'Tis the season for giving, and we can thank the Pittsburgh Steelers for showing new life in 2024. Since Ben Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury in 2019, this team has felt void of hope to make a serious playoff push, but that could soon change.
This year was highlighted by a terrific Mike Tomlin coaching hire, an underrated free agent signing, and a few brilliant decisions by General Manager Omar Khan and Assistant GM Andy Weidl in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Steelers once again proved why they are one of the best franchises in the NFL by bringing these early Christmas gifts to fans in 2024.
Russell Wilson, QB
The debate early in the season was whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields should be the quarterback leading this team. It didn't take long for us to get our answer. As soon as Wilson stepped on the field in a Steelers uniform, he took command of the team and never looked back.
Wilson's age (36) and the calf injury he experienced in the summer weren't enough to hold him back from being the best quarterback this team has seen since Ben Roethlisberger, and there were times when he played like a top player at his position in 2024.
Considering the importance of the quarterback position, Wilson was the biggest gift the Steelers could have given fans this year (short of a Super Bowl).
Arthur Smith, OC
Wilson deserves a lion's share of the credit for turning the offense around, but we can't forget to thank Arthur Smith. After suffering through six combined seasons of Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada, Smith was a breath of fresh air in 2024.
The former Falcons head coach and Titans offensive coordinator exceeded expectations for the Steelers. Smith not only established an excellent rushing attack with his wide-zone scheme, but he brought back the play-action pass that greatly improved the efficiency of the passing offense.
Smith's debut season with Pittsburgh was so strong that the offensive coordinator will warrant head coaching consideration in 2025. Mike Tomlin caught some heat for this coaching hire, but we can all be glad Smith is here.
Zach Frazier, C
The Steelers wasted no time punching their card for Zach Frazier in the second round of the 2024 draft. Frazier, who played his college ball at West Virginia, was already a home-grown hero fans could easily get behind. But the rookie center let his play speak for itself.
Despite being thrust into action from Week 1, Frazier aced the test and proved to be the center the Steelers have been searching for since the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey. The rookie lives to drive players into the turf and plays every snap like it's his last. What more could we ask for?
DeShon Elliott, S
All eyes were on the Patrick Queen signing during the 2024 free agency period, but nobody knew what type of impact DeShon Elliott would make on the Steelers this year. The journeyman safety spent the past three seasons with Baltimore, Detroit, and Miami before settling down in Pittsburgh and proving to be one of the best bargain free-agent signings of the year.
Elliott was a battering ram defending the run this year while proving to be a reliable asset in coverage. His well-rounded play offered a much-needed boost to the secondary at a discount price.
Payton Wilson, LB
Thirty-one other teams were apparently scared to death about drafting a linebacker missing an ACL. But not the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was one of the best decisions of the year this franchise made. Wilson, an All-American at NC State, was widely considered the best linebacker in the nation before the draft, and he's already picking up where he left off.
As a rookie, Wilson has showcased tremendous playmaking ability and an outstanding feel for the game. Wilson's role and importance on defense will increase in time, but the 6'4'' linebacker with 4.43 speed already looks like a star in the making.
Mason McCormick, OG
The remarkable selections of Zach Frazier and Payton Wilson made fans forget about the redshirt rookie seasons of draft picks like Troy Fautanu and Roman Wilson, but Mason McCormick makes the 2024 draft even sweeter. Though he's not as consistent on a play-by-play basis as Frazier, he's every bit as aggressive with more physical tools.
McCormick, a fourth-round pick from South Dakota State, didn't look out of place after being fed to the wolves as a starting right guard early in the year when James Daniels went down with a season-ending injury. McCormick possesses the traits, tools, and tenacity to be a high-level starting guard in the NFL with more fine-tuning.