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USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 72: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 72 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. 72 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 72 wearers: OG Doug Nester, DL Esezi Otomewo Both Nester and Otomewo currently wear No. 72 for the Pittsburgh Steelers — a situation that's pretty common during the offseason. After spending the 2024 season on the Steelers' practice squad, Nester signed a Reserve/Future contract with Pittsburgh this past January. He'll likely be given the opportunity to compete with Max Scharping and Spencer Anderson for the backup guard spot. Otomewo signed a one-year deal with the Steelers last March. He has nine games of NFL experience, including two starts during his 2024 tenure with the Jaguars. He offers solid depth as both a capable pass rusher and run defender — but faces an uphill battle after Pittsburgh acquired multiple defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft and free agency. Last five Steelers to wear No. 72: Best No. 72 in Steelers history: OG Gerry 'Moon' Mullins Mullins was selected by the Steelers with the 86th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft. He played for Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1979 — winning four Super Bowls in the process. He played an important role in the Steelers' Super Bowl X victory over the Cowboys, recovering Dallas' onside kick attempt with 1:48 remaining. Mullins was selected to the Steelers' 50th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor. He served as one of the most dependable offensive linemen of his era and is, without a doubt, the best to ever don the No. 72 in Pittsburgh. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Four-time Super Bowl champion to announce Steelers pick at 2025 NFL Draft
Four-time Super Bowl champion to announce Steelers pick at 2025 NFL Draft A look at the former and active players now scheduled to announce their teams' picks next Friday night for rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL draft: — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 17, 2025 In less than one week, fans of the Black and Gold will find out which players the Pittsburgh Steelers will select in the 2025 NFL Draft. Recently, insider Adam Schefter shared which active and former NFL players will announce the second- and third-round picks for their teams — and the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of just three teams to have a Hall of Famer announce their pick. The Hall of Famer representing the Steelers is none other than four-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Lynn Swann. Swann's most iconic Super Bowl moment came in 1976, when the legendary Steelers Hall of Famer torched the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X — hauling in six catches for 161 yards, including a jaw-dropping 64-yard touchdown from QB Terry Bradshaw. Unless Pittsburgh makes a rare move to trade back in the 2025 NFL Draft to acquire additional draft assets, Swann will only have the luxury of announcing the 83rd overall pick in the third round — due to the DK Metcalf trade that sent the Steelers' second-round pick to the Seahawks. The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 17 at 8:00 p.m. EST — but fans won't hear from Swann until Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. EST, when the second- and third-round picks are announced.
Los Angeles Times
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Offenses fear Chiefs' Chris Jones, Eagles' Jalen Carter could disrupt Super Bowl plans
NEW ORLEANS — Chris Jones marveled at the sight. Three years ago, in the final minute of Super Bowl LVI, Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald burst off the line of scrimmage on fourth down, wrapped up Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and took him to the ground. Burrow narrowly avoided a sack by flipping an incomplete pass. The play clinched the Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory. 'Doing it on the biggest stage — that speaks volumes,' said Jones, the Kansas City Chiefs' three-time All-Pro defensive lineman. 'That was major.' On Sunday, Jones and Philadelphia defensive tackle Jalen Carter could play Donald-esque game-wrecker roles in the Super Bowl LIX matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles at the Superdome. Pittsburgh Steelers great L.C. Greenwood holds the Super Bowl record with four sacks in Super Bowl X in 1976. Green Bay's Reggie White, Arizona's Darnell Dockett, Carolina's Kony Ealy, Atlanta's Grady Jarrett and Green Bay's Willie Davis each had three, according to Jones and Carter might not reach those totals because of the attention they will demand. Still, their presence and disruptive talents can open the door for others to thrive. That's what Donald, an eight-time All-Pro and certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, did for the Rams. 'Different heights, different arm lengths, different weights,' Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson said, 'but the one thing that I think all those guys have in common is a high football IQ. 'They're very athletic and they're very explosive, but they focus on the details of the game — they're paying attention to the small things and that's what I think sets guys apart. You can be the biggest, fastest, strongest guy around, but if you don't have those details it's hard to become a great player.' Jones, 30, was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 draft after playing at Mississippi State. In 2022 he amassed a career-best 15½ sacks as the Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in four years. The next season he had 10½ as the Chiefs repeated as champions. Last March, Jones signed a five-year extension that included $95 million in guarantees, according to Who did the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Jones pattern his game after? 'I never patterned my game after anybody,' he said. 'I watched Aaron Donald — he was too small. I watched Fletcher Cox — he was too big. I was like, 'I don't know who the hell I'm going to watch,'' and developed himself. Jones had five sacks this season, increasing his career total to 80½. His versatility makes him especially difficult to contain, Eagles All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson said. 'He can play at a high level inside, and then go outside at defensive end and do the same thing,' Johnson said. 'So he has a rare blend of size and speed, and those traits of where he can do that, and that's what sets him apart. Nobody else can do it.' Jones' upbeat attitude is contagious — 'I've never seen him have a bad day,' Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said — and the defensive star has grown in other areas. 'He just used to just play the game of football because he loved it,' Spagnuolo said, adding that Jones has become 'a guy who's kind of studied it and played more of a leadership role.' Carter, 6-3 and 310 pounds, has emerged as the force the Eagles projected when they selected him with the ninth pick in the 2023 draft out of Georgia. 'He combines quickness and strength and he's still got a lot of room to grow,' defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. Carter, 23, had six sacks as a rookie while playing limited snaps because of conditioning issues. When coach Nick Sirianni hired Fangio before this season, the veteran coordinator had a simple plan for Carter. 'He had to play more — and we've done that,' Fangio said. 'I'm a better coach when your best players are on the field, not on the sideline. So had to get him in shape.' This season, with opponents often double-teaming him, Carter had 4½ sacks. He was especially disruptive in the Eagles' divisional-round victory over the Rams, sacking Matthew Stafford twice and creating opportunities for teammates. 'We knew the type of player he was when they brought him in,' Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams said. 'It's going to get scary the older he gets because he's just going to keep learning and growing.' Carter's profile has been low during the buildup to Sunday's game. He was not a featured player for interviews early in the week, missed final media sessions Wednesday and Thursday because of illness and was listed as limited in practice. On Monday, however, he told the Eagles' website he was accustomed to playing in championship games after helping Georgia win two national titles. 'I've been on big stages before,' he said, adding, 'The goal was to win those games — and our team got that [win]. That's the goal for this week — win the Super Bowl.' Chiefs All-Pro center Creed Humphrey and two-time All-Pro tackle Joe Thuney said Carter can disrupt both rushing and passing plays. 'He plays with such energy and intensity,' Thuney said. While some players dream of throwing, catching or running for a last-second, game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, defensive linemen have an equivalent. 'I mean that's a walk-off sack,' Jones said. 'It doesn't get any better than that.' Donald came close. 'Hopefully, we're up by 14 points or something like that, so we don't have to get a sack,' Jones said. 'But if it has to end like that, I'll be ready.'
