The Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing football since the NFL began in 1933. The first 39 years of their existence it was a well-concealed fact from the rest of the country. That all changed in 1972 when the Steelers won their first AFC Central title and Franco Harris scored on the Immaculate Reception. The Steelers were on their way to dominating football, the AFC Central and the spinoff AFC North for the next several decades.
Photo credit: Steelers.com
Franco Harris rumbling his way to the game winning score.
The Steelers’ biggest rivals currently are the Baltimore Ravens, but the Cincinnati Bengals are close behind. The issues between them are well documented and go back decades. The rivalry went to a new level when Vontaze Burfict entered the fray. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase elevated it again when they torched the Steelers twice in 2021 on the way to the Super Bowl and infuriated Minkah Fitzpatrick to the point that he became a one-man wrecking crew in the season-opening victory last season.
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LSU DT Breiden Fehoko
The Steelers added another wrinkle this offseason by bringing in Burrow and Chase’s former teammate at LSU Breiden Fehoko to compete for the nose tackle position in the middle of the Steelers’ 3-4 defense. Fehoko was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers and played the last three seasons there before becoming a free agent this offseason.
The former National Champion from the LSU Tigers is excited to play against the Bengals' dynamic duo this season. He joined the Steel Here podcast with Kevin Adams and Jersey Jerry to discuss what it might be like to face Burrow and Chase, and who he was most interested in getting his hands on when they do square off.
“Joe,” Fehoko paused and shifted gears. “I’m really looking for Ja’Marr on a smoke screen. I know Cincy loves to get it to Ja’Marr. Ja’Marr talks a lot of (expletives for trash). Excuse my language. Since his early days at LSU, Ja’Marr came in as a freshman and he is New Orleans. Them boys from New Orleans, they are going to talk. Even if they lose a rep they are still going to talk.”
Steel Here Podcast
Steelers' Breiden Fehoko joins the Steel Here Podcast.
Fehoko, Burrow and Chase were teammates in Baton Rouge, LA at LSU and New Orleans is the main pipeline to the university. They enjoyed unprecedented success during their college years and that group enjoyed itself immensely. The group had a unique swagger that was refreshing to some and irked more traditionalist observers of the college game. Trash talk was a way of life for the LSU Tigers and Burrow and Chase have not shied away from it at the NFL level. Fehoko proved he was no slouch himself.
“Those two are my dudes,” Fehoko smiled. “Not anymore though on the field. You know AFC rivals now, I’m excited. You know I am 1-0 against Joe in the league. We put a whooping on them when I was in LA when we played in Cincy two years ago. I’m excited to keep that tradition going.”
Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick races to the endzone for a pick-six in the Week 1 victory over the Bengals.
Steelers' Intense Rivalry With The Cincinnati Bengals Stirs Strong Feelings From Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Steelers are 2-4 in their last six games against the Bengals, and they have not been shy about reminding the team and the fan base. Cincinnati even accused Pittsburgh of quitting against them in 2021 during Ben Roethlisberger’s final season. That outburst still does not sit well with the leaders of the black and gold and if Fehoko gives them a psychological edge it is a benefit beyond his run-stuffing ability on the field.
Since they joined the AFC North together 21 years ago, the Steelers have nine division titles to the Bengals' six. The division foes will square off twice again this season and with Kenny Pickett settled in as the starter and defense looking to punish the Bengals’ offensive superstars, it should make for must-see television. Hopefully, Fehoko can stay undefeated against Burrow and the Steelers can have the last laugh in 2023.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Are you happy to hear Fehoko giving it back to the Bengals? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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