The Steelers have a lot of former players and coaches that could win a Super Bowl this season with another team.
The Steelers have been able to become one of the best franchises in the NFL since they joined the league. They have been able to create a bounty of memories that will last a lifetime with fans and personnel alike. They form connections that are unbreakable no matter if they leave the organization or not.
This list includes names both in a player role or others in a coaching role as well. They all currently sit on contending teams that many expect will have a shot at winning a championship in 2022. All these people will have a chance at winning their first trophy as others will get another opportunity to win another one.
It does not matter if the player or coach has a big role on their team or has a specific role to play. If they are on another team and were a part of the Steelers organization, they have a chance at making this list. It should be another successful year for these people.
Byron Leftwich could win another ring with the Bucs as a coach
This would be the second championship for Byron Leftwich as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Some may say it is easy being Tom Brady’s offensive coach, but others might see it more as a daunting task. He was rumored heavily in head coaching searches this past offseason and that will only kick into high gear if he helps win another ring for the Buccaneers.
Some might not remember Leftwich during his time with the Steelers. He was the backup quarterback for Ben Roethlisberger for a couple of seasons during his playing career. He is a young coach and someone that is starting to get more respect in the NFL coaching world.
Tyler Matakevich has continued his post-Steelers career in Buffalo
Tyler Matakevich is someone that many Steelers fans could have forgotten about. He has been away from the team for the past handful of years since departing the Steelers in free agency. He would sign with the Buffalo Bills following the 2019 season.
He has not done any wonders there and has kept the same kind of role that he had in Pittsburgh. Special teams is the name of the game for this former seventh-round selection by the black and gold in 2016. He has been able to stick around because of his abilities in the third phase of football.
This linebacker is a depth piece that got paid a solid rate to join the Bills in free agency. There were rumors that they could see him as expendable when final cut downs were happening last year so maybe his spot is not secure. Either way, he is on the Bills now and will have a good chance at winning the Super Bowl.
Matakevich and Buffalo will always have a chance at the prized trophy every year that Josh Allen is healthy. The cast around him is one of the best in football so that even ups their chances even more. It seems like it will be a long time until the Bills become obsolete.
James Conner could shock the world in the desert
James Conner started his post-Steelers career well during his first season with the Arizona Cardinals franchise. He signed a cheap one-year deal with the club after Pittsburgh drafted Najee Harris. It was time for a fresh look at the running game and it worked out in Conner’s favor.
The Pittsburgh guy from Erie, PA. was finally able to get out of the Steel City after becoming a role model to the people there. His season in 2021 was something that his career was desperately searching for. He was able to rebound after a couple less than stellar years in Pittsburgh.
It was not completely his fault for the issues that he went head-to-head with in the black and gold uniform. The offensive line was struggling to block for him, and injuries started to pile on. It was a tough road for him, but that started getting smoother when he went to the Cardinals.
He was rewarded with a nice raise that will keep him in the desert for a couple more years. The Cardinals are a team that should be able to break out and potentially become Super Bowl contenders this year. It might not seem like an obvious choice as other contenders, but it would be a great story to see Conner raise that trophy over his head.
Mike Hilton could get over the hump with the Bengals
Mike Hilton started the upswing of his career with the Steelers and played some good ball for the club. He became one of the best slot cornerbacks in the league before he eventually departed the team. That move ended up biting Pittsburgh in the butt ever since they let this player walk in free agency.
This short corner would move onto the rivaled Cincinnati Bengals on a four-year contract. It was a handsome pay raise that has seemingly paid off for the Bengals. He has played very well and seems to be making that contract seem like a bargain.
Since leaving the Steel City, this player has kept his game on another level and went to the Super Bowl. He has made his old club pay for allowing him to leave and has helped beat Pittsburgh each time the Bengals went up against him. It has been tough trying to find a replacement for Hilton and his unique skill set for the black and gold.
Cincinnati has quickly become a contender in the AFC just a few years after many thought it would take a little longer for them to get out of the rebuild phase. Joe Burrow and an elite offense will change things fast in today’s NFL and they showed that last season. It has been greener pastures for Hilton in the black and orange, which could lead to a victory on Super Bowl Sunday this time around.
JuJu Smith-Schuster could win a Super Bowl right after leaving the Steelers
JuJu Smith-Schuster has come a long way since being drafted by the Steelers in 2017. He has matured since coming to Pittsburgh, depending on who you talk to. He was once a kid riding his bike around town until he finally got his driver’s license to cure that workout.
That was a long time ago and now things are mixed with how fans feel about him. Some think that he is just having fun and enjoying the game of football, while others think he is just in it for social media popularity. No matter what you believe, Smith-Schuster had a nice career in Pittsburgh.
He was put through some very unusual circumstances that he had to overcome during his time in the Steel City. He had to become the number one receiver when Antonio Brown left and had to overcome his positional coach passing away right before training camp. He has been able to overcome those things and help lead the receiving group.
Now he turns his career to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he will get every opportunity to get the big contract that he has been searching for. He will be the number one target in that offense and that should work out well for both sides. This is a tough receiver that is not afraid of contact and that should be scary for the NFL with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball.
The Steelers have had some quality people come and go from their organization. Some of those people will have a legit shot at winning the Super Bowl this year since departing the club.