy Maddox, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, threw three touchdown passes in the final 19 minutes as the Steelers rallied from a 17-point deficit. The game also marked the berth of the “Renegade” tradition.
OTD in 2003
Steelers playoff comeback against the Browns
Down by 12 points with less than 4 minutes left, Tommy Maddox leads Pittsburgh to victory.
The Steelers were actually down 24-7 late in the 3rd.
Maddox 30-48 for 367 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT pic.twitter.com/dUCEn4E1Ba
— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) January 5, 2024
NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Sidney Crosby saves the day again for the Penguins.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: The Pittsburgh Pirates have been connected to some free agents.
Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt football lands an All-MAC linebacker out of the transfer portal.
West Virginia Sports Now: West Virginia reached out to a Liberty DB transfer in the portal.
Nittany Sports Now: Penn State is after a former No. 1 player in Pennsylvania through the transfer portal.
Pittsburgh Soccer Now: The USL has announced the 2024 Pittsburgh Riverhounds schedule.
