July 8, 2025 • 39 mins
Plenty to get to in the first hour of the Blitz, as Omar Khan has signed an extension with the Steelers. We find a unique way to celebrate the Steelers 92nd birthday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stueler and Motes are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven Home of
the Black and Gold sn R Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's going on Steelers Nation Radio. It is high noon
on a Tuesday afternoon. That can only mean one thing.
It's time to go inside the electric factory. Here on
your twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I am Wes Fleuler.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
This is the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, and I am solo this week
as our buddy, my co host, Arthur Motes, has a
much deserved vacation with his family. He is out of
the country, is somewhere tropical, I don't I can never
remember if he's in the Caribbean or exactly where he is,
(01:09):
but he's hopefully got his toes in the water, his
his butt in some sand and soaking up some sunshine
with his beautiful family. So we will still have our
normal Steelers Blitz slate this week. You'll just have Wesley
Solo here on the Blitz as Arthur Motes is out
of office, much deserved, and I will be out of
(01:31):
office next week, so I guess I'll get I'll get
my I don't know, i'll get my return.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I'll get I'll get my turn in just a few
short days.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
But a lot of fun stuff planned for you this week,
A lot of fun stuff planned for you on today's
program as we are, what just about two weeks, just
a little over two weeks away from training camp twenty
twenty five starting for your Pittsburgh Steelers, of course, on
the campus of Saint Vincent College in Bu Tahu La Trobe, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
And Wow, it happened fast, didn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I mean, in a lot of ways, the combine and
free agency and the draft just feel like they happened
a couple weeks ago. The dk Metcraft trade, the Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Acquisition.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's been a very busy off season and that continued
July third, the day before America's Birthday, the Steelers signed
general manager Omar Kahn to a new three year contract.
So it's really felt like every time you think the
off season is about to slow down a little bit,
here comes a big trade. Here comes a big free
(02:40):
agency signing. Here comes another big trade. I didn't even
mention Minka and Jalen Ramsey and John new Smith, and
here comes a three year contract extension for the general manager,
Omar Khan. A lot of moving and shaking. It hasn't
really felt like much of an offseason. It's just felt
like kind of the non star entity that the NFL
(03:01):
is now. And so because of that, plenty to get to. Today,
the Steelers did sign O mar Con. Like I said
the day before America's Birthday, I will just give a
few thoughts on that here briefly. Today is also the
Pittsburgh Steelers organization birthday here on July eighth. As we
(03:23):
sit here today as the you know, the Steelers organization
began this day in nineteen thirty three, ninety second birthday
today for the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, I'll share with you
some of my favorite memories and some of my most
painful memories of my thirty four years getting to watch
(03:43):
and follow and grow up in this region and be
a fan of and now covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. So
plenty to get to, and your tweets as well on
the program today, you know where to get at me.
If you want to get involved, questions, comments, concerns, reactions,
you can always chime in on Twitter on X at
Wesley Yuler. We also have our buddy Jeremy Faller, formerly
(04:07):
of this parish and now with ESPN, has been putting
out his NFL Executive Top ten lists as well too.
Running Backs are out, defensive tackles are out. Maybe we'll
touch on that here a little bit today as well
before we get on up out of here.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
But first, the.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Pittsburgh Steelers did sign general manager Omar Kahn to a
new three year contract, keeping him with the Black and
Gold through at least the twenty twenty eight season. Art Rooney,
the second of course Steelers president, said, I am excited
to announce we have assigned Omar to a new three
year contract. Omar and his team have done a great
job over the past three years and constructing our roster
(04:44):
through the NFL draft, strategic trades, and free agency. We
look forward to continuing that trend that will lead us
to even more success on the field. End quote now.
Of course, Omar Khan, entering his twenty fifth season overall
with the Steelers, was hired as the team'suneral manager in
twenty twenty two, so his entering his fourth season at
(05:04):
the Helm as the as the general manager and Omar
Cohn said, and I quote, I would like to thank
Ar Runey the second for his support. I believe we
are building a championship roster and look forward to the
twenty twenty five season and beyond as our goals continue
to bring another as our goals continue to be to
bring another Super Bowl to the city of Pittsburgh and
are great fans end quote omarcan three year extension.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I think it's very deserved.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I think there is no doubt that while the Steelers
still have a lot of the traditional Steelers' ways that
towards the end of Kevin Colbert's tenure, and especially since
twenty twenty two when Omar Khan has taken over, the
Steelers are operating a little bit differently, a little bit
more aggressively. They are more aggressive in the trade market,
(05:51):
as we've just seen blatantly, point blank period, right right
in front of us with it, with a pair of
massive trades this offseason, massive for the Steelers, massive in
the scope of the National Football League, of course, the
acquisition of DK Metcalf and then the recent trade with
the Dolphins as well. A little more aggressive and free agency,
(06:13):
a little more aggressive in the draft, quicker to move
off of things they think aren't working, as in quarterbacks
like Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky, you know, particularly the
first round quarterback who might have been given a little
bit more time in the past, and they quickly cut
ties with Now, the Steelers two years ago fired a
coordinator in the middle of the season for the first
(06:34):
time since forever. A lot of the traditional Steeler ways
in operations are still there, without a doubt. Mister Rooney
and the Rooney family are still at the helm. Mike
Tomlin is still as the head coach, the most important
person in the organization. Rooney and Tomlin, those names have
been around for decades, and in a way Omark has
(07:00):
as well too, obviously being with the Steelers organization for
twenty five years. But now that he is part of
that kind of holy trinity that triumvent of mister Rooney,
Mike Tomlin, and now Omar Kahn is the general manager,
I don't think you have to have twenty twenty vision
(07:20):
to see that he's doing things a little bit differently,
you could say a little more aggressively. I do think
that's fair. A little less conservatively maybe is a good
way to put it, more aggressive in the trade market,
a little more aggressive and free agency, willing to wheel
and deal during the NFL Draft. This, I think is
(07:44):
what you want to see. I think the Steelers are
charting a new path and I think we're really going
to see that crescendo in April next year on the
north shore Pittsburgh when the NFL Draft this year, where
the Steelers have twelve different draft picks, and I don't
have to be a genius to know that they are
(08:06):
going to be heavily in the quarterback market. I think
the Steelers have a clear cut plan of continuing to
build the nest up, continuing to make the roster as
best as possible, get Aaron Rodgers in here, go on
a run, and then hopefully go and find your quarterback
of the future this offseason. With a really good base
foundation nest built for that young quarterback, now is the
(08:32):
time to let Omar kN in my opinion, continue this plan.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
We will not know. I mean it's one of those
things right time is only going to tell. Are they
going to find? Everything? Else?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Is kind of shuffling chairs on the Titanic. If you
don't find your next franchise quarterback right, That's not just
a Steelers thing. That's every team in the NFL thing.
You know, aside from a handful of teams in the NFL,
everyone is looking for that next guy. The Patriots are
looking for the next Brady, the Colts are looking for
the next Manning, the Steelers are looking for the next Roethlisberger.
(09:06):
We're not alone in this boat. But that ultimately is
one of those things that we're gonna have to wait
a little bit of time on because even if the
Steelers do go and get aggressive and get their quarterback
in April in the draft and what would be an
incredible scene in Pittsburgh, we're still not gonna know right
away if that guy is the dude or not. We
probably won't even know for a couple of years. So
(09:29):
I do see the vision that Omar Khan and company have.
I think a lot of people who have knocked the
Steelers for not having a plan are starting to see
that there's a vision and a plan there. It's just
taking some time to come to fruition. It hasn't been
the instant turnaround that we all want, is sports fans,
because we're greedy, and particularly as Steelers fans, where we
have very high expectations, but I do think there's a
(09:51):
clear cut plan to be as good as possible now
and continue to build that nest in that foundation, and
then go and get your quarterback of the future. Be
aggressive about obtaining that guy when you have the right
base built, when you have the right assets accrued. And
I think the Steelers are just about in that position.
