The Jig Is Up: Steelers Offseason, Vol. 24, Let the good times roll

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.

Will we see fireworks in 2025?

With it being the 4th of July, and Independence Day here in the United States, our family went to see some fireworks last night in our neighborhood. As always, they were awesome, but got me thinking about the upcoming Steelers season. Will this be a season where we, the fans, actually get to see some Steelers offensive fireworks?

I’m not talking about player disputes, or players disagreeing with coaches on the sideline, I’m talking about points scored.

Here are the points per game averages for the Steelers since 2022:

2022: 18.1

2023: 17.9

2024: 22.4

Last season the Steelers finally eclipsed 20 points per game, and the fan base felt as if we had hit the lottery. In reality, they had finally scratched their way to an average offense in modern standards.

Will Aaron Rodgers and the rebuilt offense be able to not just eclipse their previous mark, which was 20th in the NFL last season, and get near the top tier in the league? We’ll see, but it has been quite the drought.

Lines are not predictions

The other day I was going through Twitter and saw this tweet from the controversial Dov Kleiman account. It talked about how the Steelers are only favored in six games this season:

Wild: The Steelers are favored in only SIX of their 17 games this upcoming season.

They are favored against the…

• Week 1 at the Jets (-3)
• Week 2 vs. the Seahawks (-1.5)
• Week 6 vs. the Browns (-6.5)
• Week 9 vs. the Colts (-3.5)
• Week 15 vs. the Dolphins (-2.5)
•… pic.twitter.com/JjxXz0HD8h

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 2, 2025

This is just a friendly reminder that these lines put out by sportsbooks are NOT predictions for the game. They are created to move money one way or another. So, before fans start to freak out about these early lines, realize it doesn’t necessarily mean what you might think at first glance.

Throwback uniform or alternate?

Earlier this week there were some Steelers leaks regarding the team’s upcoming throwback uniforms which will be worn vs. the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football this season.

Get the full report:

New details emerge about the Steelers new throwback uniforms/helmets in 2025.

MORE: https://t.co/ZSt1rTtfz1

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) July 2, 2025

What I struggle with is if this is genuinely a throwback uniform, they have limited options with the gold helmet. However, if it is deemed an alternate, then it opens up an entirely different set of options for the team. If they are going to do a throwback, I hope we get to see something unique, and not the same throwbacks they wore from 2007 to 2011.

A-Rod and his WRs

Some people were suggesting before Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers how he isn’t a good teammate. How he wouldn’t care about winning, and his egotistical self wouldn’t allow him to every lower himself to working with his teammates.

Well, as he said on the Pat McAfee show last week, he was getting the guys together for a workout before the team reports to training camp on July 23rd.

Check out who was in attendance, and why they had to do Calvin Austin III like that by putting him next to DK Metcalf, also known as The Freak of Nature.

Man, did CA3 have to stand next to DK? 😂 pic.twitter.com/oTlRrfHxCm

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) July 2, 2025

Jalen Ramsey and DeShon Elliott have a history

When people thought about the loss of Minkah Fitzpatrick, they likely looked at it as a loss of continuity between DeShon Elliott and Fitzpatrick. However, the two only played together one year, and I quickly realized the other day when scrolling Twitter how Elliott has the same amount of time together with Jalen Ramsey.

In 2023, before Elliott signed with the Steelers in free agency, Ramsey was in the same secondary with Elliott down in Miami with the Dolphins. This week NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger broke down some film of the two playing together, and you can see that clip below. In terms of continuity, the two hopefully are able to pick up where they left off down in South Beach.

.@MiamiDolphins @steelers @jalenramsey reunites with @OfficialShon_4 in the Burgh. Looked good together in SoFla in 2023. #HereWeGo #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/bU6sCXhHrv

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 1, 2025

Be safe out there!

With it being the 4th of July, and many people who are in the United States celebrating in one way or another, try to stay safe out there! Don’t get behind the wheel of a car if you’ve been consuming alcohol or any other substance which can hinder your driving skills, and try to report back to SCN Monday with all 10 fingers and toes still intact!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

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: Dan Kreider

Kreider entered the league when the Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2000 NFL draft. After being placed on the team’s practice squad, he was signed to the active roster on October 17, 2000, to replace Jon Witman.

He remained on the active roster for the remainder of the season and was named the Steelers’ Rookie of the Year, playing better than players like Plaxico Burress and Marvel Smith who were drafted. Starting at fullback in Super Bowl XL vs Seattle, Kreider threw a key block for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Steelers a 7–3 lead.

In 2007, it became known Kreider may not even dress on some games, and it would be Carey Davis would assume that role for at least the first game. That year Kreider tore his ACL in week 12 against the Miami Dolphins, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve on November 29.

On July 22, 2008, Kreider was signed by the St. Louis Rams but later released on November 23, 2008. Kreider was the Rams’ starting fullback and played in all 11 games that he was on the team for. He had one carry for zero yards.

Kreider then signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals on April 2, 2009. The move reunited him with Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, who had previously been the offensive coordinator for the Steelers during Kreider’s time in Pittsburgh. It was Kreider’s last stint in the NFL before hanging up the cleats.

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.