Former Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Reveals How One Huge Hit Changed Everything In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the headlines a lot over the last couple of months. Whether it was the hiring of new head coach Mike McCarthy, or the multiple acquisitions made that have been highly praised across the league to fill out their roster ahead of the upcoming season, the offseason has been nothing short of hectic. 

Outside of the exciting news happening on the current roster, one former Pittsburgh wide receiver provided some detail recently on a play that is widely remembered in team history. JuJu Smith-Schuster made an appearance on The Snap Count podcast on Tuesday with former offensive lineman Trai Essex. He recalled the timeframe after his explosive hit on former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

The hit on Burfict was one that was loved in Pittsburgh, especially after he put some questionable hits himself on players over the years. Smith-Schuster's comments backed that, as he talked about the widespread recognition the city gave to him in the time shortly after his big block. Smith-Schuster, who is now with the Kansas City Chiefs, really enjoyed the after effects of what occurred, especially because of how he mentioned he had always played the game.

"That right there changed my whole career," Smith-Schuster said. "I remember that whole week everything was free, like drinks, food. I was a physical player already and I just enjoy doing the dirty work and I guess it was just part of my game and it kind of just led into that."

The hit Smith-Schuster put on Burfict was not intended to be vicious. However, that block and how he was positioned, turned out to be one of those signature moments during his tenure with the Black and Gold. Pittsburgh currently has two, big, physical receivers following an offseason acquisition similar to Smith-Schuster.

The team brought in Michael Pittman Jr. via trade to help out alongside DK Metcalf in the wide receiver room. While we may not see Burfict-type hits delivered by Pittman or Metcalf, they have that similar style to Smith-Schuster. It is believed those teams Smith-Schuster was a part of in the Steel City came up short given their ceiling and potential, but he had some great playing days alongside wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell.

Steelers Have A Chance To Rewrite History With Improved Offense

The Steelers' offense during Smith-Schuster's days was a juggernaut. Him and Brown, backed by Bell in the backfield, had the ability to go off and put up massive numbers on any given Sunday. Oftentimes, that was the case, and the group had a ton of offensive production and success during their time together in Pittsburgh. However, some drama with Brown and Bell caused the explosive trio to fizzle out and eventually disband as they parted ways with the organization.

Pittsburgh now has a chance to rewrite history and accomplish a ton of success with their new-look wide receiver room under McCarthy. While Metcalf struggled in his first year with the Black and Gold relative to past seasons in his career, Pittman alongside him gives the team a great chance to impress in 2026. While it may not have the same feel as it did in the days of Smith-Schuster and Brown, Pittman and Metcalf could find their own way to etch their name in franchise lore.

With the consensus mostly being that the organization has had the best offseason in the NFL thus far, they have the chance to turn some heads in McCarthy's inaugural season in the Steel City as head coach. Given that the team was 25th overall in total offense with 305.6 yards per game in 2025, the addition of Pittman should help to take some attention off of Metcalf and improve their offensive output compared to last year. While they may not have that iconic moment that Smith-Schuster discussed, they still do have the chance to make the Steelers extremely successful. 

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