And I want Omar Khan to be the guy to
(10:12):
continue to see this thing on down the road because
I like how he has blended the traditional Steeler's way
of doing things and what has led to a lot
of success in the past. Without a doubt, Kevin Colbert,
Mike Tomlin, mister Rooney, They've had a lot of success
in the past before Omar Kahn was the GM. I
know he was part of this thing as well, but
(10:34):
obviously in a much more elevated role now. I think
you keep what has worked for you. What are your principles,
what are your standards, what are your core beliefs. You
keep those things intact no matter as the years go
by and in the world and the game of football changes,
but you also have to change and evolve with it.
At the same time, you keep your feet planted firmly
(10:57):
in your structure, in your beliefs, but you also adapt
to what's going on around you. You also don't do
the dangerous, the you know motes. And I have joked
about this before. It's one of those cliches, right, it's
like one of the most seven dangerous words or eight
dangerous words for a business. That's the way we've always
done things. That's seven words, right, That's the way we've
(11:19):
always done things. And so you want to again, you
can't just be changing who you are and what you
believe in every few months. That's not the answer either.
But to have that base of the way that they
want to operate. While Omar Kahn, I think, is tweaking
and changing some things around that to be a little
bit more modern, to be a little bit more aggressive,
(11:39):
to do it his way. Frank Sinatra, Omar con should
be allowed to do it his way. And I think
this contract extension is going to give him that opportunity,
and it's going to give all of us the opportunity
to see, if you know, this plan that the Steelers
have cooking up is going to turn into a five
star meal in another couple of years for us all.
(12:01):
So there's kind of your news of the day to
get us started. Like I said, a lot of fun,
more broad, more open topics. As we roll along, you
can get at me. You can give me your thoughts
on the Omar Khan contract extension at Wesley Yuler. You
know where to get involved. Of course, you know we
will get to some of your tweets before we get
out of here today. But not only was it America's
(12:21):
birthday last week, not only did Omar Kahn get his
contract extension right before Uncle Sam's birthday, but this week
it's the Pittsburgh Steelers' birthday. In fact, today July eighth,
as I record this, it is the ninety second birthday
of the historic Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. I want to talk
about that a little bit when I return, and then
(12:42):
we're gonna have some fun. So I obviously haven't been
around for all ninety two years of Steelers football spoiler
alert there. But I am thirty four years old, so
I do have a pretty and I grew up, you know,
fifteen miles away from three Rivers Stadium and Hinesfield in
Akrascher Stadium, So I've got a pretty decent grasp, you know,
(13:02):
three plus decades as a fan and living in this area,
and you know, being baptized and a terrible towel like
all of us are around here, and now being fortunate
enough going into my eighth season working for the organization
and around the organization as well, I have got for
you my three favorite best Steelers memories of my lifetime
(13:22):
on the Steelers ninety second birthday. I've also got for
you my three most painful Steelers memories here on the
Black and Gold's ninety second birthday. We'll have some fun
the rest of the hour. We'll get into some of
these birthday celebrations and highlights here on the Steelers ninety
second Birthday. You know where to get at me if
you want to get involved. I'm Wes Sjuler and this
(13:43):
is the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio, on the
Steelers Audio Network, The.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Steelers Blitz Swift, Wesley mul and Arthur Mose on your
twenty four seven home of the Black and Gold cas
Skin are.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Back on the Blitz here as we roll along on
a Tuesday, it'll be a Wesley solo week on the Blitz.
As Arthur Motes is out of office. I do believe
he's out of a country somewhere in the Caribbean or
the Maldives or Bora Bora, or I don't know, one
of those fancy bougie resorts. Okay, I'm not his travel planner.
(14:27):
I just know that he should have his toes in
the water sipping on something cold in the sand by
right about now, much deserved with his lovely family. So
you got West solo this week. You know what that means.
We're gonna have some fun. We'll hit on a lot
of different topics. I also when I'm solo, even though
I'm never really solo, because I've got all of you
(14:48):
here with me. You know, I want your participation as
well too. Questions, comments, concerns, reactions, anything you got Steelers
in NFL related, off season, related, summer time I'm related,
training camp related, Omar Kahn extension thoughts. You know where
to get at me if you want to get involved
at wesle Yuler on Twitter and on x But now
(15:09):
we're going to open it up a little bit.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
And this is something you can chime in on too.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
But this is, you know, I guess it is newsworthy
in a way because July eighth, twenty twenty five. Today
is the Steelers ninety second birthday. This is the day
it all began for the Pittsburgh football franchise in nineteen
thirty three, you know when when the chief had the
(15:36):
application for the Steelers, you know, approved to join the NFL.
July eighth, nineteen thirty three is when it became official
and of course one of the greatest organizations, not just
in football, but in the entire American landscape was launched
at the time the Steelers joined the Eastern Division, and
we're only one of ten teams in the NFL. Since then,
(16:02):
six Super Bowls, tied for most in the NFL, only
three head coaches Hall of Famers Chuck Nolebill Cower, Mike
tom and then of course Mike Tomlin, all three Super
Bowl champions, twenty seven contributors to the Pro Football Hall
of Fame that includes players, coaches, owners, contributors, more.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
And again a Steelers.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Nation that is amongst the most well represented fan bases
in all of sports, not just in football, not just
in this country, but across the world. Steelers fans are
on that short list.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
You know, I think.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Cowboys, Yankees, Lakers, team soccer teams like Real Madrid and
Manchester United. The Steelers are at the very tippy top.
And what is crazy is most of those teams that
I just named are from you know, New York and
LA and Madrid and massive cities with massive populations, where
(17:02):
Pittsburgh has been a working class steel town that is
not a small city by any means, but you know,
we float somewhere in the twenty range in terms of
city size in the United States. You look at up
most of the other iconic franchises in American sports, and
they're in New York, they're in Chicago, they're in Dallas,
they're in LA, massive top five, top six, top seven
(17:27):
size American cities. And then you got the Pittsburgh Steelers
from a little old still town in western Pennsylvania. Ninety
two years of greatness, of just absolutely iconic moments in
players and owners and coaches, and like I said, a
organization that is revered and respected and is well known
(17:52):
as any in the American sports landscape. Happy ninety second
birthday to the Pittsburgh in state two in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And with that, folks, like I said, I've got in
my thirty four years of life. My three favorite Steelers
memories for you in terms of good, positive, happy, exciting.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And then I've got the.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Three most painful, the three you know, the three memory
of the three games, the three times that really hurt
and still sting when you talk about them. Because you
can't have the good without the bad, right the Super
Bowls wouldn't mean as much without the tough losses and
the bad seasons and the hard moments. You know, good
doesn't mean as much without evil. Success doesn't mean as
(18:37):
much without failure. But let's should we start with the bad?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
No? No, no, no, let's start with the good. Let's
start with the good.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I want to I want to keep this happy, and
I'm gonna spend more time on the good because those
are more pleasant, colorful, like rich memories as opposed to
the bad ones that you just kind of try and
black out of your mind. So I'm gonna give you
my top three favorite Steelers moments of my third four
years of life. I'm gonna start at number three, will
count down to make this dramatic. Number three is Randal
(19:07):
l to Hines Ward in Super Bowl forty. Folks, that game,
the Steelers were very much in control. But it was
midway through the fourth quarter when Antoine Randall hit that
play that trick play pass to hins Ward for a
touchdown that made it twenty one to ten Steelers midway
through the fourth quarter, and with that Steelers defense, it
(19:30):
felt like game over. There is no way that the
Seahawks are gonna be able to score two touchdowns in
eight minutes here to come back and win this game.
The party was on, basically, is what I'm saying. That
was the first time in my life, my adult life,
I should say that one of my teams won a championship,
because the Penguins did win a couple Stanley Cups when
(19:50):
I was in diapers, but I was not old enough
to enjoy that. Obviously, first time in my adult life
Super Bowl forty, Super Bowl Excel Steelers twenty one, Seahawks
ten that one of my teams has had won a championship.
I was fifteen years old. I was a freshman in
high school. My parents had a big party with a
(20:10):
bunch of their friends and a bunch of my friends.
