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USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 53: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 53 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 53 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 53 wearer: OLB Eku Leota Heading into the 2025 season, OLB Eku Leota is the current Steelers wearer of No. 53. The outside linebacker signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2023 — where he would remain until being released on September 21, 2024. Less than two weeks later, the Steelers signed Leota to their practice squad — ultimately appearing in just one game in 2024 for Pittsburgh. He would sign a Future/Reserve contract this past January — but faces stiff competition to make the 53-man roster due to a loaded outside linebacker room. Last five Steelers to wear No. 53: Best No. 53 in Steelers history: C Maurkice Pouncey When it comes to No. 53, no Steeler wore it better than C Maurkice Pouncey. Drafted by Pittsburgh with the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Pouncey served as a long-time leader of the Steelers' offensive line for over a decade, tasked with protecting the legendary Ben Roethlisberger. He played in 134 career games and started every one of those contests for the Steelers. Pouncey's stellar play resulted in two First-Team All-Pro selections and three Second-Team All-Pro selections — while also being named to nine Pro Bowls. For his achievements, he was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team — and there is no honor more befitting than to be recognized as the greatest Steeler to ever wear No. 53. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ndamukong Suh officially announces retirement from NFL
Ndamukong Suh is officially calling it a career. The 13-year NFL veteran announced his retirement with a social media post on Saturday morning. The announcement comes one year after the death of Suh's father, who the five-time Pro Bowler calls "my first coach, my greatest teacher, and the man who shaped not just my mindset, but my mission." "Before he passed," Suh wrote in his post, "he gave me one final piece of advice, 'It's time to let football go. You've done everything you set out to do. Now it's time for the next chapter.' "That conversation stayed with me. So today, one year later, I'm honoring that wish." ANOTHER FORMER LION RETIRES: Center Frank Ragnow hangs up his cleats: 'It's time to prioritize my health' Ndamukong Suh stats Suh had a prolific career across his 13 years with five different teams: the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles. The former All-Pro made a name for himself early in his career for his aggressive, physical play style that made him something of an antagonist to opposing teams. In 2012, The Sporting News polled 103 NFL players and found that Suh was the "dirtiest" player in the league when he received 32 votes, 13 more than second-place finisher Richie Incognito. Between 2010 and 2022, Suh tallied 600 tackles – 130 for a loss – 71.5 sacks, 38 pass deflections, five forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, three fumble-return touchdowns, an interception and a safety. Suh's best years were his first five seasons in Detroit, where he earned four Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro honors and one second-team All-Pro nomination. He also won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in a 2010 season that included 66 tackles, 10 sacks, a fumble returned for a touchdown and his lone career interception. In 2020, Suh was voted to be part of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team alongside fellow defensive tackles Aaron Donald, Fletcher Cox and Geno Atkins. T.J. WATT LANDING SPOTS: Lions among top options if Steelers trade All-Pro Ndamukong Suh launches podcast In his retirement announcement, Suh went on to say his next step is sitting behind a microphone, sharing financial advice on his new podcast with The Athletic: "No Free Lunch." "I want to share what I've learned; especially with athletes, entrepreneurs, and young people navigating life and money," he wrote. "(The podcast)'s about real conversations, real strategy, and real education. Because freedom doesn't come from fame, it comes from knowledge and how you move." It's an interesting career pivot, but not a huge surprise for Suh. The 38-year-old grew up learning about investment from his parents, who owned and maintained "a small portfolio" of real estate properties, according to Forbes. Suh has even become close friends with Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, dating back to a meeting he requested with the Omaha native after his final season at Nebraska. "I typically talk to (Buffett) about once or twice a quarter," Suh told Forbes in 2021. The first episode of Suh's podcast came out on July 1 and featured former WNBA superstar Candace Parker.
