The Jig Is Up: Steelers Offseason, Vol. 22, Bring on the heat

Recently I was thinking about my time writing about the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout my career doing so, I’ve essentially done it all.

Commentary, news, breaking stories, features and even took a stab at simple film room breakdowns.

The one thing I’ve never done is work on just a random thought type format.

I can’t speak for you, the reader, but I am always thinking about writing and the Steelers. Thinking about different aspects of the team and game. Thanks to reading Myron Cope’s biography I decided to put a unique spin on this type of feature.

Now, for the name of the article, anyone who is familiar with the Styx song “Renegade” should know where it came from. If not, this is where it came from…

The jig is up, the news is out
They finally found me
The renegade who had it made
Retrieved for a bounty
Nevermore to go astray
This’ll be the end today of the wanted man

The jig is up…time for some randomness.

Turn up the heat!

The spring is coming to an end, and the summer is just starting to rear its head to all those in the northern hemisphere. While throngs of people flock to pools and beaches to beat the heat, the coaches and players of the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their annual trip to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.

It might sound crazy, but it will be July 23rd, the day the Steelers report to camp, before you know it and we will be back to real-life football once again.

Time to turn up the heat, the same heat the entire organization is feeling as they put the finishing touches on their plans/preparation for training camp.

Steelers vs. Buccaneers Joint Practice Official

Last week there were rumors and reports about the Steelers and Buccaneers having a joint practice prior to their preseason game at Acrisure Stadium. Those reports and rumors are now verified as official, per the NFL.

For those who were wondering if the fans would be in attendance to see the practice, this will likely be done the same way it was in 2024 when the Steelers had the same set up with the Buffalo Bills. The joint practice will be held at Acrisure Stadium and not open to the public; however, reporters will be there and reporting what is going on during the workout.

This per Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The NFL officially announced Steelers-Bucs joint practice 8/14 two days before their preseason barnburner at Acrisure Stadium. And the location is listed as Pittsburgh, so they won’t be doing it at Saint Vincent College. Last year’s joint practice with Bills was at Acrisure.

— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) June 18, 2025

Steelers were aggressive in their trade for DK

While scrolling through Twitter the other day I saw an interesting clip from the 3&OUT podcast where they were interviewing Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schnieder about trading DK Metcalf. Schnieder is extremely thoughtful in his responses, talking about how he was willing to work with Metcalf to find him a new NFL home.

But what stood out the most was when Schnieder talked about how Pittsburgh, and Omar Khan, were “really aggressive” in their pursuit of Metcalf.

Schnider also makes it seem as if there were other suitors interested, but the Steelers weren’t about to be outbid by anyone.

Check out the clip:

“Pittsburgh was really aggressive.”@Seahawks GM John Schnieder details the D.K. Metcalf trade this offseason to the @Steelers. pic.twitter.com/JHHekME9Hl

— 3&OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) June 19, 2025

The game isn’t won on paper

AFC North news was made this week when the Baltimore Ravens were able to land cornerback Jaire Alexander after his release from the Green Bay Packers. It was a really good deal for the Ravens, on which had the Steelers fan base fuming with both anger and jealousy.

Compensation update: Former Packers CB Jaire Alexander signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Ravens. He turned down more to be in Baltimore with his former college teammate, Lamar Jackson. pic.twitter.com/AWaYoeXh6k

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 18, 2025

While Alexander will fit in well with the Ravens, it does need to be added how this move looks great only on paper. If Alexander can’t stay healthy, does it really matter? Thankfully the game isn’t played on paper, and we’ll have to see how this plays out for the Ravens.

I also want to add how Alexander was a free agent after being released. There is no guarantee the Steelers didn’t show interest in him, or even put an official offer in to sign him. Alexander chose the Ravens’ deal, and chose to play with his college teammate Lamar Jackson. Welcome to free agency, for those who forgot.

No Antonio Brown is a travesty

Earlier this week the team at ESPN put out their All-Quarter Century NFL team. A couple Steelers made the rosters, Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu, but there was one name left off which was genuinely a travesty.

That would be Antonio Brown.

The folks at ESPN chose Julio Jones, Terrell Owens and Justin Jefferson over Brown.

Nothing against these players, they are all tremendous, but people forget just how dominant Brown was in his prime. Before he turned into AB, and even in the early years of AB, he was one of the best players in the entire league…not just at wide receiver.

Has Brown’s post-football life been such a wreck that he is now being ignored for what he did on the field? His antics off the field, most recently being wanted for attempted murder after brandishing a gun during a fight after a MMA event, have certainly tarnished his reputation, but should it tarnish his career? I refuse to let that happen, and believe Brown should be on these lists…he was that dominant.

What if you had to build one NFL team from the last 25 years? 👀@ASchatzNFL and @SethWalder did the work for you. 53 players. Full staff. Practice squad. Meet the All Quarter Century Team 🐐

Full 53-man roster and coaches: https://t.co/HgK8Vcyc6F pic.twitter.com/s2v0WeXLw4

— ESPN (@espn) June 18, 2025

Player Spotlight

I wanted to start doing a spotlight segment every week during the offseason of a lesser known player who donned the black-and-gold for a time.

This week’s player: Willie Williams

There are some players who are “one helmet” guys, and remain with the same team their entire careers. Then there are “two helmet” players like Willie Williams.

Williams was selected out of Western Carolina University by the Steelers in 1993, spending 6 of his 13 seasons in the league with the team. He was a key member of the 1995 team that played in Super Bowl XXX, and the only member from that team to be on the roster of the 2005 squad, who won Super Bowl XL over the Seattle Seahawks.

What made Williams’ career even more interesting was his lone Super Bowl ring was over the team he spent more time with than the Steelers. From 1997 to 2003, Williams played for the Seahawks, before returning to the Steelers for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

On March 3, 2006, Williams was released as salary cap cuts. Williams then retired from football.

On January 26, 2017, he was named the head coach for Winston Churchill High School, where he coached until leaving the team in December 2019.

Check out the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast in the player below:

That does it…the jig is up, they’ve finally found me. This renegade is outta here…be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of offseason leading up to training camp.