You never know what Aaron Rodgers is going to say when he's behind a mic, and a new Not Just Football podcast with Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Cam Heyward served as a fresh reminder.
Most recently, Rodgers broke his silence on his public breakup with ex-girlfriend Danica Patrick
Rodgers and the former NASCAR star broke up in 2020 after dating for nearly two years. Following their breakup, Patrick accused him of being "emotionally abusive" during their relationship. Rodgers is now sharing his side of the story.
The 42-year-old NFL signal-caller took shots at Patrick for being "depressed" during their relationship, and ultimately cited a lack of intimacy and her "not fun to be around" as reasons for calling it quits.
MORE: Steelers' Aaron Rodgers rips 'gutless' ESPN over Dianna Russini coverage

#steelers #relationship #Football #heyward

Aaron Rodgers is dropping more clues about the woman he says he's married to.
During the Thursday, September 10, episode of the Not Just Football with Cam Heyward podcast, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, 42 — who has kept his wife, Brittani, entirely out of the spotlight — was asked if she actually existed given what's been said online.
"Yeah," Rodgers said, adding that he doesn't care about what others may think.
"In 2017, I met my wife, and at the time she was leaving the States and going back to Europe," he began. "And my biggest regret is not begging her to stay or just proposing right there because that sent me into a tailspin."
The Super Bowl champ had two failed relationships after that. He dated former pro race car driver Danica Patrick from 2018 to 2020, and then he was in a relationship with Shailene Woodley, whom he was engaged to in 2021.

#aaron #Football #steelers

Aaron Rodgers slams ex Danica Patrick in explosive new interview originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Aaron Rodgers did not hold back about his former relationship with Danica Patrick.
Rodgers made an appearance on the Not Just Football podcast, where he recalled not having the best time in his romance with the former racing driver.
"I dated Danica [Patrick]. She had just retired. She was depressed and not fun to be around, but I didn't leave her because I was trying to be there and be a good partner," Rodgers shared with host and teammate Cam Heyward.
"Then it was going a certain direction, obviously. There was no intimacy. There was nothing," he continued. "And I'm buying a house in Malibu and she goes, 'Would you want to buy it together?,' and I said no."

#former #preferred #source #heyward

Aaron Rodgers is calling out his exes, claiming that there have been several false narratives made about him when it comes to his dating life.
The NFL star, 42, opened up like never before in a two-part episode of the podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward. In the Thursday, September 10 episode, Rodgers revealed actress Shailene Woodley lied about their split back when their engagement ended in 2022.
"I propose and she says yes. Now, she maybe felt like she was forced to make a decision. She could have said no," he said. "But not a couple days after that she tells me, you know, 'Before we get married, I gotta go [expletive] this guy,' and I'm like — because her story is that I ruined her life and gave her crazy depression because I left her. But [in] actuality, she told me that, then she took off the ring by March."
Rodgers went on to say the couple tried "a couple of times" to reunite, but "nothing ever happened."
"And there wasn't even a relationship in 2022 to break off," he added. "She literally told me, 'I don't want to be with you' after we tried some sort of reconciliation in 2021. There's just a lot of narratives out there that are just not true and they portray things a certain way because they can get away with it."

#episode

To say Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a little outspoken would be like saying the Chernobyl disaster was a minor inconvenience. The four-time MVP isn't afraid to share his opinions, and he let loose in the most recent episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.
The episode wasted no time getting into Rodgers' thoughts on why he believes he's so polarizing, to which he called out "hypocrisy" in the media.
"Everybody loved hearing my takes on Colin Kaepernick when I said he was one of the top 64 quarterbacks in the league," Rodgers said. "They loved my takes when there was a shooting that occurred years and years ago during Obama's presidency. Somebody yelled out some anti-muslim rhetoric during the moment of silence, which I thought was so disrespectful. And I said after the game, the first thing I said was, 'There's no place for that kind of hate in this world. Regardless of what happened [or] what you think happened.'… I said something about that and President Obama sent me a hand-written note afterward. And everybody loved that part. They enjoyed my takes. Mina Kimes had me to her house for a feature I did. All of these people were my friends in the media. Until I came about against COVID."
It's not exactly disputable that Rodgers gets no benefit of the doubt from the media after being a genuine media favorite for a long time. To tie it back to his vaccination status is probably pretty on point.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

