Steelers Now
Last season, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington received the Week 11 Angry Runs award from NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt for his viral play against the Cincinnati Bengals when he bulldozed through three defenders.
Washington was nominated three times for his 31-yard catch and run, one time for each of the Bengals defenders he demolished. It’s the first time one player swept the finalist nominations.
During a recent appearance on Cam Heyward’s Not Just Football podcast, Washington opened up on the head-turning play.
“Boom, crossing route. Once I land that clean stiff-arm. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s rumbling and tumbling,'” Washington said. “If you pay close attention, I was thinking about hurdling him at the end.”
“Look at this little ass punch,” Heyward said of Bengals’ cornerback Tacario Davis’ failed attempt to knock the ball out of Washington’s hands. “And then you’re going to stare at him after.”
“Try to delay stare at him for a little bit. Catch my breath for a little bit. After that I was like, yeah, I can’t wait to open Instagram,” Washington responded.
Washington got a nice payday earlier this month, signing a four-year, $42 million contract extension. Head coach Mike McCarthy is thrilled to have the big tight signed through 2030.
“He’s a complete Y tight end. I’ve been so impressed with him,” McCarthy said at OTAs. “To have a tight end that can line up next to the tackle and block a defensive end, that’s not been the norm in the last couple of decades in the National Football League. He gives you the ability to play under center offense the way it was played in the ’90s. That’s something I’m looking forward to. But he’s done everything else. He’s been here every day during the offseason program. He’s been a pro. His attention to detail in the meetings. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but I’ve been impressed with his work ethic. He’s a problem, a matchup problem. He’s a matchup problem in the pass game, especially in the red zone. Third-down situations, so he has a lot of value. A lot of value for our offense.”
The 6-foot-7 and over 300-pound Washington has been a stellar blocker since he first joined the Steelers out of Georgia in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he has grown as a receiver in each of his three pro seasons.
Last year, he set career highs with 43 targets, 31 receptions, 364 yards and one touchdown, an average of 8.5 yards per target and 11.7 yards per touch.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers TE Darnell Washington Opens Up on Viral Play vs. Bengals
