Payton Wilson brings a new confidence to the Steelers in 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping to have something they haven’t had in a very long time, and that would be having a wealth of talent at the inside linebacker position.

Remember when Myles Jack and Mykal Walker were signed to try and be a band-aid for the team’s issues at the position?

Those are hopefully a thing of the past as the team is hopeful to have one of the deepest inside linebacker rooms in the NFL with the return of Cole Holcomb from injury. On top of Holcomb’s return, getting their second year linebacker Payton Wilson into a larger role is another part of this positional equation.

How big of a difference is Year 1 to Year 2?

“It’s a big difference, coming in this offseason, going through phase one and two,” said Wilson. “I don’t have the rookie anxiety or the struggles. I already know the guys, know the playbook. You’re still learning, but you can come out here and fly around.

“It’s just confidence. The talent is still the same, but just knowing the scheme, flying around, knowing the guys, and you know having a bond with a lot of the guys you’re playing with. People don’t really look at that, but it helps a lot. To come out here and be able to communicate without having to second guess myself like I was last year in the beginning, it’s just been, it has been a world of difference.”

What will it be like for Wilson being next to Patrick Queen in his sophomore season?

“It’s been awesome this year and I’m just excited to get out there with PQ,” said Wilson. “It’s big time. We didn’t play every snap together last year, but we played quite a bit together. Just having that chemistry and understanding certain things. I know what he’s going to do most of the time, he knows what I’m going to do. We’re still learning each other, being out there every snap together right now, but it’s going be fun.”

Some fans might wonder if Wilson’s role will be as a sub package specialist, an every down linebacker, or someone who is a 3rd linebacker on the field is certain spots? The answer is Wilson is willing to do whatever the team asks of him.

“Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it,” said Wilson. “Obviously I want to be out there every single snap. Trying to prove myself out here in OTAs and camp to do that. But whatever is handed to me right now, it’s been great being out there every snap, but I’m just going to do whatever I can to help this team win.

“I have to continue to show the guys I have what it takes with knowing the playbook, communicating, and flying around every snap. There’s a good chance for me to just take every snap, and I’m pretty excited.”

Regardless of role, Wilson knows the building of a championship team starts at OTAs. It’s where the foundation is built.

“I think it starts from day one in OTAs,” said Wilson. “Like Coach Mike T(omlin) says, we are just building a foundation. And the foundation is communication. A silent defense is a dead defense. So just communicating, over-communicating, so everyone’s on the same page. And when we’re all on the same page, you can see what we do. We’ve just got to be on the same page.”

Will Wilson be a more every down player in 2025, or will the team be able to utilize players like Queen, Holcomb and Wilson in unique ways to help keep players fresh, and offenses guessing? That’s a good problem to have for a change.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of OTAs and Mandatory Minicamp.