Joe Rutter stories, Page 63

Under the guise of a reporter from Canton, Ohio, seeking an interview, the Pro Football Hall of Fame convinced Lynell Nunn to do a Zoom call a couple of weeks ago. Nunn reluctantly agreed to do the video chat – she thought a simple phone call would suffice – but...

Alan Faneca knew for about two weeks he would be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021. Keeping that knowledge a secret might have been more difficult than pancaking a 325-pound defensive lineman. Particularly since the former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro guard missed the cut the...

Alan Faneca and Bill Nunn were members of the same Hall of Honor class for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so it was fitting they also received the NFL’s biggest honor together. Faneca, the former All-Pro guard, and Nunn, whose scouting and personnel career with the Steelers spanned five decades, were elected...

T.J. Watt hit the defensive trifecta in 2020, leading all NFL players in sacks, quarterback hits and tackles for a loss. It wasn’t good enough, however, for Watt to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The fourth-year Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker was edged by former Penn...

When Kansas City Chiefs center Austin Reiter learned during his Super Bowl media conference call that a Pittsburgh reporter wanted to ask a question, he anticipated the subject. And he was more than happy to talk about Stefen Wisniewski and what his return has meant to the team’s decimated offensive...

Credit for getting a team to the Super Bowl, as often is the case, is reserved for the coach and quarterback. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Bruce Arians calling the shots from the sideline and Tom Brady making the calls on the field, are no exception. Behind the scenes, though,...

The Immaculate Extension continues to live on for Antonio Brown in Tampa Bay. No, not the lean-over-the-goal-line touchdown that won a division championship for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas 2016, perhaps the defining moment of Brown’s nine-year tenure wearing black-and-gold. The extension the 32-year-old Brown is experiencing these days pertains...

Three years after last suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Le’Veon Bell continues to text and call some of his former teammates. Antonio Brown is not one of them. “We haven’t kept in contact like that,” Bell said Tuesday. They’ll be close — at least from a physical standpoint —...

For the NFL’s 100th anniversary season in 2019, the NFL commissioned a documentary examining the lives of four women in influential ownership families. Titled “A Lifetime of Sundays,” it included Patricia Rooney, wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney. It showed how each woman —...

Editor’s note: This is Part 8 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: No position group on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was hit harder by injuries than inside linebacker. Heading into the 2020 season,...

Patricia Rooney, the wife of late Pittsburgh Steelers chairman and Ambassador Dan Rooney, died Saturday night at her home, the team announced. She was 88. The matriarch of the Steelers, Mrs. Rooney had nine children, including Art Rooney II, the team’s president. “My family and I are mourning the passing...

Before being pushed into “retirement” after the 2011 season, Bruce Arians enjoyed an eight-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the final five as offensive coordinator. Although Arians’ departure was turbulent, he didn’t forget the connections and friendships he made during his time with the organization. That is apparent by...

Editor’s note: This is Part 7 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: One of the biggest questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line entering the 2020 season was how well Stephon Tuitt would...

Editor’s note: This is Part 6 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: Faced with an aging — and high-priced — interior of the offensive line, the Pittsburgh Steelers began preparing for the future...

In evaluating Mike Tomlin’s 14th season as coach, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said it’s unfair to judge it based solely on the 48-37 upset loss to the Cleveland Browns in the AFC wild-card round. Three turnovers in the first quarter led to three touchdowns and a 28-0 deficit...

Team president Art Rooney II said Ben Roethlisberger wants to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for an 18th NFL season in 2021. The Steelers would like to have their franchise quarterback return for one more year, too, but under one condition: They have to negotiate around a $41.25 million salary...

Editor’s note: This is Part 5 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com. No group on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster has more impending free agents than the tackle position. With three players set to...

Editor’s note: This is Part 4 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: After their tight ends finished with the NFL’s fewest receiving yards in 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran Eric Ebron in...

Editor’s note: This is Part 3 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: Since the Pittsburgh Steelers played the 2016 AFC championship game with Cobi Hamilton as the No. 2 receiver and Sammie Coates,...

For the second consecutive time, the Pittsburgh Steelers have promoted their quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Matt Canada was named offensive coordinator Monday, replacing Randy Fichtner, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons. Canada, 49, just completed his first year as quarterbacks coach — and first year in an...

Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a 12-part series breaking down the Pittsburgh Steelers at each position in the offseason. All salary cap information courtesy spotrac.com or overthecap.com: The participants in Super Bowl LV are proof having a strong running game isn’t a prerequisite to achieving playoff success. Neither...

Coach Mike Tomlin began reshaping his Pittsburgh Steelers staff on offense Monday with the hiring of Alfredo Roberts as tight ends coach. Roberts, 55, coached the tight ends last season for the Los Angeles Chargers. He also coached the Chargers running backs from 2017-19. Roberts brings 17 years of NFL...

Coming off a 12-4 year, the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the offseason facing the type of questions usually reserved for teams with a reversed record. They have an alarming number of free agents and already are over a salary cap that is projected to decline in 2021. They have an aging...

Tight end Kevin Rader and inside linebacker Tegray Scales, who each saw playing time on the active roster late in the season, were among 13 players the Pittsburgh Steelers signed to futures contracts Thursday. Also signed were wide receivers Anthony Johnson and Cody White; tackles Anthony Coyle, John Leglue and...

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t waste time shaking up their coaching staff after their sudden exit from the AFC playoffs. The franchise announced Thursday that offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley won’t have their contracts renewed for the 2021 season. The announcement...