Steelers rookie TE Pat Freiermuth continues to grow following two-touchdown game

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have found their next star tight end. 

Pat Freiermuth, a rookie out of Penn State, had a breakout game on Monday in a 29-27 victory over the Chicago Bears. He finished with five catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came from a starting position in the red zone. It was his first two-touchdown game of his young professional career, and fans can likely expect more given his success by the goal line.

Unsurprisingly, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had complimentary things to say about the former second-round pick after the game.

“I don’t think that any of us are surprised by what he did tonight,” Tomlin said. “Those that watch us day-to-day, those that watch him day-to-day, he’s a good combat catch guy. 

“He delivers in those moments. And it’s just good to watch him develop and write his story in that way.”

Freiermuth leads the team in receiving touchdowns with four, and he is tied with rookie running back Najee Harris for the most touchdowns on the team. Since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has just 10 touchdown passes this season, Freiermuth is accounting for nearly half of the team’s passing scores. 

After 10 weeks, Freiermuth is PFF’s highest-graded rookie at his position in the NFL.

Meeting of ‘Heath’ and ‘Muth’

The Steelers have a history of standout tight ends. Heath Miller, who spent the duration of his career in Pittsburgh, caught 592 passes for 6,569 yards and 45 touchdowns from 2005-2015 for the Steelers.

Freiermuth was the first Steelers tight end to have two touchdown catches in a game since Miller.

Obviously, Freiermuth has a long way to go to achieve Miller’s status, but the rookie is off to a great start and even receives similar treatment from the Pittsburgh faithful. After over a decade of “Health” chants when Miller caught a pass, Steelers fans now chant “Muth” when the rookie notches a reception.

After Monday night’s game, Freiermuth had the chance to meet the former Pittsburgh great for the first time. 

Pat Freiermuth and Heath Miller have a pregame chat. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/y3cPspDwjF

— Ryan Recker (@RyanRecker) November 8, 2021

“He just said play my game,” Freiermuth told reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala after the game. “That I’m killing it so far. I’m going to have to use him as a resource and continue with this long season. It’s a grind. He said to continue [taking care of] your body and stuff like that. And keep making plays. It’s great to finally meet him.”