You know, that was the one for the thumb super
Bowl that Steelers fans had been waiting for for twenty
five years, and I still remember the absolute explosion. You know,
we had probably twenty thirty people in my parents' living
room and when Antoine, when Hinzword caught that ball and
leaped into the end zone with that big signature smile
(20:31):
on his face. I still remember the pandemonium in my parents'
living room. Twenty one to ten, midway through the fourth quarter.
Ain't no way Seattle's coming back now. The party was on.
It was the first time in my you know, grown
up sports fan, because I mean I was only fifteen,
so I guess I wasn't even technically an adult, but
being old enough to rise and fall with your teams
(20:53):
to be truly emotionally invested in the result, that was
the first time that I had seen one of my
teams win a championship, and it was honestly the start
of a hell of a run, right because the Steelers
would go on to win another just a couple of
years later. That was in February of two thousand and five,
Right in February of two thousand or sorry, that was
in February of two thousand and six. In February of
(21:15):
two thousand and nine, the Steelers would win another Super
Bowl in February or in June of two thousand and nine,
the Penguins would win the Stanley Cup, and then of
course the Penguins back to backs in sixteen and seventeen.
So I've been fortunate enough as an adult to see
the Steelers and the Penguins win five championships between them.
But this was the one that started at all. And
(21:35):
you never forget your first time, right, And like I said,
really that moment of Rando eldehines ward twenty one to
ten midway through the fourth quarter blew that game open.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
The party was on.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
The Steelers were getting that one for the thumb, and
it was a start of a a hell of a
run for just a time to be a Pittsburgh sports fan.
That's number three for me. Number two, Oh man, let's
talk about Steelers Colts in the two thousand and five,
two thousand and six Divisional round.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Folks.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
This one, Oh good lord, this is a game that
has so many different memorable storylines and moments to it.
Jerome Bettis fumbling on the goal line, Ben Roethlisberger making
the tackle, Troy Polamalu having the interception that should have
ended that game, and then the BS call to take
(22:30):
the ball away and give it back to the Colts,
and Mike Vanderjack, who was the best kicker in the world,
who was mister Automatic, missing a kick at the end
to send the Colts that would have send the Colts
to overtime, and the Steelers held on to win twenty
one to eighteen. And then oh yeah, Joey Porter in
the bathroom or in the bathroom part of me, Joey
Porter in the locker room post game after Bill Cower said, Hey, Peasey,
(22:54):
can you keep your mouth shut this week?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
When Joey Porter uttered the iconic line they shot me
in Denver.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Just it's one of those. It was one of those
wins that it wasn't a Super Bowl win. It didn't
even send the Steelers to the Super Bowl. They still
had to go to Denver and win the AFC Championship
the next week before even getting the opportunity to go
beat Seattle in Detroit for Super Bowl forty. But this
is one of those, another one of those you remember
exactly where you were, who you were with This game
(23:28):
took years off of your life. It was it was.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
We're gonna win, We're gonna lose, We're gonna win, We're
gonna lose. We're gonna win, We're gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Back and forth, and back and forth against a Colts
team that was outstanding, against a Colts team that had
beaten the Steelers Steelers earlier in the year, Against the
Colts team that was everybody's darling pick to win the
Super Bowl that year. The Steelers had a hell of
a game plan. The Steelers had a hell of a performance.
(23:56):
It looked like it was over and Jerome Bettis was
about to waltz into the end zone and send the
Steelers to a pretty comfortable victory. And then the fumble
on the goal line, and then Ben Roethlisberger makes the
tackle and then Troy Polamalu picks off Peyton Manning, but
the BS rule gets overturned and the Colts get the
ball back and they drive down the field. And then
Mike Vanderjack, who was you know, Chris Boswell at this time.
(24:20):
I mean, he was mister automatic, the best in the league.
He's also one of my former what he's also you know,
a WVU Mountaineer brethren. Mike vander Jack was. It was
the only time I was ever happy to see a
WVU guy fail. When Mike Vanderjack shank that kick, the
Steelers hold on to win twenty one to eighteen, they
(24:40):
shot me in Denver. Uh an incredible memory. I know
I've told this story before as well too, but that
weekend I actually went to Deep Creek, Maryland with one
of my good friends and his family to go skiing,
and we got such a snowstorm that we got stuck
in Deep Creek. We couldn't get out, so we were
(25:01):
supposed to drive home. You know, we went to Deep
Creek on a Friday type thing. We're staying for the
weekend till Sunday. We were gonna leave early Sunday, get
out of there, and get back home in time for
everybody to watch the Steelers Colts playoff game. Of course, well,
there was like a insane snowstorm.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
In Deep Creek.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We all got stuck there, we couldn't get out, and
we were like, okay, we're gonna have to stay. And
so it turned into you know, one person is like
walking to the convenience store to get snacks and drinks.
One person is trying to find different pizza shops that
are open so we can get some pizzas We all
hunkered down in this house in Deep Creek in a snowstorm,
(25:39):
watched the Steelers upset the Colts, you know, went outside
and rolled around in the snow to celebrate it. It
is I think it's I think probably the most fun
I've ever had watching one of my teams win a
game that wasn't a championship game. It was a playoff game.
It was a massive game, but it wasn't even the
AFC Championship. It wasn't the Super Bowl. But man, it
(26:00):
right up there with me for any It's It's one
of the most memorable viewing experiences I've ever had during
a sporting event, because, like I said, five or six
different times, you thought, we're gonna win, Oh no, we're
gonna lose.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Oh we're gonna win. Oh no, we're gonna lose. Oh
we're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
We're gonna lose, and then exhale, we win in just
kind of all the iconic moments, the Jerome Bettis, the
Ben Roethlisberger, the Joey Porter that came with that win.
Nothing like it. If you were alive in January of
two thousand and six for that Steelers Colts Divisional Round
victory that led to that one for the thumb that
we just discussed in Super Bowl forty But my number
(26:36):
one best Steeler's memory is very simple, very easy. It's
Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone. It's
tone time. It's getting his feet down to beat the
Cardinals in Super Bowl forty three and to get the
Steelers their six lombardi the first to six, right, Pittsburgh Steelers,
first to four, first to six. We're gonna be first
(26:58):
to seven Lombardi's as well. Too here before or too
much longer. But that was my senior year of high school.
That was three months before I graduated. That's you all
remember that feeling winding down the end of your senior
year of high school. You've got senioritis, your parents are
giving you more freedom than ever before. You've got all
your buddies, all your friends, You've got driver's license.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
That Super Bowl was for me. It burned into my memory.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I was in a basement with ten or twelve of
my best friends from high school and we were living
and dying with every play, you know, and Larry Fitzgerald
scores that touchdown and it's like, you know, turn into
a funeral, and then the Steelers start driving and Ben
makes a couple of plays, but then Santonio has a
chance to win it in the back of the end
(27:47):
zone and it falls through his hands, and you thought, oh, no,
is that the moment?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Did we just lose it right there?
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Just for Ben Roethlisberger gonna make one of the greatest
throws in NFL history. Santonio Holmes to make one of
the greatest catches in NFL history in the waning moments
of a Super Bowl. Santonio in the back of the
end zone will forever be my number one stealer's memory.
And there's like a popular pop song right now. I
don't know who sings it, but I see it all
(28:14):
over Instagram and TikTok and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
It's a song it's.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Like people always put with their photo montages of vacations
and family.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
It's a song that's like you know the times and
places all about who you share them with. That was
a really bad, you know, rendition by me.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
But if you know what I'm talking about, that song
now that everybody uses for their their photo and video
montage reels of their vacation and their time with family,
It's the lyrics of this popular pop song right now
that basically says, you know, all the times, all the
places that we enjoy and experience in life, it's really
about who you share it with. And you know, being
able to share that epic Super Bowl win super Bowl
(28:54):
forty three as a senior in high school towards the
end of my high school career with all my best buddies,
you know, from childhood, growing up, and you know, again
us having some freedom from our parents for the first
time in our life to do some things that the
parents weren't cool with us doing in the past. Because
we're all eighteen and about to go off to college.
(29:15):
I think you're picking up what I'm putting down. It
was just an incredible time in our buddy Mix basement.
