The 2021 NFL Draft saw the Pittsburgh Steelers select some fan favorites. Running back Najee Harris, taken in the first round, and tight end Pat Freiermuth, taken in the second round, have since become many people’s favorite players on the team. Today, Freiermuth discussed the lead up to the NFL Draft and how, despite not talking to the Steelers much in the pre-draft process, he really enjoyed his one interview with them.
Freiermuth told Steeler.com’s Teresa Varley that he did not believe the Steelers were very interested in him.
“I didn’t interview with Pittsburgh that much for the draft process,” Freiermuth said in a Steelers.com article. “I only talked to them once. It was (Matt) Canada, Alfredo (Roberts), Coach T(omlin) and Kevin (Colbert). My agent said they’re interested, but I didn’t really believe it.”
The 2021 NFL Draft coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic so the whole process was different. It is possible that due to the restrictions in place at the time the Steelers interviewed Freiermuth was enough to convince them he was a fit for the team.
Freiermuth said the interview went really well and that he met with the almost everyone he would have needed to. However, because it was held on Zoom he found it a little hard to concentrate.
“It felt different than every interview I had because it was more laid back and it was more getting to know each other. I feel like that’s what the Steelers are like,” he said. “It was weird doing it on [Zoom]. It’s kind of hard to stay focused because if Matt asked me a question, or if Alfredo asked me a question, I was seeing the room and seeing what other people’s reactions were. It’s very easy to get distracted, but it was a good interview versus some of the others I did.”
Zoom meetings are notoriously difficult to concentrate in, but it seems that Freiermuth blew Pittsburgh away to the point that it didn’t need to see any more before drafting the Penn State product in the second round.
Many draft prospects have said how they enjoy spending time with head coach Mike Tomlin in the NFL Draft process; Freiermuth clearly was no exception. Unlike most prospects, though, Freiermuth was drafted by Pittsburgh and now gets to play under Tomlin.
Since being drafted, Freiermuth has excelled and won the hearts of the fan base. After every one of his 123 career receptions you could hear Steelers fans scream “MUUUUUTHHH” at the top of their lungs. His friendship with fellow tight end Zach Gentry and their YouTube show for the Steelers called ‘Grillin’ N’ Chillin” has also been very well received by the fan base.
A really good tight end, Freiermuth is working on filling the gaping hole at tight end that Heath Miller left when he retired after the 2015 season. And it all started on a Zoom meeting back in 2021.
