Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth is entering the 2025 season with renewed confidence, and a future Hall of Famer throwing him the football in Aaron Rodgers.
In a recent appearance on the Around the 412 podcast with Zachary Smith of Steelers Now, Freiermuth praised new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, calling it a privilege to share a locker room with the four-time NFL MVP.
“I’m just excited to be in the locker room with him,” Freiermuth said. “He’s a four-time MVP, arguably one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. He’s one of the best pure passers, and just watching him in practice, throwing the ball, man, it’s awesome.”
The excitement is warranted. Since being drafted in the second round out of Penn State in 2021, Freiermuth has been a consistent contributor despite playing in offenses that often lacked quarterback stability. He posted 653 receiving yards in 2024, 12th among NFL tight ends, but has yet to fully crack the upper echelon of the position.
With Rodgers under center, that could change.
This is the most likely the best quarterback Freiermuth has played with to date, and his arrival brings new possibilities, particularly in the middle of the field, an area where Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks in recent years have often struggled. That reluctance has limited tight end production, but Rodgers’ ability and willingness to throw with timing, accuracy, and confidence across all levels could open up a new dimension to the offense.
The 26-year-old Freiermuth isn’t alone in generating buzz. Third-year tight end Darnell Washington has also turned heads in OTAs and minicamp. If both stay healthy, the Steelers could deploy one of the more dynamic tight end duos in the AFC, a pairing that could serve as a reliable safety net for the 41-year-old Rodgers as he adjusts to a new team and playbook.
As Pittsburgh looks to rebound from an up-and-down 2024 season, Freiermuth’s connection with Rodgers will be one to watch, and potentially, the spark that launches him into the leagues best tight end conversation.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Pat Freiermuth Eyes Breakout Season with Aaron Rodgers: ‘It’s Awesome’