As the Steelers captured their sixth and became the first
two six Lombardes and Santonio Holmes was just my favorite
Pittsburgh Steeler at that time. I got to talk to
him at the twenty nineteen combine. He did an interview
(29:35):
with Matt Williamson and I and I kind of nerded
out and we talked all about this with him.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
It was one of my favorite interviews and segments I've
ever done as a broadcaster. Number one Santonio in the
back of the end zone. I will give you a
bonus one as well too. Actually, before we go to
break here, I'm gonna go with the twenty ten Divisional
round win over the Ravens. This was the year the
Steelers lost what would have been Super Bowl forty five
(30:00):
to the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, right, I believe that
was Super Bowl forty five. This was the divisional round
win that year. The Steelers would go on to beat
the Jets in the AFC Championship Game, remember, right before
ultimately falling to the Packers. That twenty ten Divisional round
win over the Ravens is really special to me for
a lot of reasons. It was the second to last
(30:20):
Steeler game I ever went to as a fan. I
only went to one more game as a fan after that,
before I graduated college, started working in sports, working in hockey,
working in Philadelphia, back in Pittsburgh, working with the Steelers.
I was there with my cousin Jared, who's also my
best friend. My older cousin Jared, and the Steelers were
(30:41):
down twenty one to seven at the half. And if
you remember this time, I mean twenty ten, this was
peak Armageddon Steelers and Ravens, right, I mean they had
met in the playoffs in the AFC Championship game just recently,
and the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl.
It felt like a time period where Steelers and Ravens
was deciding who won the AFC. Right, if the Patriots
(31:03):
were out of the picture, it was going to be
Steelers or Ravens. And that divisional round win. The Ravens
were up at Heinz Field at the time, twenty one
to seven at the half. And again, this is one
of those if you were there, if you remember, if
you were alive and a fan in these moments, being
down twenty one to seven to that Baltimore team, that
(31:24):
felt like game over. It was the same thing remember
when I was talking about the heines Ward touchdown in
Super Bowl forty like it was yeah, there was still
eight minutes left in the game, but at twenty one
to ten with that Steelers defense, the game was over.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Like they Seahawks weren't scoring two touchdowns, no way.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
That's kind of what it felt like in that twenty
ten Divisional round game at halftime in the concourses of
Hines Field, it was depressing. It was like, we're down
two touchdowns to that defense, to that team that can
run the ball like they can, that could play defense
like they can. We're not scoring twenty four points to
win this game.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
No way.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Steelers Ravens games back then were like seventeen to fourteen,
ten to seven, you know, thirteen ten, good luck Like
it was like first one to twenty and you were
guaranteed of victory most of the time in these Steelers
Ravens battles. Twenty one to seven felt like the game
was over. But then it all happened. It all happened
(32:21):
right in front of my cousin Jared, and I too.
We were sitting in the like three rows up, like
great seats, like three rows off the field in the
closed end zone, and heith Miller caught a touchdown pass
right in front of us, and then hines Ward caught
a touchdown pass right in front of us. It was
tied up, and then the teams exchanged field goals. The
Ravens tied it late in the fourth quarter, only for
(32:43):
Rashard Menenhall to score a touchdown with like a minute
and a half left to put the game away.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
It was you know again, you'll know what I'm talking
about in those days, being down twenty one to seven
to the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
That was like, well, this game's over. We ain't coming
back from this.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
To come back and win in the second half at home,
go onto the AFC Championship game. That's a great one
for me too. So that's kind of like my bonus one.
Number three was Randall aldeheines Ward in Super Bowl forty
twenty one to ten, medway through the fourth quarter. Party
was on number two Steelers Colts Divisional round in two
thousand and six. I was snowed in Jerome Bettis fumbled,
(33:24):
Ben made the tackle, Troy got his interception taken away,
Mike vander Jack shanked the kick they shot me in Denver,
and then of course number one Santonio in the back
of the end zone to get that sixth Lombardi for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. When we come back to close down
the first hour, I will give you the other side
(33:47):
of this equation. I guess right. The most painful Steelers
memories here on the birthday. I don't know why I'm
doing this, I guess. I mean, it's the Steelers' birthday.
We should just be doing all happy stuff, right, But no,
you gotta do when you're in the retrospective thing, you
gotta do the other side of it as well too.
It'll be quicker. I won't spend as much time on
the bad memories as the good ones. That was a
(34:09):
lot of fun. Share yours with me today on the
Steelers ninety second birthday, we're talking about favorite memories in
the history of the organization. You know where to get
at me if you want to get involved. It's the
Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio. On the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur Motes
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold s n R.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Back on the Blitz here as we roll along on
a West Solo week celebrating the ninety second birthday of
your Pittsburgh Steelers. Here today, and I told you I
was going to give you my list of most you know,
I just gave my favorite memories of my thirty four
years as a Steeler fan. You gotta do kind of
you know, the self harm, the self pain thing right,
(35:06):
and reflect on the bad memories as well too. But
I gotta tell you, I'm gonna do that on the
other side, because this tweet that I got from Corey
is incredible.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
Corey says that he really loved my good memories.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
And he's thirty five years old, so just a year
older than me, and most of his happy memories are
the same as mine. But he says, when you talk
about negative memories here, I'm sure this will be forgotten,
but please don't forget in two thousand and two, Week fourteen,
when the Pittsburgh Steelers outgained the Houston Texans by four
hundred yards and lost by eighteen points.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Corey, you are the.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Man, because I totally forgot about that and it was
not on my list. It was not on my radar.
I mean, it's a regular season game, but you're right,
it's one of the worst losses in NFL history, and
it did happen twenty three years ago, so I'm sure
a lot of you don't remember or barely recall. But
it was Week fourteen. The Steelers lost at home, mind you,
(36:05):
to the Houston Texans twenty four to six. The Steelers
were seven to four. Houston was three and nine, so
the Steelers were good. The Texans stunk. My guy Amos
Zaraway was the leading rusher that day, by the way,
with eleven carries for sixty nine yards.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Nice go Mountaineers. Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
The Steelers had five turnovers and lost the game.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Like you just you look at the box score and
it's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
The Steelers had the part of me. Houston had a
scoop six a fumble return for a touchdown. They had
a seventy yard pick six as well too in the
first quarter, and a sixty five yard pick six in
the fourth quarter. So the Houston Texans all three of
their touchdowns were scored by their defense, two pick sixes
(36:54):
and won scoop six for twenty one of their twenty
four points. They got a field. David Carr, the quarterback
for the Houston Texans, was three of ten for thirty
three yards. The Houston Texans had forty seven total yards
of offense. The Steelers had four hundred and twenty two,
but five turnovers for the Steelers, three of those which
(37:17):
Houston turned into touchdowns, just doomed them. Get this, folks.
The Steelers had twenty four first downs Houston had three.
The Steelers held the ball for nearly forty minutes, and
they still lost by eighteen points. They outgained the Texans
by almost four hundred yards and still lost by eighteen points.
(37:40):
One of the craziest, ugliest losses in NFL history. It
almost like when you look at the box score, it
almost looks fake when you look at the total yardage,
when you look at the first downs. I mean, the
Houston Texans won a game with forty seven yards of
total offense and three first downs. That's just absolutely nuts,
(38:04):
absolutely nuts, and an ugly one, a goofy one, a
weird one that you see maybe once in a lifetime.
A game like that where a team gets out gained
by four hundred yards but wins by double digits by
multiple touchdowns, just absolutely insane. And that was a great
one by Corey that I just had to spend a
(38:25):
few minutes kind of laughing and rehashing about there that
I had totally forgotten when we were turn on hour
number two. We got a bunch to get into. I
will give you my bad memories as well. I also
got some of your tweets that we've got to get
to some tweets about DK Metcalf, some tweets about the
(38:45):
NFL executive rankings that are coming out of the top
ten players by position in the NFL that ESPN and
our buddy Jeremy Faller always do this time of year.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
We'll get into all of that and more in hour
number two. What you leer and you're listening to the
Steelers Blitz
Stueler and Motes are on the air. This is the
Steelers Blitz on your twenty four to seven Home of
the Black and Gold sn R Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
What's going on Steelers Nation Radio. It is high noon
on a Tuesday afternoon. That can only mean one thing.
