The Pittsburgh Steelers were entangled in a ton of wide receiver talks and rumors for several months. It finally ended when the Steelers traded a fifth-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for wide receiver Mike Williams. This trade wrapped up a long period of speculation, as the Steelers were linked to multiple wideouts after trading away Diontae Johnson. Many fans hope that Williams could be the steady presence needed alongside George Pickens, finally providing some stability to a group in need of help.
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Former Bengals WR Tyler Boyd celebrates during a regular season game against the Ravens.
Throughout the 2024 offseason, Tyler Boyd seemed like a logical choice for Pittsburgh’s receiving corps. A former University of Pittsburgh standout, Boyd’s local ties made him a fan favorite in speculation, and his experience with the Cincinnati Bengals suggested he could bring valuable insight to the AFC North rivalry. However, Boyd’s Cincinnati tenure left a sour note in Pittsburgh, with fans and analysts questioning whether he could ever fully embrace the Steelers’ culture after years of trashing it.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly recently appeared on The Joe Starkey Show to shed some light on Pittsburgh’s decision to pass on Boyd. According to Kaboly, the team never had serious interest in Boyd, as they didn’t see him fitting in with the team. Many wondered if Mike Tomlin didn't want Boyd, but Kaboly believes it was a respected player with some pull who stopped the pursuit of Boyd.
"I don't know about Mike Tomlin, specifically, not liking him because of what he said," Kaboly said. "I just know that the Steelers weren't interested in him. Somebody within the organization, player-wise, pretty much stood up and said, 'Nope, we don't want him here.' It wasn't the coach, it was a player [who], I think, must have had some pull."
Boyd went on to sign a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, a contract the Steelers could have easily afforded. Adding Boyd could have addressed their need for a reliable receiver, yet it’s clear they had no interest in bringing him on board—likely due to his years of divisional rivalry with Pittsburgh. While Boyd’s on-field skills made him a good fit, his history with the Steelers seemed to keep the team from making an offer.
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Former Bengals wide out Tyler Boyd runs with the football in a game versus the Steelers.
Though a Pittsburgh native, Boyd never held back on his feelings about the Steelers, often taking jabs at the team and laughing at their culture in interviews. After joining the Bengals, he even vowed to make life difficult for Pittsburgh, fully embracing the rivalry.
While it’s understandable Boyd would side with the team that drafted him, his comments likely didn’t sit well in Pittsburgh, potentially closing the door on what might have been a productive partnership.
Steelers Didn't Feel The Same Way About Ex-Ravens' Patrick Queen
Kaboly hinted that a respected Steelers player may have influenced the decision to pass on Boyd, although he didn’t name names. It’s worth noting that despite Kaboly’s claim, the Steelers have looked past past rivalries before—signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41 million deal despite his history of fierce competition with Pittsburgh.
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Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen tackles Steelers RB Jaylen Warren.
However, Boyd’s situation highlights just how deep AFC North rivalries can run, as the Steelers seemingly passed on a player who could have helped, purely based on his past words and actions. It's sort of funny that they still paid Queen a ton of money despite their past battles. It just goes to show that there is likely more to the story then the Steelers not wanting him because of comments he has made in the past.
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