Steelers' Mike Tomlin Details Why Sibling Roster Tradition Continues Into 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers have always treated its players like family. It was a hallmark of Art Rooney's leadership that was continued by his son Dan Rooney and now grandson Art Rooney II. The team has also embraced finding literal family to play together on the roster. This offseason, for example, the team drafted a pair of guys with NFL bloodlines in 2023. 

Pittsburgh had three sets of brothers fighting for spots on the team in the 2022 offseason with TJ and Derek Watt joined by Cam and Connor Heyward, as well as twin brothers Carlos and Khalil Davis. The Watt's and Heyward's ended up as the Steelers featured sibling duo last year with both Davis brothers being cut initially in August (Carlos stayed on the practice squad for most of last season). Back in 2020, the Steelers faced off against the Buffalo Bills and brothers Trey, Terrell, and Tremaine Edmunds became the first three siblings to faceoff in an NFL contest since 1927 according to Elias Sports Bureau, via The Sporting News. But why does the organization have this fascination for these family ties?

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin's Reasons For Targeting Siblings

The first motivations the veteran head coach detailed were what he called tangible reasons, the simple genetics that makes players attractive to professional football teams. 

"In the football business, your ability to have size, speed, and agility is a very genetic-related thing," he said. "Often times, the blessings that God gives one person within a household, chances are someone who shares DNA has similar abilities."  

Another big factor Tomlin said that draws him to wanting siblings is the environmental factor. 

"When people hone the skills that God gave them, it occurs in their backyard, in the driveway, on the playgrounds, in the neighborhood. Often times, it's the child that grew up in the bed three feet away that shares similar environmental shaping and competitive spirit," he said. "I'd imagine the basketball games in the Watt backyard 20 years ago for example were highly competitive."

Tomlin expanded on his point about environmental factors when talking about how seeing a family member excel in the league conditions some of these athletes. 

"They don't dream about the NFL, they aspire to be in the NFL," he said. "That mindset is different. When you're in close proximity to something and you take the mystique out of it, it is a real thing."  

The last point Tomlin made was that NFL locker rooms need to be like a brotherhood and what better way to build that kind of culture than to have actual brothers? He highlighted how special it was for not just the Heyward brothers when Connor scored his first career touchdown, but a moment the whole team shared. 

"There's not a guy on our team that didn't feel the emotions of Cam when he saw Connor score a touchdown in their hometown in Atlanta and I think we all gain from that," he said. "Every morning, I walk into the cafeteria and see TJ and Derek eating a bowl of oatmeal together and I'd imagine that's been going on for 20-plus years. I'd imagine that the men that get an opportunity to share that with them gain that understanding and the ties that bind them and hopefully make the concept of the team something that's real." 

The Steelers look to be losing the Watt sibling connection in 2023. With hints from offensive coordinator, Matt Canada that Connor Heyward could get reps at the position, coupled with the signing of undrafted fullback, Monte Pottebaum, and the fact the team has yet to reach out with an extension, paint a picture without Derek for 2023. The organization should still have a pair of siblings with the Heyward's and Nick and Nate Herbig, and added another family tie with Joey Porter Jr. So despite the loss of Derek, the team's strong commitment to family connections in the game is still going strong. 

Do you like having siblings on the team? Do you agree with Tomlin's reasonings for why he likes to have brothers in Pittsburgh? Comment below!

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