It's time to go inside the electric factory. Here on
your twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I am Wes Fleuler.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
This is the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, and I am solo this week
as our buddy, my co host, Arthur Motes, has a
much deserved vacation with his family. He is out of
the country, is somewhere tropical, I don't I can never
remember if he's in the Caribbean or exactly where he is,
(01:09):
but he's hopefully got his toes in the water, his
his butt in some sand and soaking up some sunshine
with his beautiful family. So we will still have our
normal Steelers Blitz slate this week. You'll just have Wesley
Solo here on the Blitz as Arthur Motes is out
of office, much deserved, and I will be out of
(01:31):
office next week, so I guess I'll get I'll get
my I don't know, i'll get my return.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I'll get I'll get my turn in just a few
short days.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
But a lot of fun stuff planned for you this week,
A lot of fun stuff planned for you on today's
program as we are, what just about two weeks, just
a little over two weeks away from training camp twenty
twenty five starting for your Pittsburgh Steelers, of course, on
the campus of Saint Vincent College in Bu Tahu La Trobe, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
And Wow, it happened fast, didn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I mean, in a lot of ways, the combine and
free agency and the draft just feel like they happened
a couple weeks ago. The dk Metcraft trade, the Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Acquisition.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's been a very busy off season and that continued
July third, the day before America's Birthday, the Steelers signed
general manager Omar Kahn to a new three year contract.
So it's really felt like every time you think the
off season is about to slow down a little bit,
here comes a big trade. Here comes a big free
(02:40):
agency signing. Here comes another big trade. I didn't even
mention Minka and Jalen Ramsey and John new Smith, and
here comes a three year contract extension for the general manager,
Omar Khan. A lot of moving and shaking. It hasn't
really felt like much of an offseason. It's just felt
like kind of the non star entity that the NFL
(03:01):
is now. And so because of that, plenty to get to. Today,
the Steelers did sign O mar Con. Like I said
the day before America's Birthday, I will just give a
few thoughts on that here briefly. Today is also the
Pittsburgh Steelers organization birthday here on July eighth. As we
(03:23):
sit here today as the you know, the Steelers organization
began this day in nineteen thirty three, ninety second birthday
today for the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, I'll share with you
some of my favorite memories and some of my most
painful memories of my thirty four years getting to watch
(03:43):
and follow and grow up in this region and be
a fan of and now covering the Pittsburgh Steelers. So
plenty to get to, and your tweets as well on
the program today, you know where to get at me.
If you want to get involved, questions, comments, concerns, reactions,
you can always chime in on Twitter on X at
Wesley Yuler. We also have our buddy Jeremy Faller, formerly
(04:07):
of this parish and now with ESPN, has been putting
out his NFL Executive Top ten lists as well too.
Running Backs are out, defensive tackles are out. Maybe we'll
touch on that here a little bit today as well
before we get on up out of here.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
But first, the.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Pittsburgh Steelers did sign general manager Omar Kahn to a
new three year contract, keeping him with the Black and
Gold through at least the twenty twenty eight season. Art Rooney,
the second of course Steelers president, said, I am excited
to announce we have assigned Omar to a new three
year contract. Omar and his team have done a great
job over the past three years and constructing our roster
(04:44):
through the NFL draft, strategic trades, and free agency. We
look forward to continuing that trend that will lead us
to even more success on the field. End quote now.
Of course, Omar Khan, entering his twenty fifth season overall
with the Steelers, was hired as the team'suneral manager in
twenty twenty two, so his entering his fourth season at
(05:04):
the Helm as the as the general manager and Omar
Cohn said, and I quote, I would like to thank
Ar Runey the second for his support. I believe we
are building a championship roster and look forward to the
twenty twenty five season and beyond as our goals continue
to bring another as our goals continue to be to
bring another Super Bowl to the city of Pittsburgh and
are great fans end quote omarcan three year extension.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
I think it's very deserved.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
I think there is no doubt that while the Steelers
still have a lot of the traditional Steelers' ways that
towards the end of Kevin Colbert's tenure, and especially since
twenty twenty two when Omar Khan has taken over, the
Steelers are operating a little bit differently, a little bit
more aggressively. They are more aggressive in the trade market,
(05:51):
as we've just seen blatantly, point blank period, right right
in front of us with it, with a pair of
massive trades this offseason, massive for the Steelers, massive in
the scope of the National Football League, of course, the
acquisition of DK Metcalf and then the recent trade with
the Dolphins as well. A little more aggressive and free agency,
(06:13):
a little more aggressive in the draft, quicker to move
off of things they think aren't working, as in quarterbacks
like Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky, you know, particularly the
first round quarterback who might have been given a little
bit more time in the past, and they quickly cut
ties with Now, the Steelers two years ago fired a
coordinator in the middle of the season for the first
(06:34):
time since forever. A lot of the traditional Steeler ways
in operations are still there, without a doubt. Mister Rooney
and the Rooney family are still at the helm. Mike
Tomlin is still as the head coach, the most important
person in the organization. Rooney and Tomlin, those names have
been around for decades, and in a way Omark has
(07:00):
as well too, obviously being with the Steelers organization for
twenty five years. But now that he is part of
that kind of holy trinity that triumvent of mister Rooney,
Mike Tomlin, and now Omar Kahn is the general manager,
I don't think you have to have twenty twenty vision
(07:20):
to see that he's doing things a little bit differently,
you could say a little more aggressively. I do think
that's fair. A little less conservatively maybe is a good
way to put it, more aggressive in the trade market,
a little more aggressive and free agency, willing to wheel
and deal during the NFL Draft. This, I think is
(07:44):
what you want to see. I think the Steelers are
charting a new path and I think we're really going
to see that crescendo in April next year on the
north shore Pittsburgh when the NFL Draft this year, where
the Steelers have twelve different draft picks, and I don't
have to be a genius to know that they are
(08:06):
going to be heavily in the quarterback market. I think
the Steelers have a clear cut plan of continuing to
build the nest up, continuing to make the roster as
best as possible, get Aaron Rodgers in here, go on
a run, and then hopefully go and find your quarterback
of the future this offseason. With a really good base
foundation nest built for that young quarterback, now is the
(08:32):
time to let Omar kN in my opinion, continue this plan.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
We will not know. I mean it's one of those
things right time is only going to tell. Are they
going to find? Everything? Else?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Is kind of shuffling chairs on the Titanic. If you
don't find your next franchise quarterback right, That's not just
a Steelers thing. That's every team in the NFL thing.
You know, aside from a handful of teams in the NFL,
everyone is looking for that next guy. The Patriots are
looking for the next Brady, the Colts are looking for
the next Manning, the Steelers are looking for the next Roethlisberger.
(09:06):
We're not alone in this boat. But that ultimately is
one of those things that we're gonna have to wait
a little bit of time on because even if the
Steelers do go and get aggressive and get their quarterback
in April in the draft and what would be an
incredible scene in Pittsburgh, we're still not gonna know right
away if that guy is the dude or not. We
probably won't even know for a couple of years. So
(09:29):
I do see the vision that Omar Khan and company have.
I think a lot of people who have knocked the
Steelers for not having a plan are starting to see
that there's a vision and a plan there. It's just
taking some time to come to fruition. It hasn't been
the instant turnaround that we all want, is sports fans,
because we're greedy, and particularly as Steelers fans, where we
have very high expectations, but I do think there's a
(09:51):
clear cut plan to be as good as possible now
and continue to build that nest in that foundation, and
then go and get your quarterback of the future. Be
aggressive about obtaining that guy when you have the right
base built, when you have the right assets accrued. And
I think the Steelers are just about in that position.
And I want Omar Khan to be the guy to
(10:12):
continue to see this thing on down the road because
I like how he has blended the traditional Steeler's way
of doing things and what has led to a lot
of success in the past. Without a doubt, Kevin Colbert,
Mike Tomlin, mister Rooney, They've had a lot of success
in the past before Omar Kahn was the GM. I
know he was part of this thing as well, but
(10:34):
obviously in a much more elevated role now. I think
you keep what has worked for you. What are your principles,
what are your standards, what are your core beliefs. You
keep those things intact no matter as the years go
by and in the world and the game of football changes,
but you also have to change and evolve with it.
