Steelers' James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster make surprise home purchases for family members

Joe Rutter
Monday, July 6, 2020 4:48 p.m. | Monday, July 6, 2020 4:48 p.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers running back James Conner wrote to his mom on Instagram: “You’ve sacrificed so much and we can’t thank you enough! You’re the reason I go to work day in and day out, to finally give you a place you can call home.”

James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster keep taking care of the ones they love.

A month after buying his father a new GMC black pickup truck, Conner surprised his mother, Kelly Bibbs, with a new house over the weekend. Smith-Schuster then revealed Monday that he also bought a house for his family in Southern California.

With the help of his brothers, Conner surprised his mother with the gift in his hometown of Erie. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back posted a video Saturday on his Instagram account that showed her reaction to his purchase.

Welcome HOME Ma! You’ve sacrificed so much and we can’t thank you enough! You’re the reason I go to work day in and day out, to finally give you a place you can call Home. I Love you❤️?????? pic.twitter.com/c25KyOphAo

— James Conner (@JamesConner_) July 4, 2020

Overcome with emotion, she walks out of the house, then is coaxed back inside by Conner and his brothers.

“You’ve sacrificed so much and we can’t thank you enough!” Conner wrote on Instagram. “You’re the reason I go to work day in and day out, to finally give you a place you can call home.”

The video had almost 650,000 views as of late Monday afternoon.

Conner, 25, is entering the final season of his rookie contract with the Steelers. He will become a free agent in March unless the team signs him to an extension before the start of the season. He is entering his third year as the team’s starting running back.

His salary this season will be $825,000.

On his social media platforms, Smith-Schuster, 23, showed off the house he purchased for his family. He posted a short video on Twitter and a longer version on his YouTube channel in which his mother and siblings toured the home.

This is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life and a dream come true! I’ve wanted to do this for so long, finally being able to do this is just unbelievable to me. Check out the video! ➡️ https://t.co/7sNIZ1J5S0 pic.twitter.com/qysVCWgUhn

— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) July 6, 2020

”This is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life and a dream come true!” Smith-Schuster wrote. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long, finally being able to do this is just unbelievable to me.”

Smith-Schuster also will be a free agent after this season unless the Steelers sign him to an extension. He is set to earn $1,037,152 in base salary.

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.