Steelers DT Montravius Adams Rises as Unsung Veteran Leader
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a leader who they can look up to in veteran defensive tackle Montravius Adams.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have an old defensive line room and have a natural leader in their captain, Cam Heyward, already there. But Larry Ogunjobi and others have started to take on that role. However, now with the team for multiple seasons, Montravius Adams is a guy young players like DeMarvin Leal, and Keeanu Benton look towards for guidance and leadership.
Adams is 28 years old and has been in the league since 2017. So, it’s not surprising that guys would start to look towards him for help as he heads into his prime years and becomes one of the ‘old guys.’
“There’s a lot I can do, not even talking about on the football field, but in helping develop the guys around me,” Adams said. “As a person, that’s more of my character, aside from football: helping better people around me. That’s what I want to take on this year.”
Adams was the same player who, when facing the prospect of potentially getting cut amid a loaded defensive line room last summer, said he would be okay with being the guy cut due to his relationships with others. He said the same thing about being demoted to backup last season after Benton began his surge to an impressive rookie season. And this year, he enters as the backup nose tackle, but that does not bother Adams.
“I mean, playing football, you have to be willing to go along with the journey,” Adams said. “Sometimes you’re gonna be a starter, sometimes you’re not. At the end of the day, as long as I am doing what I need to do on the field so that I can take care of my family back at home, no problem. And as long as he (Benton) is growing and continuing to get better, no problem. And he’s continuing to do that. So I have no problem.”
The Steelers know what type of player and person they have in Adams. That is why multiple people praised Adams for his helpfulness, and the team wanted him back so severely in free agency. Once Armon Watts walked and signed with the New England Patriots, bringing Adams back into the fold became even more imperative.
Now, the lowkey, always-helpful Adams is back once again, and this time, he is more than an explosive depth piece along the defensive line. He is taking on the role of a leader to others around him.
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