The NFL can be a fickle business. One day, a player is viewed as a key franchise piece, and the next he’s out the door. One day a teammate is taking a young player under his wing, the next day that young player is replacing him as the older player is shown the door.
That’s what ultimately happened with the Indianapolis Colts as GM Chris Ballard signed wide receiver Alec Pierce a four-year, $114 million contract ahead of free agency. But that move also signaled the end for Michael Pittman Jr. in Indianapolis as the Colts traded the veteran receiver to the Steelers in a salary dump.
Pittman has received plenty of praise from former Colts teammates, like quarterback Daniel Jones, who landed a big contract of his own this offseason. That now includes Pierce, too. Appearing on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, Pierce raved about Pittman as a leader and what he means to him as a young player.
“Huge, huge presence in the locker room. He’ll definitely be missed; we’re gonna miss his leadership,” Pierce said Wednesday of Pittman, according to video via NFL Network. “That’s something we’re gonna have to step up and that’s something I’m gonna for sure have to step up in the receiver room, being kind of more of a veteran guy now. But yeah, Pitt was a guy that I was really, really happy I got the chance to play with him. Really grateful for that. Just such a good leader, such a good teammate.
“I learned so much from him in the receiver game, and really just that kind of operational. He almost took me under his wing and kind of taught me how to be an NFL player.”
Pittman came into the NFL as a second-round pick in 2020. Two years later, Pierce joined him with the Colts, also as a second-round pick. At that point, Pittman had already established himself as a consistent weapon for Indianapolis, while Pierce was a raw height/weight/speed threat who was still learning the nuances of the position.
Having a veteran like Pittman to lean on and learn from helped Pierce settle into the NFL, and it ultimately led to his breakout season in 2025. After hauling in 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns, Pierce was one of the top receivers on the market ahead of free agency.
But he didn’t leave. Instead, his contract forced Pittman out. Now, the Steelers look to take advantage of Pittman’s leadership and his understanding of the wide receiver position. He’s a piece the Steelers have been missing in that WR2 role, and he could provide that veteran leadership for another young receiver entering the NFL, should Pittsburgh draft a receiver in late April.
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