Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster wears wristbands to honor late coach Darryl Drake
First, Donte Moncrief bought hooded sweatshirts for the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers with one of Darryl Drake’s favorite sayings printed on the front. Now, JuJu Smith-Schuster has found a way to remember the team’s late receivers coach.
As he met with the media Wednesday morning, Smith-Schuster sported a pair of rubber wristbands that included two of Drake’s favorite sayings.
The first wristband echoed the “Shut Out the Noise” message that Moncrief had emblazoned on the sweatshirts. The second wristband included this quotation: “Never choose good when great is available.”
Smith-Schuster said it was the last message that Drake told the receivers before his passing Aug. 11.
“Don’t settle for less,” Smith-Schuster said. “Don’t be satisfied for what you have now when great is out there. Go achieve it.”
Drake was entering his second season with the Steelers when he died.
Until Wednesday, Smith-Schuster hadn’t felt comfortable talking about Drake’s death.
“He will always be in memory,” Smith-Schuster said, “not only of this team but in my heart and everybody he touched.”
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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