#Media #years #think

When Aaron Rodgers showed up to Steelers minicamp last year with a wedding ring, it sparked plenty of speculation about his personal life. Rodgers had not made a relationship with his now-wife public before that. His friends weren't invited to any wedding. Rodgers would get defensive whenever he was asked about his wife.
Fast forward a year later, and we still haven't seen Rodgers' wife, Brittani, in any capacity. But the Steelers quarterback — now in his 22nd and final NFL season — is at least willing to discuss his mysterious wife.
Appearing on the Not Just Football podcast with Cam Heyward, Rodgers spoke openly about his marriage for the first time. The couple was married in 2025. And though there is no public record of any marriage, California does allow for confidential marriages. According to Rodgers, he met Brittani in 2017 and spent years regretting that he hadn't pursued a relationship with her earlier.
Rodgers said:
"In 2017, I met my wife, and at the time, she was leaving the States and going back to Europe. And my biggest regret is not begging her to stay or proposing right there because that sent me right there into a tailspin of what can I be accused of as a partner in a relationship."

#rodgers #brittani #year #public

Aaron Rodgers is speaking out about his past romantic relationships
In a guest spot on Not Just Football, the NFL star laid bare the details of the end of his engagement to Shailene Woodley
Rodgers claimed Woodley spoke about cheating on him while they were together
Aaron Rodgers is speaking out about his past relationships, including his former fiancée, Shailene Woodley.
In a guest spot on his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Cam Heyward's podcast Not Just Football on Thursday, Sept. 10, the veteran quarterback shed extensive light on the end of his engagement to the Divergent alum.

#rodgers #woodley #shailene #relationships

Mike McCarthy is wasting little time putting his own stamp on the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the new head coach set to end one of Mike Tomlin's longest-running traditions before the 2026 season begins.
Rather than sticking with permanent captains, McCarthy has confirmed that Pittsburgh will use a weekly captain format, giving different players the opportunity to take on a leadership role throughout the season.
Tomlin stepped down in January after 19 seasons in charge, having never overseen a losing campaign. His approach included naming seasonal captains, with four players chosen for those roles last year.
Aaron Rodgers led the offence, Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt represented the defence, while Miles Killebrew handled special teams. Killebrew has since left Pittsburgh for Tampa Bay.
Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

#steelers #tomlin

The NFL and the NFL Players ******* ociation have agreed to a new three-strike formula that will trigger automatic suspensions for repeated violations of five specific safety rules: hip-drop tackles, horse-collar tackles, launching, hits on defenseless players, and blindside blocks.
Per the NFLPA, the new procedure doesn't commence until the 2026 regular season. Which means that players who were fined for any of the five specific rules won't carry them into the games that count.
That's good news for any of the various players who were dinged for the infractions that otherwise would have counted toward a potential suspension.
It applies to Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who was fined $7,148 for a hit on a defenseless player in Week 2 of the preseason. And to Cardinals safety Wydett Williams, who was fined $4,935 for a hit on a defenseless player in the same game.
And to Bengals linebacker Shaka Heyward, who was fined $5,972 for a hip-drop tackle in Week 2 of the preseason. (He's currently on Cincinnati's practice squad.) And to Chiefs tight end Jake Briningstool, who was fined $4,972 in Week 2 of the preseason for a blindside block.

