Former Steelers Linebacker Detailed What Renegade Does To A Player Like TJ Watt: "Go Find 90"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of traditions that make them very different from the other franchises across the NFL. Other organizations can try their best to replicate what the Steelers do, but it will never work. Teams all around the NFL try to copy the Terrible Towel, or come up with their own version of it, and it never works and often blows up in their faces. Another tradition that is honored in Pittsburgh is when the song Renegade is played at Acrisure Stadium, which is often followed by a big play from the defense.

Renegade is often played at the start of the fourth quarter or sometime in the second half. The entire stadium shakes which makes life difficult on the visiting offense. Every fan in the stadium expects star outside linebacker TJ Watt to make a play, and more often than not, he does. Former inside linebacker for Pittsburgh, Mykal Walker, recently went on his own podcast, Bring The Juice, where he spoke about what it was like playing with Watt during the 2023 season in Pittsburgh.

"Man, you gotta be there. There's nobody that makes you want to run through a wall like TJ Watt. TJ Watt is the epitome of juice. When they put Renegade on, just go find TJ, the stadium knows, like go find 90. You just know like TJ is going to make a play right here."

Watt typically does step up in big moments for Pittsburgh, and he is a large reason the defense has had as much success as it has since he was drafted back in 2017. Walker was only with the Steelers for a short amount of time, as he now plays for the Washington Commanders. Walker signed with the practice squad in Pittsburgh at about the halfway point of the 2023 season, but he quickly became a starter as injuries began to pick apart the position for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh's linebacker room looked good going into the 2023 season, but it was decimated by injuries. Cole Holcomb suffered a gruesome knee injury against the Tennessee Titans that he is still trying to recover from, and Kwon Alexander tore his Achilles during a win over the Green Bay Packers. 

Walker was activated from the practice squad ahead of Pittsburgh's Week 11 game against the Cleveland Browns, and he wound up starting in the contest due to how limited Pittsburgh was at inside linebacker. He started five of the remaining eight games during the 2023 regular season, and he also started the playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. Walker is likely most remembered for his interception against the New England Patriots, which came in a losing effort. 

The Steelers obviously addressed the linebacker position during the 2024 offseason, and Walker wasn't a part of their future plans. Pittsburgh brought in Patrick Queen and drafted Payton Wilson, and those two along with Elandon Roberts have been one of the best inside linebacker groups in the league. Walker is currently a starter for Washington, but he has been making an impact as a depth piece on defense and on special teams.

Steelers' Justin Fields' First Pregame Experience Was Headlined By TJ Watt

Walker isn't the only one who has noticed the intensity that Watt brings to the game. Quarterback Justin Fields noticed this about Watt as well earlier in the 2024 season. Fields described that listening to Watt speak to the team before a game is like being in a movie, and then of course Watt goes out and dominates the game. The specific instance Fields was talking about was before the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, and Watt wrecked that game for Atlanta's offense. The outside linebacker recorded a sack, but in reality he should have had three had it not been for some questionable penalties.

What do you think about Walker's comments about Watt? Let us know in the comments below!

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