30 Scenarios in 30 Days: The Steelers will have a kickoff return for a TD in 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.
It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.
Let’s get to the scenario…
Scenario: The Steelers will have a kickoff return for a TD in 2025
Why it will happen: The NFL changed the kickoff rule prior to the 2024 season and the Steelers wasted no time in acquiring a new kickoff specialist just hours after the rule was announced. Though it didn’t pay off last season, the Steelers were not willing to sit back and acquired Kenneth Gainwell this offseason who returned kickoffs for the Eagles last year. With a tweak to the rule where touchbacks now come out to the 35-yard line, there’s likely to be even more kickoff returns in 2025. Just by sheer volume, the odds of breaking a return Is more likely simply by having more opportunities.
Why it won’t happen: The Steelers were not good at kickoff last season. Despite bringing in Cordarrelle Patterson, the Steelers ranked 32nd and kickoff return yards in the NFL in 2024. The last time the Steelers had a kickoff return was in Week 17 of the 2017 season when JuJu Smith-Schuster returned a kickoff against the Cleveland Browns. It’s been quite a long time, so some might think the law of averages might be on their side. But the Steelers simply haven’t been good on either side of the ball when it comes to kickoffs despite exceling in other phases of special teams.
Prediction: Although I generally go on the side of optimism, there’s a little reason to think the Steelers are going to improve their kickoff to a point they will get one returned for a touchdown. To me, improvement will come in baby steps and just simply having a better return average would be a positive. I’m not holding out at all for the Steelers to return a kickoff for a touchdown in 2025.
Miss a scenario? You can see the full list of scenarios below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.
The Steelers will go above and beyond their win-loss prediction in 2025
The Steelers will throw more INTs than last season
The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
The Steelers Defense Will Have More Takeaways This Season
Aaron Rodgers will start all 17 games in 2025
DK Metcalf Will Have Double-Digit Receiving TDs
T.J. Watt will break the single-season sack record
The Steelers Will Rush For More Than 2000 Yards In 2025
The Steelers will have a Top 5 Rush Defense
A kick return TD would be nice but I agree; it’s better to have good consistency there than what they’ve had + a score or even two.
Last season, Pgh had no points on any of their first possessions in every game they played–and Wilson once threw a pick-six during one first drive. Only one way to go, I hope… holding on to the kicked ball is a beginning.