Steelers Tight End Pat Freiermuth Admits He's Frustrated With Where The Offense Is Headed

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Houston Texans 30–6 in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, a lopsided loss that once again exposed the gap between Pittsburgh and the AFC’s true contenders. The defeat keeps the Steelers’ playoff drought alive, as the franchise has not won a postseason game since the 2016 season. Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s struggles in these moments are becoming impossible to ignore, with Pittsburgh now losing seven straight playoff games. None of those games have been competitive, which only deepens the frustration throughout the fan base.

One of the most glaring questions coming out of the loss centered on tight end Pat Freiermuth and his puzzling lack of involvement in the offense. When given opportunities, Freiermuth has consistently shown he can be a difference-maker, yet he was not targeted for the first time until late in the second half. He finished the game with just three targets and one catch for 18 yards, a stat line that felt more like a misuse of a key weapon than a reflection of his talent. For many fans, it was another example of an offense that seems disconnected when the stakes are highest.

On Tuesday, while speaking with the Steelers media, Freiermuth added more context to the ongoing issues by sounding off on the chaos in the quarterback room since he was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 2021 NFL Draft. In five seasons, he has now caught passes from a revolving door of starters and has never truly had the chance to build long-term chemistry with a consistent quarterback. While his comments were measured, the message was clear. Stability matters, and the current lack of it is taking a toll on both player development and the direction of the offense.

"I would say that I am disappointed with the lack of opportunities I was given, but at the end of the day, I'm a team player, and I was proud of myself for not making it about myself," Freiermuth said while speaking with the media about his lack of targets in the 2025 season.

When the Steelers went all in to land veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Freiermuth was one of the main players actively trying to recruit Rodgers to the Steel City. He was excited about the opportunity to play with Rodgers and believed it could help elevate his game, but that is not how it played out. 

Freiermuth finished the 2025 season with 486 receiving yards on 41 catches and scored four touchdowns. However, he was targeted only 54 times. In 2023, he was targeted just 47 times, meaning 54 targets marked his second-lowest total in his five seasons.

"It's always about the team and what we can do to win," Freiermuth said. "I feel like I could have been in situations where I could help the team win more. But the longer I'm here, I would like to see myself involved more."

Rodgers spoke publicly about Freiermuth several times throughout the season, often calling his locker buddy the ultimate teammate who never complained. However, maybe he should have complained more. That criticism is not truly fair to Freiermuth, though. 

Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Wants More Stability At QB

It is hard to thrive when you are constantly adjusting to new quarterbacks. In just five seasons, he has played with Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields.

His recent comments about wanting stability at the position echo a broader sentiment that the fan base has been voicing for years. Something has to change. Now the Steelers must finally figure out their quarterback plan for the 2026 season.

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