Philadelphia Eagles QB Kenny Pickett headlines the record of eight former Pittsburgh Steelers heading to Tremendous Bowl LIX two weeks from now in New Orleans. The ultimate two groups left standing are the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
On the Eagles’ facet, 4 former Steelers will make the journey. Pickett will function QB Jalen Hurts’ rapid backup, the position he’s assumed all yr since being traded by Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in March. Pickett appeared in 5 video games all through the common season, making one begin in reduction of Hurts after he suffered a concussion. The Eagles blew out the Dallas Cowboys that day, Pickett going 10-of-15 for 143 yards and a landing earlier than exiting with a rib damage.
Pickett mopped up Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation over the Washington Commanders, changing Hurts late within the recreation as soon as the Eagles had all-but secured victory. He didn’t throw a move, handing off to RB Will Shipley as Philadelphia scored their seventh dashing landing of the day. That tied the NFL’s playoff report, matching the seven the Chicago Bears had of their 1940 73-0 NFL Championship win over the Washington Redskins, nonetheless the largest blowout in league historical past.
However Pickett isn’t the one ex-Steeler on the Eagles’ roster. There’s offensive lineman Fred Johnson. Signing with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in 2019, he made the preliminary 53-man roster however by no means appeared in an everyday season recreation with the group. He’s since frolicked with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier than signing with the Eagles late in 2022.
In 2024, he made his first six begins with the group throughout the center of the season. Coming into Sunday, he logged two playoff snaps throughout the Eagles’ present run.
Punter Braden Mann will make his first Tremendous Bowl look. On the Steelers’ coaching camp roster in 2023, he narrowly misplaced to P Pressley Harvin III after a good summer season competitors. Pittsburgh held onto Mann previous the cutdown date ostensibly in an try and commerce him. They discovered no takes and minimize him to be signed by the Eagles. He’s had two sturdy seasons, averaging 49.2-yards per punt throughout 2023 and 2024. He solely needed to punt twice in Sunday’s win in a recreation the place the Eagles and Commanders mixed for simply three of them.
Lastly, there’s veteran OT Le’Raven Clark. Signed by Pittsburgh throughout the 2023 offseason, he shortly misplaced floor throughout camp and didn’t make the 53-man roster. Launched at closing cutdowns, he signed to the Eagles’ follow squad to start the 2023 season. Clark signed a Reserve/Future contract after the yr. He was positioned on injured reserve final Might with an unknown damage. However he’d nonetheless be eligible for a hoop ought to the Eagles prevail.
The Chiefs have their very own grouping of former-Steelers. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is essentially the most notable title, signing with Kansas Metropolis in 2022 and profitable his first ring with the group final season. After spending final yr with the New England Patriots and minimize one season right into a sizeable three-year deal, he returned to the Chiefs in 2024. Regardless of huge receiver accidents, Smith-Schuster had a quiet common season catching simply 18 passes. However he made performs in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Payments, together with a 31-yard seize on the Chiefs’ opening possession that led to a landing.
He completed the sport with two receptions for 60-yards on three targets.
The opposite three ex-Steelers reside on the Chiefs’ follow squad. QB Chris Oladokun was the different quarterback drafted in 2022, taken within the seventh spherical. He didn’t make it right into a preseason recreation and caught as a fourth-string quarterback hardly seeing reps, Pittsburgh minimize bait early to permit him a mushy touchdown. Oladokun has gained two rings on the Chiefs’ follow squad and can search for his third this yr. He’s appeared in only one NFL recreation, mop-up responsibility within the group’s Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos. He was sacked and didn’t formally try a move.
A pair of corners in Steven Nelson and Darius Rush spherical issues out. Nelson spent 2019 and 2020 with the group earlier than his unceremonious launch forward of 2021, a grudge he appears to nonetheless maintain in opposition to the franchise. Retiring after 2023, he unretired late this season to signal again with the Chiefs and hasn’t appeared in a recreation this yr. Darius Rush spent components of 2023 and 2024 on the roster, logging 39 snaps on protection and one other 39 on particular groups throughout 5 video games. Launched by the Steelers in October, he signed with the Chiefs’ follow squad three days later and has spent the remainder of the yr there.
The Payments have only one ex-Steeler consultant in QB Mitch Trubisky. The group’s first possibility following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, Trubisky signed to be Pittsburgh’s starter in 2022. That final 3.5 video games earlier than being benched at halftime in Week 4 in opposition to the New York Jets, giving method to Kenny Pickett.
Trubisky would make spot begins the remainder of the season into 2023. However he struggled to guard the soccer with 10 interceptions on underneath 300 move makes an attempt. Benched late in 2023 for Mason Rudolph, Trubisky was minimize after the yr and signed with Buffalo for a second stint after rehabbing his picture as Josh Allen’s backup in 2021. In reduction of him this yr, Trubisky tried 26 passes with a pair of touchdowns.
The Steelers haven’t appeared in a Tremendous Bowl for the reason that 2010 season, dropping to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Tremendous Bowl 59 will likely be held February 9 in New Orleans.
