Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said this Saturday that for his team the 2022 NFL season, the first in 18 years that they will play without passer Ben Roethlisberger, looks terrifying.
“I’m looking forward and uncertain. Yes, we may not have the kind of quarterback that we had, we may not have the special talent that we have had, but we have capable guys, all of that said, it’s scary what’s coming, but exciting,” he said. the coach.
Roethlisberger announced his retirement at the end of the 2021 campaign after 18 seasons with the Steelers, which he led to 12 playoff appearances in which he won two Super Bowls. During that time the quarterback added 64,088 yards and 418 touchdowns, numbers that Tomlin remembered with longing.
“The guy’s arm talent was so special for so long that when you see special things every day you get used to it. I enjoyed that comfort, we all enjoy it. Now I’m excited to be uncomfortable,” he agreed. The options that Pittsburgh will have to cover the quarterback position go through the 24-year-old rookie taken in the first round of the 2022 Draft, Kenny Pickett; former Buffalo Bills 2018 Pro Bowler Mitchell Trubisky.
In addition to the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2017 with Oklahoma State, Mason Rudolph, who will live his fifth season with the Steelers. Between the three of them, Tomlin hoped, the guide his team needs will emerge.
“There’s going to be new leadership here no matter who gets the center in week one. Make no mistake, we’re not sitting around waiting, we’re carefully building this new stage and we have a great team.” Tomlin, who has coached the Steelers since 2007, has never had a losing season, something he not only wants to extend into 2022, but round it out by leading his team to the top of the NFL.
“The standard is the standard. It’s like brands when you know there’s one at number one, you know which one is the leader no matter where you go, or what corner of the world you’re in and that’s what I want the Pittsburghs to be. Steelers.”