New Steelers WR Michael Pittman Jr. has heard the comparisons to Hines Ward for a long time. Perhaps especially now in Pittsburgh, he welcomes it. A bigger-bodied wide receiver who embraces the physical challenges of his position, he will mix it up this season. And unlike with others such as George Pickens or JuJu Smith-Schuster, it’s not an occasional thing. Nor have been the comparisons.
“I’ve actually got that a lot, especially early in my career”, Michael Pittman told Missi Matthews for the Steelers’ website about comparisons to Hines Ward. “That’s something that I take pride in, is going out there and blocking and that physicality. That’s like the ultimate compliment, I think, because he was a great player and everything that he’s done here. I hope to continue to do that and I hope that Steelers fans can see that same intensity had in the way that I play”.
A 2020 second-round pick by the Colts, Pittman wanted to come to the Steelers as his preferred trade destination. He believes he fits the culture here, and having a fanbase that reveres a player like Hines Ward is surely a piece of that puzzle. Now, they haven’t really had a Hines Ward type of receiver since Ward, but they value physicality at wide receiver.
Over the course of his six seasons, Pittman has 485 catches for 5,254 yards and 25 touchdowns. He had a career-high 7 touchdowns last season, finding a strong connection with QB Daniel Jones. Jones’ season-ending injury in Week 13 resulted in his production tailing off, however, as Indianapolis struggled to find a solution at quarterback.
The Steelers don’t currently know who their quarterback is, but Pittman feels prepared for that. He has had a different primary starting quarterback every season of his career thus far, so this is his normal. If it’s Aaron Rodgers, then surely he’ll appreciate having a veteran craftsman like him. And I’m sure Rodgers will have some Hines Ward stories to tell Pittman, as well.
For the record, the only time Rodgers played against Ward, Ward caught 7 passes for 126 yards. There was also the Super Bowl, in which Ward caught 7 for 78 and a touchdown.
After the Colts re-signed WR Alec Pierce, they planned to release Michael Pittman. The Steelers jumped in and traded for him, swapping late-round picks. Re-signing him to a three-year, $59 million contract, he might not be their next Hines Ward. But he is a part of their immediate future.
And he is a player who embraces the history and tradition of a place like Pittsburgh. There is a reason Hines Ward is a name that still comes up, and Michael Pittman wants his name remembered, too. Six year into his career, it’s harder to carve out a lasting legacy in a new place. But it’s certainly not impossible—and typically involves lots of winning. If he simply helps the Steelers win games, that’s what fans will remember most.
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