#defenseless #preseason #specific #rules

One of the biggest questions around the NFL pertaining to Aaron Donald's return to the Los Angeles Rams is about whether or not he can still be the same Aaron Donald he was during his original run, when he was the best defensive player in football.
It's still entirely possible that he's a massively impactful piece for the Rams' defense, but at the same time the odds are slim he's as good as he was then. Again, he was previously the best defensive player in football and has since spent two years away from the game.
But there is one thing that's certainly working in his favor: the position he plays.
This isn't a hard-and-fast rule by any means, but generally speaking interior defensive linemen, especially ones that already play at a high level, often age more gracefully than other players and positions.
In 2025, there were just two interior defensive lineman 35 years old or older who played an NFL game. That's relevant, of course, because that's how old Donald is now. One was 36-year-old Cameron Heyward, one of the best defensive tackles of his era, who started all 17 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers and earned his second second-team All-Pro honor, and sixth All-Pro nod overall.

#defensive #donald #same

Joey Porter Jr. has reached the part of his contract standoff where the business side is getting harder to ignore. The Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback is back on the practice field, however, his Week 1 status remains uncertain if the Steelers don't get a deal done. That puts even more attention on a negotiation that has already dragged into September.
And Porter is not navigating it alone. His teammates have backed him throughout the process, with Jalen Ramsey publicly pushing the Steelers to pay him. Now Cameron Heyward has offered Porter something a little different: a veteran's warning about how personal these negotiations can become.
NFL Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Heyward spoke about Porter's situation on September 2, and kept his message pretty simple: separate the contract from the locker room, even if that separation is easier said than done.
"Don't take it personal, but you will. It's a business at the end of the day. You know, there's **** ody in that locker room that doesn't want Joey on that field. And that will never change."

#pittsburgh #don 't #business #cornerback

Los Angeles Dodgers special ******* istant Jason Heyward, who knows a thing or two about the outfield, is working closely with Josue De Paula to help the top prospect work on his defense.
De Paula is the top prospect in the Dodgers organization and one of the best in baseball because of his swing, the best in the system since Corey Seager.
In 2027, De Paula will need to be added to the 40-man roster, and he should get a call-up at some point over the next calendar year, making his development one to watch.
As a hitter, he is arguably ready to be on the Dodgers now, even though he has only played in Double-A and not Triple-A yet.
Aug 4, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Jason Heyward (23) during the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

#oakland #jason #best

The preseason is officially wrapped up, and NFL teams have finalized their final 53-man rosters as they prepare to begin the regular season in just over a week.
In a league like the NFL, where experience can really mean everything, it's always interesting at this time of year to examine the age of NFL rosters. Some teams are in the midst of youth movements on their roster, while others are loaded to the gills with veteran talent. For most teams, it's a combination of those two, though some teams trend heavier one way or the other. Let's take a look at the oldest and the youngest rosters in the NFL to start the season.
Steelers - 27.4 years old: Aaron Rodgers leads a group loaded with fellow veterans, including Cam Heyward and Chris Boswell, that makes the Steelers tied for the league's oldest roster.
Falcons - 27.4 years old: Michael Penix Jr., starting at quarterback, provides some youth, but first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski has surrounded him with one of the oldest rosters in the league.
Rams - 27.3 years old: The Rams welcome veteran defensive end Myles Garrett, and with Matthew Stafford back for another year at quarterback and Aaron Donald out of retirement, the Rams have quite an experienced roster.

#year #season

When roster turnover hits an NFL unit, leadership voids rarely linger unfilled for long. Following the free-agency departure of veteran guard Isaac Seumalo to the Arizona Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line found itself searching for a new anchor in the meeting room.
Third-year guard Mason McCormick has stepped directly into that void.
Speaking on teammate Cameron Heyward's podcast, "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward," starting tackle Troy Fautanu explained how the dynamic inside the positional unit shifted once Seumalo departed. He noted that it forced younger players to mature at an accelerated pace.
"I think just the dynamic switched when we lost Isaac to the Cardinals and someone had to step up," Fautanu shared during the episode. "I really think Mason did a really good job at being the vocal one out of all of us, just because that's who he is. That's the kind of person that he's always been and we needed that from the room."
McCormick's transition into a primary vocal presence reflects the rapid maturation required across Pittsburgh's front five. Despite entering only his third NFL season, McCormick is suddenly viewed as one of the established foundational pillars in a young, talent-heavy room.