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Justin Tucker's agent releases a statement after the kicker is suspended for ten games
Justin Tucker's agent says he's disappointed but advises his client to accept the punishment after the NFL suspended the kicker for ten games for personal conduct violations. Justin Tucker is searching for a new team, and his process just got even more difficult. The NFL suspended the former Ravens kicker for the first 10 games of the upcoming season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension comes as Tucker faces allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior and misconduct. The league had previously traveled to Baltimore to interview massage therapists who had accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior, according to three women who participated in the inquiry. The interviews were part of an investigation by the league, launched in response to a total of 16 massage therapists at eight different spas in the Baltimore area who have accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior that allegedly occurred during the 2012 to 2016 time period. Following the suspension, Tucker's agent, Robert Roche, released the following statement on his client, advising the kicker to accept the punishment and move on. Tucker will be suspended without pay for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season for violations of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy. Tucker's suspension will take effect on roster cutdown day, Aug. 26. He's eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11 and can work out for teams ahead of training camp and sign a deal that would allow him to participate in the preseason. Tucker leaves Baltimore as a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, an eight-time All-Pro, a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, and the Holder of the Highest career FG% in NFL history (89.1%, minimum 100 attempts). Baltimore spent a sixth-round pick on Tyler Loop, and his era begins immediately. The Ravens drafted a kicker for the first time in their 30-year history, selecting Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the 6th round (No. 186 overall). Loop went 6-9 on kicks from 50+ yards last season for the Wildcats. Last season, Tucker missed a career-high eight field goals, and this comes after a 2023 season in which he only made one of five field goals from beyond 50 yards. Tucker finished the 2024 season by making his final 28 kicks (five field goals and 23 extra points). Tucker had three years left on a four-year, $24 million contract extension, but there was no guaranteed money in 2025, 2026, or 2027. With a post-June one cut, the move saves Baltimore $4,200,000, with a $2,872,500 dead cap hit according to Over The Cap. Tucker, 35, is a seven-time Pro Bowl player and the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He is the longest-tenured player on the Ravens and the last remaining player from their 2012 Super Bowl championship team.
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker suspended for 10 games
Justin Tucker's career could be over after the NFL suspended the former Ravens kicker for the first 10 games of the upcoming season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Justin Tucker's career could be over after the NFL suspended the former Ravens kicker for the first 10 games of the upcoming season for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension comes as Tucker faces allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior and misconduct. The league had previously traveled to Baltimore to interview massage therapists who had accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior, according to three women who participated in the inquiry. The interviews were part of an investigation by the league, launched in response to a total of 16 massage therapists at eight different spas in the Baltimore area who have accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior that allegedly occurred during the 2012 to 2016 time period. Per the NFL, Tucker will be suspended without pay for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season for violations of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy. Tucker's suspension will take effect on roster cutdown day, Aug. 26. He's eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11 and can work out for teams ahead of training camp and sign a deal that would allow him to participate in the preseason. Tucker leaves Baltimore as a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, an eight-time All-Pro, a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, and the Highest career FG% % in NFL history (89.1%, min. 100 attempts).
