The Pittsburgh Steelers have always had a “no risk-it, no biscuit” – to quote their former offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians – approach to drafting wide receivers.
Pittsburgh Steelers Are Known For Drafting Temperamental Receivers
![Former Pittsburgh Steelers 4 x All-Pro Receiver Reveals The Stunning Way He Finally Became A Starter, And Why He Owes His Career To One Particular Player 1 USATSI 21809542 168400517 lowres](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_21809542_168400517_lowres-215x300.jpg)
Recent selections, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, have both paid dividends for the 6 x Super Bowl-winning franchise, but no one quite encompasses the risk-reward wideout factor than 4 x 1st Team All Pro Selection and Super Bowl LV champion, Antonio Brown.
Brown registered 9 years for the Pittsburgh Steelers, during 7 of which he was voted to the Pro Bowl, including 6 years straight from 2013-2018 where he recorded 6 x back to back 1,250 + seasons.
In fact. were it not for his request for a trade that eventually landed him with the (then Oakland) Raiders, he may well have overtaken Steelers legend Hines ward for the most receiving yards in Pittsburgh franchise history, as he trailed Ward by a sole 876 yards going into the 2019 season.
Antonio Brown Has Made Quite The Shift In His Post NFL Life
![Former Pittsburgh Steelers 4 x All-Pro Receiver Reveals The Stunning Way He Finally Became A Starter, And Why He Owes His Career To One Particular Player 2 USATSI 11779877 168400517 lowres](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/USATSI_11779877_168400517_lowres-300x186.jpg)
Since then, Brown has won a Super Bowl with pal Tom Brady for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and started the web page CTESPN, as a sardonic counter to many news outlets depicting Brown as an example of an ex-NFL player with CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), due to his erratic behaviour.
Now, Brown seems to be taking a break from some more…interesting tweeting on X (feel free to peruse his account here), to give some surprising insights into how he first got shot with the first team back in his Pittsburgh days, per JPA Football, via the Pivot Podcast.
AB says Big Ben is the reason why he started for the Steelers, via @thepivot
“Ben Roethlisberger the only reason I even started starting for the Steelers. Literally he had to go tell Bruce Arians like yo I need AB at the X.“
(h/t: @matthewluciow92)
pic.twitter.com/XZiekHxgbT— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) June 19, 2024
Ben Roethlisberger Insisted That Antonio Brown Be Put In With The First Team
![Former Pittsburgh Steelers 4 x All-Pro Receiver Reveals The Stunning Way He Finally Became A Starter, And Why He Owes His Career To One Particular Player 3 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/USATSI_17539019_168400517_lowres-300x199.jpg)
Given the animosity that eventually began to fester between Antonio Brown and his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, this seems somewhat surprising that it was Roethlisberger himself who went out to bat for Brown.
Almost more surprising is that Bruce Arians, the Steelers’ head coach in 2011, and long-time renowned offensive guru, had to be almost forced to put in a player who became arguably the best wideout in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ illusive 91 year history.
In saying that, it definitely reflects well on both Big Ben for spotting Brown and Arians for trusting his franchise QB enough to insert him in – and it clearly paid off handsomely.
Whether that is the last nice (ish) thing that AB says about his former 9 year teammate remains to be seen, but it does seem that perhaps they should bury the hatchett, especially as in some ways, Brown owes much of his career success to Roethlisberger.
For Additional Content
Hello there. If you enjoyed this article (or, really, even if you didn’t). Please go and follow me on Twitter @danielarwas for more NFL breaking news, updates, and “special edition” previews.
Our Partners
Mayfield Sports Marketing
Call Mayfield Sports Marketing at 262-366-8188 to schedule Green Bay Packers players or alumni for your corporate appearance or product promotion. Our booking agents will work on your behalf to get you the best price for your desired sports speaker. Mayfield Sports Marketing has earned a reputation of being the one to call for booking top athletes to speak at events and trade shows. To learn more about Packers players or alumni appearance costs and booking fees, please call us today. www.MayfieldSports.com.
Radtke Sports
Wisconsin Sports Heroics is proud to partner with Radtke Sports to offer autographed memorabilia. Brett Favre, Rob Gronkowski, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and MORE Guaranteed Authentic Collectibles and Memorabilia, including signed jerseys, photos, and more at www.RadtkeSports.com USE promo code: WSH for FREE SHIPPING on your purchase. Some restrictions may apply
1 Comment
Good article but you might want to check your information…. Because Bruce Arian’s has never been a head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the offensive coordinator.