Former Steelers Player Tells Fascinating Story Of Having His Roster Spot Threatened By Ben Roethlisberger And Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a loyal organization, and it is one of the most respected franchises in the history of sports. That is due to the consistent success it has seen, as well as the long list of talented players. The franchise has also accomplished an incredible feat as it has only had three head coaches since the hiring of Chuck Noll back in 1969, with Mike Tomlin continuing that tradition as he is the midst of coaching his 19th season. Tomlin has been praised for being a player's coach, as he's built strong relationships with his players throughout his career in Pittsburgh.

One player Tomlin had a strong relationship with was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, as the two won a Super Bowl together and Roethlisberger was his starting quarterback all the way through the 2021 season. The two were close, and he was with Tomlin longer than any other player, although Cam Heyward could surpass that mark. Former Pittsburgh punter Brad Wing was on a recent episode of The Raw Room, where he was asked about his time in Pittsburgh. He specifically spoke about Roethlisberger, and how the quarterback used to act towards younger players.

"Coach Tomlin kind of liked that I stood up for myself in situations," Wing said. "Ben liked to play, you know some jokes on some younger guys, kind of just assert dominance. I never really went for none of that."

Wing was with Pittsburgh during the 2014 season, and he stated during this interview that it is one of the things he is most proud of regarding his career. He takes pride in the fact that he was a Steeler and got to play under Tomlin. 2014 was his first season on an active roster, and he would not stand for any disrespect from Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger was the established quarterback in Pittsburgh and he was one of the best in the league. He had won two Super Bowls and been to three, he could pretty much do anything he wanted. The organization respected his opinion and voice, which is something Tomlin had to warn Wing about.

"He didn't like me too much," Wing said of Roethlisberger. "I got a mouth on me bro, and I don't give a f*ck who you are. Mike Tomlin told me, 'Hey, you got to chill out with Ben.' He said, 'He has the power to get you cut.'"

It shouldn't be too surprising that the franchise quarterback of the Steelers who had brought two Lombardi Trophies to the franchise would have the power to get rid of a punter who had just signed with the team during the summer, but it is a bit surprising that Tomlin would make something like that known. Wing suspected Tomlin liked him, and he was essentially giving him a warning in an attempt to keep him around.

Steelers Reunited With Brad Wing Nearly A Decade Later

Pittsburgh traded Wing to the New York Giants near the start of the 2015 season and received a seventh-round pick in exchange for the punter. Wing spent three seasons with the Giants before being released during the 2018 offseason. He never really was able to revive his NFL career, and he has taken part in several different spring football leagues. He is currently a member of the San Antonio Brahmas, where he made the All-UFL team. 

The one time Wing returned to the NFL came in 2023, when he was signed by the Steelers after Pressley Harvin went down with an injury. He played two games for Pittsburgh during that season, and he punted fairly well. Once Harvin was healed, the organization returned to him as the starting punter, which was the last Wing saw of the league. The punter was also upset he didn't receive a call from the organization before it signed Corliss Waitman in 2024.

What do you think about this story from Wing? Let us know in the comments below!

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