At the same time, you keep your feet planted firmly
(10:57):
in your structure, in your beliefs, but you also adapt
to what's going on around you. You also don't do
the dangerous, the you know motes. And I have joked
about this before. It's one of those cliches, right, it's
like one of the most seven dangerous words or eight
dangerous words for a business. That's the way we've always
done things. That's seven words, right, That's the way we've
(11:19):
always done things. And so you want to again, you
can't just be changing who you are and what you
believe in every few months. That's not the answer either.
But to have that base of the way that they
want to operate. While Omar Kahn, I think, is tweaking
and changing some things around that to be a little
bit more modern, to be a little bit more aggressive,
(11:39):
to do it his way. Frank Sinatra, Omar con should
be allowed to do it his way. And I think
this contract extension is going to give him that opportunity,
and it's going to give all of us the opportunity
to see, if you know, this plan that the Steelers
have cooking up is going to turn into a five
star meal in another couple of years for us all.
(12:01):
So there's kind of your news of the day to
get us started. Like I said, a lot of fun,
more broad, more open topics. As we roll along, you
can get at me. You can give me your thoughts
on the Omar Khan contract extension at Wesley Yuler. You
know where to get involved. Of course, you know we
will get to some of your tweets before we get
out of here today. But not only was it America's
(12:21):
birthday last week, not only did Omar Kahn get his
contract extension right before Uncle Sam's birthday, but this week
it's the Pittsburgh Steelers' birthday. In fact, today July eighth,
as I record this, it is the ninety second birthday
of the historic Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. I want to talk
about that a little bit when I return, and then
(12:42):
we're gonna have some fun. So I obviously haven't been
around for all ninety two years of Steelers football spoiler
alert there. But I am thirty four years old, so
I do have a pretty and I grew up, you know,
fifteen miles away from three Rivers Stadium and Hinesfield in
Akrascher Stadium, So I've got a pretty decent grasp, you know,
(13:02):
three plus decades as a fan and living in this area,
and you know, being baptized and a terrible towel like
all of us are around here, and now being fortunate
enough going into my eighth season working for the organization
and around the organization as well, I have got for
you my three favorite best Steelers memories of my lifetime
(13:22):
on the Steelers ninety second birthday. I've also got for
you my three most painful Steelers memories here on the
Black and Gold's ninety second birthday. We'll have some fun
the rest of the hour. We'll get into some of
these birthday celebrations and highlights here on the Steelers ninety
second Birthday. You know where to get at me if
you want to get involved. I'm Wes Sjuler and this
(13:43):
is the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio, on the
Steelers Audio Network, The.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Steelers Blitz Swift, Wesley mul and Arthur Mose on your
twenty four seven home of the Black and Gold cas
Skin are.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Back on the Blitz here as we roll along on
a Tuesday, it'll be a Wesley solo week on the Blitz.
As Arthur Motes is out of office. I do believe
he's out of a country somewhere in the Caribbean or
the Maldives or Bora Bora, or I don't know, one
of those fancy bougie resorts. Okay, I'm not his travel planner.
(14:27):
I just know that he should have his toes in
the water sipping on something cold in the sand by
right about now, much deserved with his lovely family. So
you got West solo this week. You know what that means.
We're gonna have some fun. We'll hit on a lot
of different topics. I also when I'm solo, even though
I'm never really solo, because I've got all of you
(14:48):
here with me. You know, I want your participation as
well too. Questions, comments, concerns, reactions, anything you got Steelers
in NFL related, off season, related, summer time I'm related,
training camp related, Omar Kahn extension thoughts. You know where
to get at me if you want to get involved
at wesle Yuler on Twitter and on x But now
(15:09):
we're going to open it up a little bit.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
And this is something you can chime in on too.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
But this is, you know, I guess it is newsworthy
in a way because July eighth, twenty twenty five. Today
is the Steelers ninety second birthday. This is the day
it all began for the Pittsburgh football franchise in nineteen
thirty three, you know when when the chief had the
(15:36):
application for the Steelers, you know, approved to join the NFL.
July eighth, nineteen thirty three is when it became official
and of course one of the greatest organizations, not just
in football, but in the entire American landscape was launched
at the time the Steelers joined the Eastern Division, and
we're only one of ten teams in the NFL. Since then,
(16:02):
six Super Bowls, tied for most in the NFL, only
three head coaches Hall of Famers Chuck Nolebill Cower, Mike
tom and then of course Mike Tomlin, all three Super
Bowl champions, twenty seven contributors to the Pro Football Hall
of Fame that includes players, coaches, owners, contributors, more.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
And again a Steelers.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Nation that is amongst the most well represented fan bases
in all of sports, not just in football, not just
in this country, but across the world. Steelers fans are
on that short list.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
You know, I think.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Cowboys, Yankees, Lakers, team soccer teams like Real Madrid and
Manchester United. The Steelers are at the very tippy top.
And what is crazy is most of those teams that
I just named are from you know, New York and
LA and Madrid and massive cities with massive populations, where
(17:02):
Pittsburgh has been a working class steel town that is
not a small city by any means, but you know,
we float somewhere in the twenty range in terms of
city size in the United States. You look at up
most of the other iconic franchises in American sports, and
they're in New York, they're in Chicago, they're in Dallas,
they're in LA, massive top five, top six, top seven
(17:27):
size American cities. And then you got the Pittsburgh Steelers
from a little old still town in western Pennsylvania. Ninety
two years of greatness, of just absolutely iconic moments in
players and owners and coaches, and like I said, a
organization that is revered and respected and is well known
(17:52):
as any in the American sports landscape. Happy ninety second
birthday to the Pittsburgh in state two in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And with that, folks, like I said, I've got in
my thirty four years of life. My three favorite Steelers
memories for you in terms of good, positive, happy, exciting.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
And then I've got the.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Three most painful, the three you know, the three memory
of the three games, the three times that really hurt
and still sting when you talk about them. Because you
can't have the good without the bad, right the Super
Bowls wouldn't mean as much without the tough losses and
the bad seasons and the hard moments. You know, good
doesn't mean as much without evil. Success doesn't mean as
(18:37):
much without failure. But let's should we start with the bad?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
No? No, no, no, let's start with the good. Let's
start with the good.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
I want to I want to keep this happy, and
I'm gonna spend more time on the good because those
are more pleasant, colorful, like rich memories as opposed to
the bad ones that you just kind of try and
black out of your mind. So I'm gonna give you
my top three favorite Steelers moments of my third four
years of life. I'm gonna start at number three, will
count down to make this dramatic. Number three is Randal
(19:07):
l to Hines Ward in Super Bowl forty. Folks, that game,
the Steelers were very much in control. But it was
midway through the fourth quarter when Antoine Randall hit that
play that trick play pass to hins Ward for a
touchdown that made it twenty one to ten Steelers midway
through the fourth quarter, and with that Steelers defense, it
(19:30):
felt like game over. There is no way that the
Seahawks are gonna be able to score two touchdowns in
eight minutes here to come back and win this game.
The party was on, basically, is what I'm saying. That
was the first time in my life, my adult life,
I should say that one of my teams won a championship,
because the Penguins did win a couple Stanley Cups when
(19:50):
I was in diapers, but I was not old enough
to enjoy that. Obviously, first time in my adult life
Super Bowl forty, Super Bowl Excel Steelers twenty one, Seahawks
ten that one of my teams has had won a championship.
I was fifteen years old. I was a freshman in
high school. My parents had a big party with a
(20:10):
bunch of their friends and a bunch of my friends.
You know, that was the one for the thumb super
Bowl that Steelers fans had been waiting for for twenty
five years, and I still remember the absolute explosion. You know,
we had probably twenty thirty people in my parents' living
room and when Antoine, when Hinzword caught that ball and
leaped into the end zone with that big signature smile
(20:31):
on his face. I still remember the pandemonium in my parents'
living room. Twenty one to ten, midway through the fourth quarter.