#mccormick

By Sunday evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers will trim their 90-man training camp roster down to just 53 players. We decided to ask AI to make a roster prediction to see if it can get it right and where the algorithm stands on the idea of the Steelers keeping four quarterbacks on the roster. In this simulation, the AI
Offense (25)Quarterbacks (3): Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew AllarRunning Backs (3): Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle, Travis HomerWide Receivers (6): DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Ben Skowronek, Kaden WetjenTight Ends / Fullback (4): Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Robert Tonyan, Riley Nowakowski (FB)Offensive Line (9): Troy Fautanu, Broderick Jones, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick, Spencer Anderson, Dylan Cook, Brock Hoffman, Gennings Dunker, Max IheanachorDefense (25)Defensive Line (6): Cameron Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Gabriel RubioOutside Linebackers (4): T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, Jack SawyerInside Linebackers (5): Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb, Carson BruenerCornerbacks (6): Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, Daylen EveretteSafeties (4): DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, Rayshawn Jenkins, Robert Spears-JenningsSpecial Teams (3)Kicker (1): Chris BoswellPunter (1): Cameron JohnstonLong Snapper (1): Christian Kuntz
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Asking AI to predict the Steelers 53-man roster

#steelers #line #sunday

Jakob Ingebrigtsen returns to the 1,500m as a thrilling summer of athletics resumes at the Silesia Diamond League.
The competition is fierce, too, with Olympic champion Cole Hocker also in action and the form from both men will be crucial as the Diamond League Final and Ultimate World Championship draw nearer.
It's a packed evening of track and field in Poland, with world champion Isaac Nader, European champion Stefan Nillessen and Great Britain's Jake Heyward joining Hocker and Ingebrigtsen, following his first race back to win gold in the men's 5,000m at the European Championships.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Julien Alfred, Sha'Carri Richardson are in the star-studded women's 100m, too.
Here's everything you need to know about the meet.

#diamond

Jakob Ingebrigtsen returns to the 1,500m as a thrilling summer of athletics resumes at the Silesia Diamond League.
The competition is fierce, too, with Olympic champion Cole Hocker also in action and the form from both men will be crucial as the Diamond League Final and Ultimate World Championship draw nearer.
It's a packed evening of track and field in Poland, with world champion Isaac Nader, European champion Stefan Nillessen and Great Britain's Jake Heyward joining Hocker and Ingebrigtsen, following his first race back to win gold in the men's 5,000m at the European Championships.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, Julien Alfred, Sha'Carri Richardson are in the star-studded women's 100m, too.
Here's everything you need to know about the meet.

#olympic

In professional sports, contract negotiations are typically viewed as solitary journeys driven by agents and personal statistics. However, inside the Pittsburgh Steelers' locker room, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton and outside linebacker Nick Herbig proved that friendly competition can be the ultimate catalyst for financial and professional success.
The two defensive standouts, who were college teammates at Wisconsin before joining the Steelers' 2023 draft class, leaned heavily on their bond to navigate the high-stakes offseason that led to extensions for both players.
Speaking on "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward," Benton detailed how his relationship with Herbig fueled his drive to earn his new four-year extension, reportedly worth $72 million.
"It's crazy, man. We do everything together," Benton said when reflecting on signing extensions in the same offseason as Herbig. "You got to compete, man. I think that's what drives our relationship, our friendship, you know, the competition aspect."
That competitive spark burned brightest after Herbig secured his four-year, $100 million extension first, sharpening Benton's focus during training and preparation.

