3 Edmunds brothers make for historic reunion when Steelers, Bills play

A family reunion will take place in a prime-time setting Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers meet the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field.

The visit by the Bills provides a chance for second-year linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to be reunited with his brothers on the Steelers: strong safety Terrell and running back Trey.

According to Steelers research, the last known time three brothers played in the same NFL game was in 1927 when Joe, Cobb and Bill Rooney played for the Duluth Eskimos.

Tremaine and Terrell previously made history by being the first set of brothers to be selected in the first round of an NFL Draft class, with Tremaine going to the Bills with the No. 16 pick and Terrell joining the Steelers with the No. 28 choice in 2018.

Trey Edmunds was undrafted in 2017 and played for New Orleans for a season before joining the Steelers the next season.

All three brothers played at Virginia Tech. Coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert dined with Tremaine and Terrell before the Hokies’ pro day in 2018. Also in attendance was their father, former NFL tight end Ferrell Edmunds, and wife Felicia “Cookie” Edmunds.

Tomlin smiled Tuesday when he was asked which brother was more talkative at the dinner.

“The mom,” Tomlin said, laughing. “Cookie Edmunds runs the show.”

While Terrell Edmunds has played 98 percent of the defensive snaps at strong safety this season, his younger brother hasn’t missed a snap for the Bills. He has 97 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1½ sacks, one interception and eight passes defensed.

“I can’t say enough about young Edmunds in the middle of the (defense),” Tomlin said. “He makes plays at all levels. He’s a sideline-to-sideline player and tackler, he’s a capable blitzer and he had an interception last week.”

Edmunds is part of a Bills defense that is second in the NFL in fewest points allowed and third in fewest total yardage. The Steelers defense is sixth in points and fifth in yardage.