When wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. evaluated his options in free agency, joining the Pittsburgh Steelers offered a deliberate alignment with his preferred brand of football.
Beyond the allure of Pittsburgh’s physical identity, Pittman was drawn by the tactical leadership of head coach Mike McCarthy and compelling indications regarding the team’s quarterback situation.
He recently joined former Steelers defenders James Harrison and Joe Haden on their podcast, “Deebo & Joe,” from training camp.
“I actually chose Pittsburgh because I thought it was the best situation like with Mike [McCarthy] and then with Aaron [Rodgers] coming back, which I didn’t know for sure, but I had hints that he was strongly considering it,” Pittman shared. “I just always felt like the Steeler way, like just like the bully football, was really just my type of ball.”
Transitioning into an offense commanded by veteran Aaron Rodgers requires rapid mental processing. Pittman highlighted the steep learning curve associated with Rodgers’ extensive at-the-line pre-snap adjustments, noting that receivers must master every signal instantly.
“Aaron is probably going to finish as one of the best players to ever play this sport,” Pittman explained. “The biggest difference just in the offense as a whole is like you can check to any play at any time. Aaron doesn’t really wait on you, and if you don’t know, you better catch up. So getting thrown into that fire has definitely enhanced the way that I study.”
Pairing Pittman with DK Metcalf gives Pittsburgh a rare combination of perimeter size and physical versatility. Rather than locking into static roles, Pittman views the duo as interchangeable assets capable of creating structural mismatches across the formation.
“We’re like Swiss Army knives, and if he’s getting doubled, then great, then I get to get off, and if I’m getting doubled, great, then he’s going to get off,” Pittman said. “We can both play anywhere. We’re both bigger-body guys so we can do our pass game and run game, too.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Michael Pittman Jr. explains why he chose Steelers in free agency
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