Ain't no way Seattle's coming back now. The party was on.
It was the first time in my you know, grown
up sports fan, because I mean I was only fifteen,
so I guess I wasn't even technically an adult, but
being old enough to rise and fall with your teams
(20:53):
to be truly emotionally invested in the result, that was
the first time that I had seen one of my
teams win a championship, and it was honestly the start
of a hell of a run, right because the Steelers
would go on to win another just a couple of
years later. That was in February of two thousand and five,
Right in February of two thousand or sorry, that was
in February of two thousand and six. In February of
(21:15):
two thousand and nine, the Steelers would win another Super
Bowl in February or in June of two thousand and nine,
the Penguins would win the Stanley Cup, and then of
course the Penguins back to backs in sixteen and seventeen.
So I've been fortunate enough as an adult to see
the Steelers and the Penguins win five championships between them.
But this was the one that started at all. And
(21:35):
you never forget your first time, right, And like I said,
really that moment of Rando eldehines ward twenty one to
ten midway through the fourth quarter blew that game open.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
The party was on.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
The Steelers were getting that one for the thumb, and
it was a start of a a hell of a
run for just a time to be a Pittsburgh sports fan.
That's number three for me. Number two, Oh man, let's
talk about Steelers Colts in the two thousand and five,
two thousand and six Divisional round.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Folks.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
This one, Oh good lord, this is a game that
has so many different memorable storylines and moments to it.
Jerome Bettis fumbling on the goal line, Ben Roethlisberger making
the tackle, Troy Polamalu having the interception that should have
ended that game, and then the BS call to take
(22:30):
the ball away and give it back to the Colts,
and Mike Vanderjack, who was the best kicker in the world,
who was mister Automatic, missing a kick at the end
to send the Colts that would have send the Colts
to overtime, and the Steelers held on to win twenty
one to eighteen. And then oh yeah, Joey Porter in
the bathroom or in the bathroom part of me, Joey
Porter in the locker room post game after Bill Cower said, Hey, Peasey,
(22:54):
can you keep your mouth shut this week?
Speaker 3 (22:57):
When Joey Porter uttered the iconic line they shot me
in Denver.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Just it's one of those. It was one of those
wins that it wasn't a Super Bowl win. It didn't
even send the Steelers to the Super Bowl. They still
had to go to Denver and win the AFC Championship
the next week before even getting the opportunity to go
beat Seattle in Detroit for Super Bowl forty. But this
is one of those, another one of those you remember
exactly where you were, who you were with This game
(23:28):
took years off of your life. It was it was.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
We're gonna win, We're gonna lose, We're gonna win, We're
gonna lose. We're gonna win, We're gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Back and forth, and back and forth against a Colts
team that was outstanding, against a Colts team that had
beaten the Steelers Steelers earlier in the year, Against the
Colts team that was everybody's darling pick to win the
Super Bowl that year. The Steelers had a hell of
a game plan. The Steelers had a hell of a performance.
(23:56):
It looked like it was over and Jerome Bettis was
about to waltz into the end zone and send the
Steelers to a pretty comfortable victory. And then the fumble
on the goal line, and then Ben Roethlisberger makes the
tackle and then Troy Polamalu picks off Peyton Manning, but
the BS rule gets overturned and the Colts get the
ball back and they drive down the field. And then
Mike Vanderjack, who was you know, Chris Boswell at this time.
(24:20):
I mean, he was mister automatic, the best in the league.
He's also one of my former what he's also you know,
a WVU Mountaineer brethren. Mike vander Jack was. It was
the only time I was ever happy to see a
WVU guy fail. When Mike Vanderjack shank that kick, the
Steelers hold on to win twenty one to eighteen, they
(24:40):
shot me in Denver. Uh an incredible memory. I know
I've told this story before as well too, but that
weekend I actually went to Deep Creek, Maryland with one
of my good friends and his family to go skiing,
and we got such a snowstorm that we got stuck
in Deep Creek. We couldn't get out, so we were
(25:01):
supposed to drive home. You know, we went to Deep
Creek on a Friday type thing. We're staying for the
weekend till Sunday. We were gonna leave early Sunday, get
out of there, and get back home in time for
everybody to watch the Steelers Colts playoff game. Of course, well,
there was like a insane snowstorm.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
In Deep Creek.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
We all got stuck there, we couldn't get out, and
we were like, okay, we're gonna have to stay. And
so it turned into you know, one person is like
walking to the convenience store to get snacks and drinks.
One person is trying to find different pizza shops that
are open so we can get some pizzas We all
hunkered down in this house in Deep Creek in a snowstorm,
(25:39):
watched the Steelers upset the Colts, you know, went outside
and rolled around in the snow to celebrate it. It
is I think it's I think probably the most fun
I've ever had watching one of my teams win a
game that wasn't a championship game. It was a playoff game.
It was a massive game, but it wasn't even the
AFC Championship. It wasn't the Super Bowl. But man, it
(26:00):
right up there with me for any It's It's one
of the most memorable viewing experiences I've ever had during
a sporting event, because, like I said, five or six
different times, you thought, we're gonna win, Oh no, we're
gonna lose.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Oh we're gonna win. Oh no, we're gonna lose. Oh
we're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
We're gonna lose, and then exhale, we win in just
kind of all the iconic moments, the Jerome Bettis, the
Ben Roethlisberger, the Joey Porter that came with that win.
Nothing like it. If you were alive in January of
two thousand and six for that Steelers Colts Divisional Round
victory that led to that one for the thumb that
we just discussed in Super Bowl forty But my number
(26:36):
one best Steeler's memory is very simple, very easy. It's
Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone. It's
tone time. It's getting his feet down to beat the
Cardinals in Super Bowl forty three and to get the
Steelers their six lombardi the first to six, right, Pittsburgh Steelers,
first to four, first to six. We're gonna be first
(26:58):
to seven Lombardi's as well. Too here before or too
much longer. But that was my senior year of high school.
That was three months before I graduated. That's you all
remember that feeling winding down the end of your senior
year of high school. You've got senioritis, your parents are
giving you more freedom than ever before. You've got all
your buddies, all your friends, You've got driver's license.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
That Super Bowl was for me. It burned into my memory.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
I was in a basement with ten or twelve of
my best friends from high school and we were living
and dying with every play, you know, and Larry Fitzgerald
scores that touchdown and it's like, you know, turn into
a funeral, and then the Steelers start driving and Ben
makes a couple of plays, but then Santonio has a
chance to win it in the back of the end
(27:47):
zone and it falls through his hands, and you thought, oh, no,
is that the moment?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Did we just lose it right there?
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Just for Ben Roethlisberger gonna make one of the greatest
throws in NFL history. Santonio Holmes to make one of
the greatest catches in NFL history in the waning moments
of a Super Bowl. Santonio in the back of the
end zone will forever be my number one stealer's memory.
And there's like a popular pop song right now. I
don't know who sings it, but I see it all
(28:14):
over Instagram and TikTok and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
It's a song it's.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Like people always put with their photo montages of vacations
and family.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
It's a song that's like you know the times and
places all about who you share them with. That was
a really bad, you know, rendition by me.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
But if you know what I'm talking about, that song
now that everybody uses for their their photo and video
montage reels of their vacation and their time with family,
It's the lyrics of this popular pop song right now
that basically says, you know, all the times, all the
places that we enjoy and experience in life, it's really
about who you share it with. And you know, being
able to share that epic Super Bowl win super Bowl
(28:54):
forty three as a senior in high school towards the
end of my high school career with all my best buddies,
you know, from childhood, growing up, and you know, again
us having some freedom from our parents for the first
time in our life to do some things that the
parents weren't cool with us doing in the past. Because
we're all eighteen and about to go off to college.
(29:15):
I think you're picking up what I'm putting down. It
was just an incredible time in our buddy Mix basement.
