Pat McAfee is shopping for the Steelers hype this yr, the native Yinzer confirmed throughout his current go to to Latrobe. Conducting his fashionable present at Saint Vincent School, he had many company on, from Mike Tomlin to Aaron Rodgers. After speaking to the group and watching follow, he’s a believer.
Requested about his emotions on the Steelers this yr, McAfee informed Missi Matthews, “All in”, by way of the Steelers’ web site. “Come on, Missi. Aren’t all of us in”?
Whereas he performed his profession in Indianapolis, Pat McAfee and his household grew up following the Steelers. Although he wasn’t a diehard fan, he recalled his household dragging him to coaching camp one time. He known as it a ceremony of passage, and now as a former participant, he can recognize it much more. Particularly this offseason, witnessing all their plans enjoying out on the sector.
“It looks like there’s a bit of little bit of a buzz” across the Steelers this yr, McAfee mentioned. “We talked to Omar Khan a bit of bit at present about how this isn’t how the Steelers function. Pay a large receiver $30 million a yr that hasn’t been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier than? Not to mention simply pay any broad receiver $30 million a yr.
“DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, then the Jonnu [Smith] commerce, then Aaron [Rodgers], clearly”, he continued, rattling off the listing of huge strikes the Steelers made this offseason. “It’s superior. And I recognize the staff acknowledging that they’re good, and it’s like, ‘We must be nice’. And I believe that’s gonna be the message, and it’s like, why not the Pittsburgh Steelers”?
Whereas Pat McAfee is a believer, the Steelers nonetheless face loads of skeptics. Their best impediment is arguably their very own division, as they need to cope with the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens are perennial Tremendous Bowl favorites, and the Bengals have Joe Burrow. Each time he’s wholesome they usually don’t sabotage themselves, they’re within the hunt, as effectively.
Pittsburgh, in fact, has sat on the porch lately because the looking get together pursued its prey. Right here’s a watch opener. The final time the Steelers gained a playoff recreation, Pat McAfee was nonetheless punting for Indianapolis. He retired after the 2016 season, the yr the Steelers superior to the convention finals. Successfully, he created a media empire within the interim.
Since retiring, he has embraced his Yinzer roots, and the Steelers are a widespread matter on The Pat McAfee Present. He has actually excelled in his life’s work, but when the Steelers don’t get this factor off the bottom, a few of their most excellent gamers will likely be doing so with out satisfaction. Cameron Heyward is nearing the tip of his profession, for instance. Whereas they only signed T.J. Watt to an extension, it’s truthful to query whether or not they’ll handle to win something significant.
However not less than the Steelers have McAfee’s buy-in.
