Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers News
Steelers Name Joe Greene Great Performance Award Winner, Top Rookie
The Pittsburgh Steelers named center Zach Frazier their "Joe Greene Great Performance Award" winner, which is given to the team's top rookie.
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers named center Zach Frazier their “Joe Greene Great Performance Award” winner, which is given annually to Pittsburgh’s top rookie.
Frazier, a second-round pick (No. 51 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft, was pushed into the starting lineup after veteran Nate Herbig suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in August.
Since taking over as the starter, Frazier has looked the part. Now he joins fellow teammates Joey Porter Jr. and Najee Harris as well as former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, among others who have won the award.
It’s safe to say it’s been a whirlwind of a season for Frazier and he can’t believe it’s almost over.
“It’s flown by, honestly. It’s gone by fast,” Frazier said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot. Just tried to build week by week. Get a little bit better every week and just focus on how to get better and how I can make our team better.”
It hasn’t all been good, however. Frazier suffered a left ankle injury in Week 6 that forced him to miss two games.
He revealed it was the first time he ever missed significant time.
“That was tough. That was the first time I’ve ever missed time during the season, except for last year when I missed the bowl game,” Frazier said. “That was tough on me. Definitely not a good feeling being out and not being able to go. But once I got back in against Washington, started clicking again.”
Whether it was on or off the field, however, much of Frazier’s development is thanks to his veteran teammates.
Frazier leaned on several vets in the locker room, including Herbig and guard Isaac Seumalo.
“I would just say the older guys in the room. Training camp it was Nate,” Frazier said. “Throughout the season, it’s been Isaac, just bouncing questions off of him. He’s given me a lot of great feedback. He’s seen a lot.”
Frazier wasn’t the only rookie who was thrusted into the starting lineup earlier than expected. Fourth-round rookie guard Mason McCormick also got the nod when veteran guard James Daniels suffered a torn Achilles in Week 4.
The rookie center said it was beneficial to have him next to his side, too.
“It’s nice to have a guy like Mason,” Frazier said. “We’re both rookies. We both went through the same things, as far as first training camp, first everything.”
The Steelers have had a long history of great centers. It’s not time to put Frazier among them quite yet, but his rookie season certainly supports the idea that he will someday.
For now, Frazier is solely focused on continuing to get better and more comfortable, which is something he’s already taken big steps with.
“I’d just say overall just being more comfortable,” Frazier said. “Comfortable with the playbook, making calls, seeing and reading defenses. At first, I kind of had to think and now I feel like I’m just kind of out there playing football again. It’s a lot less thinking.”
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