"Very Frustrated": Steelers' Playmaker Was Furious In 2025 After Being Ignored

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to roll out a completely different strategy on offense in 2026 with new head coach Mike McCarthy running the show. Following the resignation of Mike Tomlin, the team appears set to be moving toward a different scheme, which will be run by Aaron Rodgers. The unit needs to be a lot more dynamic and consistent, so some fresh ideas should be exactly what the group needs moving forward. The receiving corps has been revamped in a very positive way, so the expectation is for the quarterback to have more options in the passing game.

A lot of attention will focus on the newcomers in Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard, but there are some returning guys that also deserve a little bit of a boost in targets. Roman Wilson might have the opportunity to prove himself with a new coaching staff; however, a top-tier weapon was neglected too often in 2025. Pat Freiermuth gave away plenty of snaps — not voluntarily — to Jonnu Smith, which significantly affected Freiermuth's contributions.

While Darnell Washington is still around, Freiermuth could be much more involved on a week-to-week basis with Smith departing. It would be wise to use him in the middle of the field, as he has proven throughout his career that he can be a big-time threat when given the opportunity. No one would blame him if he was upset with Smith taking the spotlight away in 2025.

Mark Kaboly joined The Fan Morning Show on Monday to discuss all things Steelers with training camp rapidly approaching. The insider didn't hide the fact that the former second-round pick was growing increasingly frustrated as the season went on.

"I think he was obviously getting very frustrated," Kaboly said. "That might have affected his play, then affected his targets."

When asked about why Freiermuth was left out of the game plans so often, the insider pointed to former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, stating that a domino effect occurred as the year progressed.

"I think it was an Arthur Smith thing at first that turned into potentially a Rodgers thing," Kaboly noted. "Once again, if Rodgers doesn't think you're at where you're supposed to be, he's not going to throw you the ball, but Rodgers never said anything negative about him, so that's a very hard read on that one."

Arthur Smith and Jonnu Smith had prior history with one another, and that could explain why Freiermuth wasn't used properly for the majority of the campaign. Kaboly confirmed that everything eventually came to a boiling point.

"I think the frustration caught up to him," Kaboly explained.

With a new scheme and coach on the sideline, the hope is that Freiermuth won't just be used on occasion, but rather, early and often. He is a critical third-down threat and possesses the tools to be an elite tight end.

Freiermuth probably won't see too much action in the preseason, but training camp will be a very pivotal time for him to boost rapport with Rodgers. He also needs to earn the full trust of McCarthy and the coaching staff.

It almost seemed like malpractice in 2025 when Freiermuth wasn't involved nearly enough. He is being paid like a top tight end, so it makes little sense to not use him in the receiving game. His blocking ability isn't elite, so the Steelers need to lean into his talents as a pass-catcher.

Steelers Would Be Making A Big Mistake By Ignoring Freiermuth Again

Third downs and red zone trips often can determine a team's season. Pittsburgh will want to improve in these areas in 2026, so utilizing a dangerous weapon such as Freiermuth can make all the difference. It would be a travesty if he is playing 40% or less of snaps moving forward, especially because he can serve as a perfect security blanket for the 42-year-old signal-caller in Rodgers.

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