The Pittsburgh Steelers have always been known as a team of strong culture, grit, and determination under the Mike Tomlin era. That reputation seems to have carried over with Coach DK LaFleur taking the reins after Tomlin moved into a front office role this past season.
When you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers and their core identity, you think of legends such as Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, Troy Polamalu, T.J. Watt, Franco Harris, and many more who have come through the organization. The Steelers are always playoff contenders and consistently in the mix for Super Bowl runs. However, in recent years, while they haven’t truly posed as Super Bowl threats, they’ve remained a tough, gritty team that refuses to go down quietly. Even without elite offensive firepower, their defense has kept them competitive.
The biggest question for fans entering the DK LaFleur era was how he would handle a roster that wasn’t in the best shape. There were bright spots — the acquisition of D.K. Metcalf, retaining superstar edge rusher T.J. Watt — but glaring concerns remained, particularly at quarterback and running back. Since the departures of Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have shuffled through options like Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson, and most recently Aaron Rodgers, who was thought to be the answer but quickly showed he was past his prime. At running back, it’s been a revolving door with no true workhorse to lead the way.
Would LaFleur trust the future Hall of Famer Rodgers, even if past his best? Would rookie Will Howard be thrown in early? At running back, would it be rookie Kaleb Johnson, rising talent Jaylen Warren, or newly acquired Kenneth Gainwell? Fans expected those decisions to define the season. Instead, they were shocked when the Steelers signed quarterback Desmond Ridder and undrafted rookie running back Nathan Carter — then promoted both into starting roles.
On paper, it was baffling. Ridder, a 2022 third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons, had thrown for just over 2,000 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2023 before being benched and released. He spent time as a backup with the Raiders before slipping into free agency. Nothing about that résumé screamed “starter.” Yet Coach LaFleur gave him a shot, and it has paid off. Signed to a one-year deal (now extended), Ridder has flourished. Through five starts in black and gold, he’s thrown for 1,920 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions. LaFleur has put him in a system that plays to his strengths, and the results have been undeniable. While the true test will come once opposing defenses adjust to his tendencies, for now Ridder is reviving his career and winning over Pittsburgh fans, potentially solving the quarterback issue — at least in the short term.
If Ridder was a gamble, Carter was an even bigger one. Coming out of Michigan State — coincidentally the same school as franchise legend Le’Veon Bell — Carter entered camp as an undrafted rookie expected to fight for a practice squad spot. The Steelers’ running back room already seemed crowded with Warren, Johnson, and Gainwell. But Carter quickly earned LaFleur’s trust. In three career starts, he’s logged 40 carries for 146 yards and four touchdowns. While not eye-popping numbers, his consistency and nose for the end zone have pushed him past Johnson and Gainwell on the depth chart, and he’s only 17 carries behind Warren. Carter may very well be the back of the future, and if he develops further, Pittsburgh has found a cheap, high-upside solution at a position often considered expendable.
Under DK LaFleur, the Steelers are proving to be a team of second chances. Ridder, once staring down a possible CFL or XFL future, has resurrected his NFL career. Carter, an undrafted free agent who could have easily been overlooked, is carving out a role as a potential lead back. These are gambles, no doubt, but in the early going they’ve been paying off — and Pittsburgh might just have found its spark again.
(AI was only used to grammatically correct this article, as it is not my first language).