#four

It was but a mere glimpse, but what an encouraging view of Klint Kubiak's Las Vegas Raiders offense in the preseason opener, no?
A mix of both efficiency and staples of the Kubiak scheme, the Silver & Black's head coach and offensive play caller provided a window into what he's cooking up this season in Las Vegas' 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals this past Thursday.
The opening drive showcases the ever-efficient Kirk Cousins in the driver seat as the veteran quarterback and looking sharp pacing a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. Behind an offensive line that kept him clean and comfortable, Cousins went 5-of-6 for 50 yards with his touchdown pass going to tight end Michael Mayer. It was a script featuring the heavy personnel packages — multiple tight ends — a (gasp!) fullback in Connor Heyward, pre-snap motions, and balanced air and ground attacks.
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, of course. And Kubiak — a rookie head coach — admitted as much in the post-game press conference.
"I think the thing that stands out to me, ***** ytically or not, is our penalties. We really hurt ourselves," the Raiders head coach said. "We put ourselves in some negative situations, and that's not winning football. Offensively, the fact that we didn't turn the ball over is always good. That's something that didn't stand out last night, but offensively, you can't go into a half a football and not score points. So, we didn't help the defense there. We weren't playing team football in that second half."

#didn 't

Several Wisconsin Badgers have played successful careers at the next level. None more recently successful than former running back Jonathan Taylor.
However, former defensive tackle Keeanu Benton has cashed in on what has been an incredible few seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Officially, Benton has become the highest-paid defensive lineman in Pittsburgh Steelers history after signing a four-year, $72 million contract.
Since being drafted in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Benton has notched 123 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. Last season, against the pass, Benton ranked as one of the NFL's strongest tackles, registering a 72.0 PFF Grade, which ranked 23rd-best among a possible 134 qualifying players. With the Badgers, Benton totaled 80 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 9 sacks, along with 4 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble.
Benton accumulated several accolades, including All-Big Ten Second Team (2021&2022, coaches), All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2021, media) and Phil Steele's Fourth-Team All-America Preseason Team. While Benton's contract proves he is a key cog in the future of the Steelers, for now there is every chance he has to wait until team legend Cameron Heyward leaves the organization, according to ESPN's depth chart projection.

#benton #tackles #team #former

The Pittsburgh Steelers extended defensive lineman Keeanu Benton with a 4-year, $72 million deal late Friday night, according to reports.
Benton's rookie contract concludes after this year. This four-year extension runs from 2027-30. The $18 million annual value makes him the highest-paid defensive lineman in team history.
At 6-foot-4 and 309 pounds, Benton played in all 17 games during the 2025 season and totaled 51 tackles, including six stops for loss of yardage and 5 1/2 sacks. He was one of the team's two second-round picks during the 2023 draft out of Wisconsin.
Benton, 25, supplied 12 quarterback hits in 2025. He added 36 tackles and one sack during each of his first two seasons in 2023 and 2024. Benton also played nose guard in the 3-4, but will likely play a lot of end.
Benton is listed as a backup behind Cameron Heyward on the depth chart at defensive end in the Steelers' 3-4 scheme. Heyward, 37, is signed through 2027.

#year #steelers

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner has established himself as one of the league's premier interior defenders, and Pro Football Focus' latest rankings back that up.
The **** ytics outlet slotted the Rams defensive tackle at No. 9 in its top 32 interior defenders ahead of the 2026 season, highlighting his continued growth as a pass rusher.
Turner has developed into a really strong pass-rusher from the defensive interior, and is still just 27 years old. He has totalled 50, 62 and 69 pressures in each of the past three seasons, respectively, and set a career-high with an 83.9 PFF pass-rush grade last year. He's been solid against the run too, with a PFF run-defense grade above 66.0 in each of those three seasons.
Turner's pressure numbers have climbed every year since entering the league, and last season's career-best grade suggests he's still trending upward rather than plateauing. Combined with steady run-defense marks, PFF's ranking reflects a player who has become a well-rounded force up front rather than a one-dimensional rusher. In terms of raw production, Turner tallied seven sacks in 2025 (fewer than the eight and nine he had in his first two seasons, respectively), with 48 combined tackles, nine tackles for a loss, one interception and 14 quarterback hits.
The recognition stands in contrast to how Turner fared in a separate survey last month. ESPN polled NFL coaches, executives and scouts on the league's top defensive tackles, and Turner didn't crack the top 10 or even land among the honorable mentions, instead landing in the "also receiving votes" tier alongside players like Cameron Heyward and Kenny Clark.

