At Steelers Depot, we have a daily segment dedicated to bite-sized stories about the Pittsburgh Steelers that might not warrant a full article but are too interesting not to share.
Here’s what your “Depot After Dark” looks like for February 22.
### RUSSELL WILSON GEARS UP AGAIN
The end of the 2024 season was anything but sweet for the Steelers, and Russell Wilson wasn’t faring much better. The team dropped five games consecutively, struggled to put up more than 17 points in any of them, and was haunted by turnovers. This rocky finish has left the Steelers heading into another offseason with a big question mark at the quarterback position. It raises whispers about Wilson possibly leaving after just one season.
But as of now, he’s all about getting back into the groove. Wilson recently shared a workout video from his home in California, showing off his dedication during individual drills. It’s worth checking out if you haven’t seen it yet.
Despite the uncertainty, Wilson has repeatedly mentioned having discussions with the Steelers. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who spoke with Wilson, the seasoned quarterback believes there’s a real shot at returning to Pittsburgh for 2025 and beyond. We’ll see how it plays out as he approaches free agency on March 12, when the league’s new year kicks off. For now, his focus remains squarely on the grind.
### MATTHEW STAFFORD: A PERFECT MATCH FOR THE STEELERS?
Big news hit the NFL rumor mill when Tom Pelissero of NFL Network Insider reported that the Los Angeles Rams have allowed their star quarterback, Matthew Stafford, to explore options with other teams. Stafford, the former No. 1 overall draft pick and Super Bowl champ, is lighting up trade talks.
Steve Palazzolo from the 33rd Team tossed the Steelers into the conversation, suggesting they’re the ideal fit for Stafford and vice versa. In a tweet on February 22, Palazzolo made his case that the Steelers are the most quarterback-ready team for Stafford to land with.
Last season, Stafford threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions over 16 games, missing just the regular-season finale. The Rams had a mixed playoff run, triumphing over the Minnesota Vikings before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles. In those two playoff encounters, Stafford connected on 63.4% of his passes, accumulating 533 yards and four touchdowns.
The Steelers, after a stint with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson in 2024, ended at 10-7 and faced a Wild Card round defeat against their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Although Stafford’s name is buzzing, acquiring him might come with the price of a first-round pick.
### RICHARD SEYMOUR: A LEGEND WITH A CONTROVERSIAL PAST
Back in the 2010 season, during a game where the Steelers thumped the Oakland Raiders 35-3 at Heinz Field, Richard Seymour delivered an open-hand punch to Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger. This wasn’t just any action; it led to his ejection and a hefty $25,000 fine. Seymour, known for his New England Patriots days, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Recently appearing on “The Pivot Podcast,” Seymour shared his experiences of receiving hate mail following his altercation with Roethlisberger. “I’d get a lot of fan mail about Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh when I was with Oakland,” Seymour humorously recalled via the podcast’s video on YouTube.
It’s no shocker that Seymour was on the receiving end of hate mail, given his infamous reputation during his Patriots era and the punch altercation, which stirred emotions. Hopefully, the hate mail didn’t cross any serious lines—after all, this is just sports. Nevertheless, that punch certainly made an impression on Steelers fans.