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears All-Quarter Century Team: Edge rushers
Twenty-five years of Chicago Bears football are in the books since the turn of the century. Since the calendar turned over to 2000, the Bears have seen some success, but also plenty of woeful stretches. Early on, Chicago became a defensive force, claiming four division titles and reaching only their second Super Bowl in franchise history from 2000 to 2010. Since then, however, a 14-year playoff victory drought that is still ongoing and a one-sided fight with their rival Green Bay Packers have taken the spotlight. For all the ups and downs the Bears have seen, however, they had plenty of talent over the years across offense and defense. Multiple former Bears players are already in the Hall of Fame, while many more provided years of incredible play in the navy and orange. Here at Bears Wire, we're celebrating the best Bears players at each position over the last 25 years. We're going position by position to name the Bears' All-Quarter Century Team for those who played from 2000 through 2024. Kicking off the defense, we're looking at some impactful edge rushers who have come through Chicago, including a recent Hall of Famer. Julius Peppers The Bears have had some impactful edge rushers in their storied history, and you can't discuss them without including Hall of Famer Julius Peppers. Chicago signed him to the largest contract ever given to a defensive player -- at the time -- with a six-year, $84 million deal. His impact on defense was immediate as he helped the Bears make the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl run in 2006. He also showed he was still an absolute game wrecker. While Peppers played most of his career with the Carolina Panthers, some of his best seasons came with the Bears. Peppers' resume in Chicago alone is impressive, which includes a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2010, a Second-Team All-Pro nod in 2012, as well as three Pro Bowl appearances (2010-12) while also being part of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. The Bears unfortunately released Peppers back in 2014 -- due to his large salary cap hit -- and he exacted his revenge by playing for the hated Green Bay Packers for three years, where he terrorized his old team. But Peppers did ultimately return to Carolina, where he was able to retire with his first team. Khalil Mack The Bears took a massive swing when they traded for Khalil Mack just about a week before the start of the 2018 season, which elevated their defense in a big way. Mack's impact was immediate in his first game with Chicago (in a loss to the Green Bay Packers) and carried through the rest of the 2018 season as the Bears made the postseason. Mack posted 12.5 sacks en route to a First-Team All-Pro nod and his fourth Pro Bowl while finishing second in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting. He ranked third on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019. Mack showed that he was a game wrecker and defense and continued to be one of the NFL's best. While he was never as dominant as that first year, he was Chicago's best defensive player and continued to show how he can impact a game. In four years, Mack was a First-Team All-Pro (2018), Second-Team All-Pro (2020), three-time Pro Bowler (2018-20) and was named to the 100 Greatest Bears of All-Time list. In Mack's final season with the Bears, he played in just seven games (logging 19 tackles and six sacks) after undergoing season-ending foot surgery. After general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Nagy were fired at season's end, the Bears brought in a new regime, led by current GM Ryan Poles, who had to tear the roster down to the studs to rebuild it. Unfortunately, that meant trading Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers given his massive cap hit. Mack has continued to dominate in Los Angeles, but there's no denying his impact in Chicago in just four years. Adewale Ogunleye The Bears landed a diamond in the rough in a trade for Adewale Ogunleye, a former undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins who developed into a key piece of a dominant Lovie Smith-led defense in Chicago. While Ogunleye doesn't get as much recognition as players like Peppers and Mack, for six years he was a defensive cornerstone for the Bears and proved to be a monster off the edge with 42 sacks, 57 QB hits, 11 forced fumbles and 65 tackles for loss. His 42 career sacks is tied with Trace Armstrong for the fifth most in franchise history. Ogunleye spearheaded a dominant Bears defensive line with 10 sacks, second-most in his NFL career, en route to an NFC North championship and playoff berth in 2005, as well as Chicago's impressive Super Bowl run in 2006, which ended on a sour note. While the Bears struggled in the years that followed, Ogunleye remained a mainstay on one of the league's best defenses until 2010, when Chicago elected not to re-sign him. He spent one final year in the league with the Houston Texans. Alex Brown Alex Brown is the longest-tenured Bear on this list, and for good reason as he proved to a reliable, dominant edge rusher on some of the team's best defenses. Brown was an all-around player who thrived both as a pass rusher and a run stopper, but he was especially dominant off the edge. Brown's 43.5 sacks is the fourth most in franchise history, trailing only Richard Dent, Steve McMichael and Dan Hampton. His five career interceptions is second all-time (by a defensive lineman) in Bears history behind only Dent. Brown spent his first eight NFL seasons with Chicago (2002-09) after being selected as a fourth-round pick. He proved to be a dependable mainstay on defense appearing in every regular season game off his career (starting with the second game of his rookie season) that included a streak of 143 straight games. Brown started in every game in six of his eight seasons with the Bears, where he showed that availability is sometimes the best ability. In eight seasons, Brown totaled 43.5 sacks, 59 QB hits, 16 forced fumbles and 79 tackles for loss. Following the 2009 season, the Bears released Brown after failing to find a trade partner. He played one more year in the league with the New Orleans Saints in 2010. Honorable mention: Robert Quinn Bears All-Quarter Century Team Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