As the Steelers captured their sixth and became the first
two six Lombardes and Santonio Holmes was just my favorite
Pittsburgh Steeler at that time. I got to talk to
him at the twenty nineteen combine. He did an interview
(29:35):
with Matt Williamson and I and I kind of nerded
out and we talked all about this with him.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
It was one of my favorite interviews and segments I've
ever done as a broadcaster. Number one Santonio in the
back of the end zone. I will give you a
bonus one as well too. Actually, before we go to
break here, I'm gonna go with the twenty ten Divisional
round win over the Ravens. This was the year the
Steelers lost what would have been Super Bowl forty five
(30:00):
to the Packers and Aaron Rodgers, right, I believe that
was Super Bowl forty five. This was the divisional round
win that year. The Steelers would go on to beat
the Jets in the AFC Championship Game, remember, right before
ultimately falling to the Packers. That twenty ten Divisional round
win over the Ravens is really special to me for
a lot of reasons. It was the second to last
(30:20):
Steeler game I ever went to as a fan. I
only went to one more game as a fan after that,
before I graduated college, started working in sports, working in hockey,
working in Philadelphia, back in Pittsburgh, working with the Steelers.
I was there with my cousin Jared, who's also my
best friend. My older cousin Jared, and the Steelers were
(30:41):
down twenty one to seven at the half. And if
you remember this time, I mean twenty ten, this was
peak Armageddon Steelers and Ravens, right, I mean they had
met in the playoffs in the AFC Championship game just recently,
and the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl.
It felt like a time period where Steelers and Ravens
was deciding who won the AFC. Right, if the Patriots
(31:03):
were out of the picture, it was going to be
Steelers or Ravens. And that divisional round win. The Ravens
were up at Heinz Field at the time, twenty one
to seven at the half. And again, this is one
of those if you were there, if you remember, if
you were alive and a fan in these moments, being
down twenty one to seven to that Baltimore team, that
(31:24):
felt like game over. It was the same thing remember
when I was talking about the heines Ward touchdown in
Super Bowl forty like it was yeah, there was still
eight minutes left in the game, but at twenty one
to ten with that Steelers defense, the game was over.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
Like they Seahawks weren't scoring two touchdowns, no way.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
That's kind of what it felt like in that twenty
ten Divisional round game at halftime in the concourses of
Hines Field, it was depressing. It was like, we're down
two touchdowns to that defense, to that team that can
run the ball like they can, that could play defense
like they can. We're not scoring twenty four points to
win this game.
Speaker 3 (32:01):
No way.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Steelers Ravens games back then were like seventeen to fourteen,
ten to seven, you know, thirteen ten, good luck Like
it was like first one to twenty and you were
guaranteed of victory most of the time in these Steelers
Ravens battles. Twenty one to seven felt like the game
was over. But then it all happened. It all happened
(32:21):
right in front of my cousin Jared, and I too.
We were sitting in the like three rows up, like
great seats, like three rows off the field in the
closed end zone, and heith Miller caught a touchdown pass
right in front of us, and then hines Ward caught
a touchdown pass right in front of us. It was
tied up, and then the teams exchanged field goals. The
Ravens tied it late in the fourth quarter, only for
(32:43):
Rashard Menenhall to score a touchdown with like a minute
and a half left to put the game away.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
It was awesome.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
It was you know again, you'll know what I'm talking
about in those days, being down twenty one to seven
to the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
That was like, well, this game's over. We ain't coming
back from this.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
To come back and win in the second half at home,
go onto the AFC Championship game. That's a great one
for me too. So that's kind of like my bonus one.
Number three was Randall aldeheines Ward in Super Bowl forty
twenty one to ten, medway through the fourth quarter. Party
was on number two Steelers Colts Divisional round in two
thousand and six. I was snowed in Jerome Bettis fumbled,
(33:24):
Ben made the tackle, Troy got his interception taken away,
Mike vander Jack shanked the kick they shot me in Denver,
and then of course number one Santonio in the back
of the end zone to get that sixth Lombardi for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. When we come back to close down
the first hour, I will give you the other side
(33:47):
of this equation. I guess right. The most painful Steelers
memories here on the birthday. I don't know why I'm
doing this, I guess. I mean, it's the Steelers' birthday.
We should just be doing all happy stuff, right, But no,
you gotta do when you're in the retrospective thing, you
gotta do the other side of it as well too.
It'll be quicker. I won't spend as much time on
the bad memories as the good ones. That was a
(34:09):
lot of fun. Share yours with me today on the
Steelers ninety second birthday, we're talking about favorite memories in
the history of the organization. You know where to get
at me if you want to get involved. It's the
Steelers Blitz on Steelers Nation Radio. On the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Is the Steelers Blitz with Wesley Euler and Arthur Motes
on your twenty four to seven home of the Black
and Gold s n R.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Back on the Blitz here as we roll along on
a West Solo week celebrating the ninety second birthday of
your Pittsburgh Steelers. Here today, and I told you I
was going to give you my list of most you know,
I just gave my favorite memories of my thirty four
years as a Steeler fan. You gotta do kind of
you know, the self harm, the self pain thing right,
(35:06):
and reflect on the bad memories as well too. But
I gotta tell you, I'm gonna do that on the
other side, because this tweet that I got from Corey
is incredible.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
Corey says that he really loved my good memories.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
And he's thirty five years old, so just a year
older than me, and most of his happy memories are
the same as mine. But he says, when you talk
about negative memories here, I'm sure this will be forgotten,
but please don't forget in two thousand and two, Week fourteen,
when the Pittsburgh Steelers outgained the Houston Texans by four
hundred yards and lost by eighteen points.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Corey, you are the.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Man, because I totally forgot about that and it was
not on my list. It was not on my radar.
I mean, it's a regular season game, but you're right,
it's one of the worst losses in NFL history, and
it did happen twenty three years ago, so I'm sure
a lot of you don't remember or barely recall. But
it was Week fourteen. The Steelers lost at home, mind you,
(36:05):
to the Houston Texans twenty four to six. The Steelers
were seven to four. Houston was three and nine, so
the Steelers were good. The Texans stunk. My guy Amos
Zaraway was the leading rusher that day, by the way,
with eleven carries for sixty nine yards.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Nice go Mountaineers. Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
The Steelers had five turnovers and lost the game.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Like you just you look at the box score and
it's ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
The Steelers had the part of me. Houston had a
scoop six a fumble return for a touchdown. They had
a seventy yard pick six as well too in the
first quarter, and a sixty five yard pick six in
the fourth quarter. So the Houston Texans all three of
their touchdowns were scored by their defense, two pick sixes
(36:54):
and won scoop six for twenty one of their twenty
four points. They got a field. David Carr, the quarterback
for the Houston Texans, was three of ten for thirty
three yards. The Houston Texans had forty seven total yards
of offense. The Steelers had four hundred and twenty two,
but five turnovers for the Steelers, three of those which
(37:17):
Houston turned into touchdowns, just doomed them. Get this, folks.
The Steelers had twenty four first downs Houston had three.
The Steelers held the ball for nearly forty minutes, and
they still lost by eighteen points. They outgained the Texans
by almost four hundred yards and still lost by eighteen points.
(37:40):
One of the craziest, ugliest losses in NFL history. It
almost like when you look at the box score, it
almost looks fake when you look at the total yardage,
when you look at the first downs. I mean, the
Houston Texans won a game with forty seven yards of
total offense and three first downs. That's just absolutely nuts,
(38:04):
absolutely nuts, and an ugly one, a goofy one, a
weird one that you see maybe once in a lifetime.
A game like that where a team gets out gained
by four hundred yards but wins by double digits by
multiple touchdowns, just absolutely insane. And that was a great
one by Corey that I just had to spend a
(38:25):
few minutes kind of laughing and rehashing about there that
I had totally forgotten when we were turn on hour
number two. We got a bunch to get into. I
will give you my bad memories as well. I also
got some of your tweets that we've got to get
to some tweets about DK Metcalf, some tweets about the
(38:45):
NFL executive rankings that are coming out of the top
ten players by position in the NFL that ESPN and
our buddy Jeremy Faller always do this time of year.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
We'll get into all of that and more in hour
number two. What you leer and you're listening to the
Steelers Blitz
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.