#interior

Jake Heyward finished fourth in the men's mile as home hero Josh Kerr was crowned Commonwealth Games champion in Glasgow.
World record holder Kerr claimed gold in a time of 3:54.12 ahead of Australian Cameron Myers and Kenya's Timothy Cheruiyot.
Heyward recorded a time of 3:55:54, just outside the medals in a thrilling world-class race at Scotstoun Stadium.
It is reward for Heyward who has battled back after suffering an injury-plagued couple of years.
An ongoing foot problem saw the Welshman undergo double Achilles surgery in 2024.

#heyward #games #australian

The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced the 2026 Hall of Honor class, featuring three legends who have contributed to the Steel City brand of football in a major way.
On Saturday, the Steelers announced that former general manager Kevin Colbert, offensive guard turned beloved radio personality Craig Wolfley, and cornerback J.T. Thomas would be inducted into the Hall of Honor. The 2026 Hall of Honor class will be welcomed during the Steelers' Week 3 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 27.
Colbert, who served as the Steelers' director of football operations (2000-2010), general manager (2010-2016), and vice president in addition to his GM role (2016-2022), played a big part in shaping a talented Pittsburgh roster during the 2010s, including home-run picks like Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Maurkice Pouncey, Antonio Brown, Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and more.
Wolfley, who was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 1980 NFL Draft, made 102 starts during his 10-year stint in Pittsburgh. He served as a sideline reporter for the Steelers Radio Network from 2002 to 2020 before taking over as the Steelers' color commentator on radio broadcasts from 2021 to 2025. Wolfley passed away at age 66 on March 10, 2025, but his legacy will forever live on in our hearts.
Thomas, a four-time Super Bowl champion and a one-time Pro Bowler, was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. Playing with the Steelers from 1973 to 1981 and with the Denver Broncos in 1982, Thomas appeared in 125 career games and made 89 starts. During his 10-year NFL career, Thomas recorded 20 interceptions.

#steelers #thomas #honor #draft

There was a time when Ryan Clark and Antonio Brown were Pro Bowl teammates on the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, these two were teammates for four seasons from 2010 to 2013.
Four years is a long time. It's definitely enough time to form a bond, especially when competing against one another in practice while working toward one common goal: winning.
While Clark and Brown were once close friends, now the former is opening up about how their friendship deteriorated.
One person who was also teammates with both Clark and Brown for three seasons from 2011 to 2013 is current Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward. He recently got Clark to appear on the 'Not Just Football with Cam Heyward' podcast, where the former opened up about how his friendship with Brown broke down.
"I think the entire Antonio Brown thing still makes me sad just how it played out," Clark said.

#clark #time

For nearly two decades, Mike Tomlin was the steadying anchor of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. But as the team endured years of postseason frustration, former Steelers safety Ryan Clark found himself facing one of the most agonizing moments of his broadcasting career: suggesting on national television that Pittsburgh and Tomlin needed a mutual fresh start.
Appearing on the "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward" podcast with his former teammate, Cameron Heyward, Clark opened up about the emotional toll of offering that critique.
"One of the hardest things I did in TV was maybe a year or two ago, saying I thought that the Steelers and Mike Tomlin should have a conversation about him leaving. I was very clear, I was like, Mike Tomlin is unfireable, I don't believe he should be fired. But I do believe that maybe the Steelers and Mike T, if a Super Bowl is the goal, could benefit from a conversation about is this the right thing going forward," Clark explained.
The comment triggered intense backlash from both ends of a divided fan base.
"In the same conversation I got from the people that hated him, 'What you mean he's unfireable?' And then from the people that loved him, 'You said Coach should be fired!' Tell me how those two things correlate, you dummies," Clark noted.

