Steelers Now
In the modern NFL, a long snapper achieves a twisted form of perfection only when they remain completely invisible. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, that quiet perfection has a local zip code and a linebacker’s mentality.
Christian Kuntz is the unseen engine of the Steelers’ special teams. Since earning the starting job, the former Duquesne standout has quietly handled hundreds of consecutive high-pressure snaps. Because of that metronomic reliability, kicker Chris Boswell has consistently rewritten franchise records, knowing every ball will arrive right on the money.
Yet, while Kuntz operates in the shadows of the stat sheet, the Pittsburgh native has a razor-sharp perspective on what makes the culture in the Steel City tick—an intensity that newcomers notice the second they arrive.
“You get guys in from other teams that they notice that the Steelers fan base is a little bit different,” Kuntz told Steelers Now. “Yeah, instantly. I mean, any guy you ask, they’re instantly like, oh, the Steelers fans are crazy. Crazy not in a bad way, but crazy in a good way, passionate. They care about the Steelers.”
That baseline passion matches the high-octane background Kuntz brings to the position. A three-time All-American linebacker in college, he finished his career with a school-record 30.5 sacks. He didn’t pick up long snapping full-time until a roster vacancy forced him into double duty, ultimately transforming himself into a coverage-first specialist who snaps flawlessly and sprints downfield to lay hits on returners.
The faces on the roster may shift, but the high-pressure standard of playing under Pittsburgh’s unique microscope remains unchanged. For an unheralded specialist like Kuntz, delivering perfection in front of that hyper-passionate crowd isn’t just a job requirement—it’s exactly what fuels the machine.
Acquired: Re-signed by the Steelers to a three-year contract in March 2024, the Pittsburgh native and former Duquesne linebacker originally joined the team’s practice squad in 2020 after brief stints with New England, Denver, Jacksonville, and the XFL’s Dallas Renegades. Kuntz beat out incumbent Kameron Canaday for the starting long snapper job during the 2021 training camp and has since served as the hyper-reliable anchor for the Steelers’ specialists, executing hundreds of consecutive flawless snaps for Chris Boswell and the punt unit.
Last Year: Kuntz maintained his ironman status as the engine of the special teams unit, appearing in all 17 regular-season games and the postseason matchup. Despite fighting through a preseason chest injury and a late-Dec. knee scare, Kuntz did not miss a single snap, extending his flawless streak to 756 consecutive operations over five seasons. His clockwork delivery up the middle proved vital for kicker Chris Boswell, helping deliver a franchise-record 60-yard field goal. He also contributed two solo tackles on punt coverage.
Pro Career: After going undrafted in 2017, Kuntz spent four years fighting for a permanent NFL roster spot, navigating five cuts across stints with the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and...
