Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Skylar Thompson isn’t Aaron Rodgers. He’s not Mason Rudolph or Will Howard, either. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ most inconspicuous quarterback is used to being glanced over. His current situation isn’t any different.
“In the most humble way possible, I feel like I’ve been overlooked my whole life a little bit,” Thompson said after Wednesday’s OTA practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “I’ve never really have had anything given to me, so it’s not really a new situation. It’s not new to me. But, I try to carry that chip on my shoulder.”
Thompson spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, playing in 10 regular-season games and starting three. He completed 58.7% of his passes for 721 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions.
#Steelers QB Skylar Thompson, on being the overlooked passer in the team’s room: “I’ve never had anything given to me, so it’s not really a new situation. It’s not new to me.” #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/p2hRp21eNt
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) May 28, 2025
Most notably, Thompson started Miami’s 34-31 Wild Card playoff loss to Buffalo in January 2023. He went 18 for 45 for 220 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions in that clash. He brings that experience to Pittsburgh, and he isn’t resigning himself to holding a clipboard.
“I full-heartedly believe in myself,” Thompson said. “I think that’s what’s been special about this offseason is, like I said, I went through some adversity last year and got challenged. I just used it to better myself this offseason and tried to have the best offseason that I’ve had so far in the league, and I really believe that was the case.”
Thompson said the Steelers’ offense is the “same tree, there’s definitely some carryover in formations, concepts” as the Dolphins’. He feels the system “allows the quarterback to play quarterback” and provides some pre-snap cues as to what the defense is showing.
“I’m taking every day as an opportunity to showcase what I can do,” Thompson said. “Just be a great teammate, be a great leader, and find ways to help this team be successful and win. At the end of the day, that’s all I care about is winning. … Things seem to work out one way or another when you put your best into something and that’s just what I’ve been focused on doing.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers QB Skylar Thompson Has ‘Overlooked’ Chip on Shoulder
