Pittsburgh Steelers / NFL
First Call: Ex-Steeler supports Ben Roethlisberger; former Steelers coach up for Las Vegas OC gig
Friday’s “First Call” finds a former Pittsburgh Steeler willing to back up Ben Roethlisberger. An ex-Steelers coach is trying to find a new job with a promotion in Las Vegas. Pitt basketball is staring another significant challenge in the face. Robert Morris and Duquesne hoops are looking to continue their...
Steelers’ Mike McCarthy finalizes coaching staff, adds North Allegheny grad Robert Kugler
Mike McCarthy’s coaching staff is officially complete. The Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday announced a 26-person staff with 20 assistant coaches, four strength and conditioning personnel and a chief of staff. Many of the hires were previously announced by the team, but one late addition was tight ends coach Robert Kugler,...
Tim Benz Podcasts
Sports Podcasts
First Call: Cam Heyward addresses ‘closing the book’ post; ex-Steeler says Neil O’Donnell ‘threw’ Super Bowl XXX
Thursday’s “First Call” clears the air about Cam Heyward’s cryptic social media post. A former Pittsburgh Steeler is accusing Neil O’Donnell of “throwing” Super Bowl XXX. Michael Vick is still living down one aspect of his days in Pittsburgh and New York. Plus, an ex-Steeler receiver has decided to retire....
Joe Starkey: Ben Roethlisberger led where his team needed him most — on the field
What did Ben Roethlisberger actually say about Mike Tomlin that has Joey Porter and so many other ex-Steelers all hot and bothered? Not much, as it turns out. Back in December, Roethlisberger stated on his podcast what all but the most delusional Tomlin apologists were saying: “Maybe it’s a clean-house...
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger was the QB. But it’s Joey Porter who is throwing stones from a glass house
When it comes to any off-the-field or personality-related debates, it would take a lot for me to side with Ben Roethlisberger over Joey Porter Sr. Unfortunately, Porter just said a lot. As he so often did. On the field, or off of it. I really enjoyed covering Porter. Roethlisberger was...
U mad, bro?: Prickly Pittsburgh fans snipe about Aaron Rodgers reports and Pirates’ spending history
It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Need proof? Take a look at my social media mentions. It’s pretty obvious. Steelers and Pirates fans are flat-out gushing over everything I have to say about their teams. Enjoy our heartfelt love letters to one another in this week’s “U...
‘Not a good teammate’: Former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter has harsh words for Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger was not a good teammate or a good person, said former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who criticized the quarterback during a podcast appearance published Wednesday. Porter, appearing on “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” called out Roethlisberger and former teammate James Harrison for speaking negatively about “Steeler...
First Call: Steelers reportedly interested in Malik Willis; odds for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown to make Hall of Fame
Malik Willis’ name is coming up with the Pittsburgh Steelers again. Odds are out on Ben Roethlisberger’s chances to make the Hall of Fame next year. We know where Tiger Woods’ son will be golfing in college. The American women’s hockey team at the Olympics stays red hot. And the...
With Super Bowl in the books, NFL teams can soon start work on roster construction
The arrival of the offseason doesn’t mean the NFL takes time off. A Super Bowl champion was crowned Sunday and the draft is still two months away, but the league’s calendar is far from empty. In the days ahead, teams have free agents to sign, potential draft picks to evaluate...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Would Mac Jones be a good option for Steelers?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. We had a banner first three weeks. This is no time for a trap game. Apologies for the delay this week. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me...
Where will the Steelers, others pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh?
The Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock. On the day Klint Kubiak was introduced as the team’s head coach, the NFL announced its final draft order for the first round. Las Vegas has the No. 1 pick for 2026. Many of the draft positions previously were known, including...
First Call: Calvin Austin on his uncertain future with Steelers; Marcell Ozuna’s PNC Park struggles
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some revealing quotes from one of Pittsburgh’s top wide receivers. We look at a challenge facing Marcell Ozuna now that he is a Pittsburgh Pirate. Pitt gets good news about a Panthers basketball alum in advance of the club’s big game against Duke on Tuesday night....
Tim Benz: We may already be looking at an Aaron Rodgers decision deadline
According to what ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting, we may be coming up on a soft deadline from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Aaron Rodgers regarding a decision about his playing status next year. During an appearance Monday on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter told the program that many on the...
Mark Madden: Super Bowl showed value of franchise quarterback, and other observations
That Super Bowl was so boring I couldn’t glean an entire column from it. So what we got is refreshing sports notes. (I was going to write them using either Spanish or redneck. I couldn’t decide.) • For Steelers fans, the big takeaway from the Super Bowl is that Seattle...
Tim Benz: Are Steelers fans playing the wrong ‘what-if game’ after Seattle’s Super Bowl win?
My Super Bowl gathering Sunday night couldn’t have been the only one in Pittsburgh that had this kind of conversation. “What if the Steelers had been willing to outbid Seattle for Sam Darnold?” There were plenty of reports that the Steelers made an offer for his services. To what extent...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Great defense still wins championships. If only the Steelers had one
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less This part of Dan Graziano’s Super Bowl piece on ESPN.com stood out, in the context of Art Rooney II wanting to bring Mike Tomlin back after nine years of not coming close to a playoff win (before Tomlin fired...
Madden Monday: The Seahawks are ‘worthy winners,’ but Super Bowl LX ‘a fitting cap to a really bad NFL season’
In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X doesn’t mince words when it comes to discussing Seattle’s 29-13 win over New England in Super Bowl LX. “I think it was a fitting cap to a really bad NFL season. I thought this was one...
First Call: ‘Odds are increasing’ that we’ll see a 2nd year of Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh; George Pickens status update in Dallas
Monday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers news about Aaron Rodgers that may have been buried by Super Bowl Sunday festivities. A former Steeler is getting the franchise tag. A retired Steelers coach likes the decision to hire Mike McCarthy. And I pat myself on the back for some wise...
