Browns Veteran Sends Big Message That Has Steelers Fans Keeping Receipts

The Pittsburgh Steelers recently got their official 2025 schedule, as did the other 31 NFL teams. For Steelers fans, the games that immediately stand out are the high-stakes AFC North matchups. One of the biggest showdowns will take place on October 12, when the Cleveland Browns come to Pittsburgh. Interestingly, the Browns will be coming off a trip to London, where they’ll face the Minnesota Vikings in an international game just one week earlier on October 5.

International games have often drawn criticism from NFL players due to the physical toll of travel, time zone changes, and the disruption of their regular routines. These challenges are magnified during the grind of a long NFL season. Despite the difficulties, Browns veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris is embracing the experience and looking forward to the unique opportunity of playing in London before jumping straight into a tough divisional battle in Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, the Steelers will be coming off their bye week before facing the Browns. The extra rest and preparation time could give Pittsburgh an edge heading into the Week 6 matchup. However, Harris doesn’t seem concerned about the disadvantage. In fact, he said on the Honor The Land podcast Monday that he’s excited for the chance to go to London and then immediately gear up for a big AFC North game against the Steelers.

"That’s always a tough thing when it comes to those international games because those games don’t do us players any favors," Harris said. "It is a great opportunity to go play the Vikings in London and come back, go to Pittsburgh and have a great division game there. That's how you get the mindset back to where it needs to go because when you play these divisional games, it takes no prisoners."

Steelers fans will certainly keep receipts of these comments to see how they age. Browns vs. Steelers matchups have a long history of intensity, physicality, and heated moments, and Harris’ confidence will only add fuel to the fire. 

When these two teams meet in October, fans on social media will undoubtedly revisit his remarks, using them as rallying points, motivation, or ammunition—depending on how things play out on the field.

"It’s a mindset," Harris said. "That’s a perfect opportunity right after an international game."

The Steelers will play the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland during Week 4 of the 2025 season. After this international game, they return home and have a bye week in Week 5. This break will give the team an important chance to rest and recover from the travel and physical demands of playing overseas. 

Then in Week 6, the Steelers will host the Browns in Pittsburgh. This game will likely be seen as one the Steelers are expected to win, especially since they will be coming off a week of rest while the Browns will be coming off a tough international game in London.

Steelers Looking For Redemption In 2025 On The Browns

In the 2024 season, the Steelers and Browns split their series, with each team winning one game. This kind of split is common in divisional rivalries, but the Steelers will want to avoid that in 2025. They will aim to clearly dominate the Browns and take control of the AFC North. A strong win against Cleveland would be a big boost for the team’s confidence and divisional standing.

With the extra preparation time from the bye week, the Steelers will look to come out ready and focused for this important matchup. It will be a key moment in the season where the team can send a message to their division rivals and build momentum for the rest of the year. Steeler Nation will look back on these comments from Harris to see how they age.

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