#tomlin

Troy Polamalu is revered in Pittsburgh Steelers lore as an instinctive football genius. But behind his Hall of Fame highlight reel was safety partner Ryan Clark, who routinely had to fix the backend coverages Polamalu abandoned when following his instincts.
Appearing on the "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward" podcast with Cam Heyward, Clark revealed what it was really like playing in tandem with Polamalu. Clark recalled a specific game against the Oakland Raiders where Polamalu decided to abandon his ******* igned quarter coverage to jump a short route.
"Troy comes up to me and goes, 'RC, we get that formation again. I'mma jump the hitch.' Whoa, Troy, that means that ******* ody's going to be on the seam, Troy. No one's covering the tight end on the go. He tells me, 'They'll never throw it.' So now I'm effed up. I'm playing the middle like a dummy. We get the formation? Exactly what he thought. They run the formation. He take off 43, to the hitch. Guess what they threw? The seam," Clark recounted.
Despite the occasional broken ******* ignment, Clark never voiced frustration to Polamalu or defensive coordinator ******* LeBeau. Clark recognized that restricting Polamalu's freedom would ultimately weaken the team.
"And I never complained to him cuz I never wanted him to feel, cuz he loved me so much, I never want him to feel that him doing and being who God made him to be took away from my ability to feed my family," Clark explained. "You can't tell somebody who can fly, right, to wear a weighted vest. It would have made us a worse team."

#Football

During his prime with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Antonio Brown established himself as the premier wide receiver in the NFL. But behind the scenes, former Steelers safety Ryan Clark saw the seeds of future turmoil being planted long before Brown's public breakdown and eventual departure from Pittsburgh.
Appearing on the "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward" podcast with current Steelers captain Cameron Heyward, Clark reflected on the locker room dynamics surrounding Brown's rise to stardom.
Heyward recalled Clark's immediate, emotional reaction the day Pittsburgh signed Brown to his first major contract extension. He shared a story about how Brown had said something to former defensive coordinator **** LeBeau, and the defense, including Clark, did not take kindly to it.
He recalled how emotional Clark became when he heard that Brown had been paid. Heyward asked Clark if he remembered what he said in response.
"Yeah, he's gonna F it up," said Clark. "The entire Antonio Brown thing, just makes me sad, you know, how it played out."

#steelers

Pat McAfee just dropped a major announcement, and no, it has nothing to do with ESPN. McAfee revealed some news that could make Latrobe a little more interesting for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, it was reported that The Pat McAfee Show is heading back to training camp in Latrobe at St. Vincent College for the second year in a row. The Pat McAfee Show will arrive at training camp on August 3.
McAfee, a close friend of Aaron Rodgers who also shared a strong professional relationship with Mike McCarthy, will no doubt look to interview several high-profile Steelers players during training camp, such as T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, or even a few rookies from the 2026 NFL draft class.
We at Steelers Wire will provide coverage of both The Pat McAfee Show in Latrobe and training camp in their entirety, with players set to report on July 28.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

#steelers #training #espn

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Then vs. Now. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Then vs. Now articles here.
For nearly two decades, Larry Johnson has built defensive lines that have defined Ohio State football.
From Cameron Heyward and John Simon to Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Sam Hubbard, Zach Harrison, J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. The Buckeyes have consistently developed elite defensive linemen capable of taking over games and eventually becoming NFL stars.
So a lot of offseasons in Columbus bring the same question. Who is next? This year, the answer may not be one player. It may be an entire unit.
Ohio State enters 2026 replacing several proven veterans from last year's defense, but unlike previous years, the Buckeyes are not relying on one or two stars by themselves to carry the front. Instead, they have ****** embled what might be Larry Johnson's deepest defensive line in years, blending experienced veterans, former five-star recruits, elite transfers and some of the most talented young edge rushers in the country.

#week #larry