The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced a semi-rookie breakout when they drafted tight end Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Freiermuth got the opportunity to team up with legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, which was a great introduction to the NFL for him. He finished his rookie season with 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games during the 2021 campaign.
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Steelers' Pat Freiermuth catches a pass during the 2026 offseason in Pittsburgh.
Unfortunately for Freiermuth, things did not get much better after that rookie season when it came to how often he was targeted and involved in the offense. Over the next few seasons, Freiermuth dealt with an inexperienced quarterback, struggles with veteran quarterbacks, and eventually Aaron Rodgers. The hope was that Rodgers would be able to fully unlock Freiermuth and help him return to the level of production he showed during his rookie season.
Somehow, during the 2025 season, the Steelers' former staff under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and former head coach Mike Tomlin failed to use Freiermuth the way he was supposed to be used in an offense that was desperate for additional playmakers. In 2025, he recorded just 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns, a significant difference from what many expected heading into the season.
Now, it appears there may be an explanation for Freiermuth’s disappointing usage. Steelers insider Nick Farabaugh revealed the answer while speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Friday.
"Oh, it's not even a question, absolutely [this last staff misused Pat Freiermuth]," Farabaugh said. "I don't really understand why they did. What did Jonnu Smith do better than him last year as a blocker or a receiver? Maybe he's a little better after the catch, but I'm not sure that's even true. Freiermuth is pretty underrated in that area. I don't think it was a Rodgers thing. I think it was just Arthur Smith preferring Jonnu Smith to Pat Freiermuth."
The Steelers’ tight end room was expected to be among the best in the NFL heading into that 2025 season.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for the Steelers during minicamp in 2026.
The room featured Jonnu Smith, Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington. While Washington had a tremendous 2025 season, no one else in the group was able to match those expectations, and those shortcomings point directly at the former coaching staff.
"That is what my feeling was coming out of that 2025 season," Farabaugh explained. "After talking with people after the season, it seems that Arthur Smith just preferred Jonnu Smith. He thought he was a better flex tight end that could work out wide... Freiermuth catches everything. He's a great route runner. He's an underrated blocker. I think he's become an average blocker. He's a really solid player... That was an Arthur Smith thing, and I think Mike McCarthy will look to correct that. I think that's going to be one of the big things. He's a prototypical Mike McCarthy tight end through and through. Look at the guys he had in Dallas: Jake Ferguson and Dalton Schultz. Freiermuth is very, very similar to those guys and busting the seam. He's going to catch tons of those seam balls. That's going to be very important for him. And he's going to be a red zone weapon I think for them also. I think they get back to using Pat Freiermuth like they should this year."
Steelers Should Shift Blame Right Back At Tomlin
Even though Tomlin was not directly mentioned by name, the blame does not stop with Smith. Tomlin was the head coach who hired Smith as his offensive coordinator, and after 19 seasons as an NFL head coach, he should have recognized when one of his key offensive weapons was being underutilized.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
While Smith may receive the criticism for his preference and play-calling, Tomlin deserves a significant portion of the blame for allowing Freiermuth’s usage to decline throughout the final stretch of his coaching tenure in Pittsburgh. As the leader of the team, it was ultimately his responsibility to make sure Freiermuth was being put in the best position to succeed.
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