“The first time I saw it, my jaw dropped because we haven’t worn a jersey like that in a while as a team,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “It’s all so cool. I would say the helmet is my favorite part of it. That yellow matte helmet is just sick. I think it’s a cool new look.
“And then with the jersey, I love that. I am just really excited to wear it.”
He isn’t the only one who feels that way.
“The yellow helmet is sweet,” said tight end Pat Freiermuth. “We’ve worn black helmets since I’ve been here, and well before that, and just switching it up to a new helmet I love. It gets players excited. It gets the fans excited. It’s something cool to showcase. After we wear them, I want to keep that helmet forever. It’s super cool.”
It doesn’t take much to get players juiced up for games, as competition is all the drive they need. But throwing in something like a different uniform just adds to it.
With all eyes on the Steelers-Packers game that night on primetime there is a desire to do the uniform proud as well.
“I’m really excited for it, and to be wearing them on Sunday Night Football, it’s going to be awesome,” said Highsmith. “Everyone’s going to be able to see them. It won’t be a regular one o’clock game. It’ll be a primetime game. I’m just excited for everyone to see them.
“I’m excited to represent them as a team whenever we use them on Sunday night.”
The fact that it honors the rich history of the organization, and celebrates the City of Pittsburgh, is something that isn’t lost on the players.
“It’s an honor to be able to wear these uniforms, knowing the history of this organization and all the players and people who have come before us,” said Highsmith. “We know we have to wear it with pride and whenever we do wear them, we’ve got to put our best foot forward.”
Freiermuth can’t wait for the buzz on Sunday night as a national audience sees the uniforms.
“As everyone knows, Pittsburgh is one of the most historic franchises in all of sports, not just football,” said Freiermuth. “Being able to showcase the jersey that is a part of that history, it’s super cool. These jerseys are going to be talked about, just like I remember when the Steelers wore the ‘bumblebee’ jerseys, and they’re still talked about. These jerseys are going to be talked about for a long time.”
