Steelers’ Jonnu Smith Expresses Strong Desire For 2025: "I Want To Be A Super Bowl Champion"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to chasing championships, but now and then, a veteran arrives who reminds the locker room exactly why the chase for a Lombardi Trophy matters.

That’s what happened when Jonnu Smith recently appeared on the Zach Smackz' Show and delivered a heartfelt message about his purpose in the NFL. There were no cryptic metaphors or carefully rehearsed lines; just a raw, unfiltered desire that seems to align perfectly with the tone Mike Tomlin’s team is trying to set during the 2025 season.

"I want to be a Super Bowl champion, man," Smith said. "You know what I'm saying? Like that's the ultimate goal… Playing this game going on nine years. You know, that's at the top of my list is to be a Super Bowl champion. You know, that's something that you know that could never be taken away from you and that's the reason why you get into this game, is to, is to be the greatest."

Smith didn’t say it with a flash. He said it with conviction. That distinction matters especially in Pittsburgh, where expectations aren’t rooted in empty hype, but in culture. What Smith is expressing here goes beyond personal ambition; it's a challenge to everyone around him, and it could be exactly what the Steelers’ roster needs in 2025.

There’s something about a player in year nine who speaks this way. It’s not about chasing a breakout season; it’s about chasing closure. Smith has seen ups and downs from his development in Tennessee, to a turbulent stint in New England, to a productive but quiet year in Atlanta. He’s had moments of success, but none with the confetti falling. That hunger isn’t something you can coach, but it’s something you can build around.

The Steelers’ roster is quietly becoming a strong mix of ascending talent and seasoned professionals. While much of the offseason buzz surrounded younger stars and defensive pieces, the team’s emotional core might come from veterans like Smith, who now joins a tight end room that includes Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, two players still carving out their NFL legacies.

Freiermuth remains a vital part of the offense, and Washington has begun developing into a mauling run blocker and physical mismatch. The arrival of Smith gives both players a stabilizing presence, someone who’s seen the league from every angle, and still talks like a rookie chasing his first playoff snap. He’s not here to be a top fantasy option or chase targets. He’s here because he still believes in the dream. His voice matters. His urgency matters.

Smith understands the permanence of a championship. That’s why the Steelers brought him in. His value won’t just be measured by catches, but by moments. Moments where a play needs to be made on third and five. Moments where young guys need to see how a vet handles adversity. Moments in December when teams either start slipping or start believing.

This isn’t just a locker room move. If Arthur Smith’s offense is going to function in 2025 with a young quarterback and a growing offensive line, it needs mature pieces around it. That’s what Smith brings. He knows the scheme, knows the grind, and more importantly, he knows what it takes to play meaningful football late in the season.

Steelers’ Super Bowl Standard Remains Alive

For a franchise like the Steelers, the standard has never been about participation. It’s always been about hoisting the Lombardi. And while many teams talk about that goal, few have players who make it as personal and urgent as Jonnu Smith does. He’s not promising a title. But he is promising focus. Work ethic. Urgency. And for a team still defining itself in 2025, those traits could end up meaning more than any scheme or formation.

Can a veteran’s hunger spark the fire this young Steelers offense needs to become contenders again?

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