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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/jdpatric on 2025-08-01 13:28:12+00:00.
Alrighty yinz – buckle up, toss a pickle from a Primanti Bros sandwich over your left shoulder for good luck, consult with your peyote dealer/shaman and get ready; we’re 34-days away from watching the Cowboys & Eagles duke it out in a game that only a mother could love. But…two short days later most of the rest of us will be basking in football glory or searching for something soft to throw at the screen that won’t result in busted LED’s. IT’S FOOTBALL TIME!
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens – (12-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers – (10-7)
Cincinnati Bengals – (9-8)
Cleveland Browns – (3-14)
Coaching/Staff Changes
The top of things stays largely the same. Long-time coach Mike Tomlin has been assured that his position is not in jeopardy in any way, shape, or form. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin are back for another go-around. Danny Smith, everybody’s favorite gum-chewing Special Teams Coordinator is also back.
The offensive coaching staff is identical to the 2024 staff with the exception of former Senior Offensive Assistant Mike Sullivan who vacated his position after the 2024 season with no apparent replacement.
The Defensive coaching staff remains mostly intact from the 2024 season, however, a few changes in the LB/DB/Secondary coaches have taken place:
| Position | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Inside LB Coach | Aaron Curry | Scott McCurley |
| Secondary | Grady Brown | N/A |
Note – no replacement has yet been assigned for Grady Brown who is now the cornerbacks coach with the Saints.
Player changes
There has definitely been some turn-around this offseason. Certainly this is the most active I recall the team being in recent years. Even into the 1990’s. Ironically, the biggest new addition to the team feels somewhat hollow given how the 2024 season played out with a younger former Super Bowl champ at the helm.
Outgoing
| Position | Player | 2025 Team |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Russel Wilson | Giants |
| QB | Justin Fields | Jets |
| QB | Kyle Allen | Lions |
| RB | Najee Harris | Chargers |
| WR | Van Jefferson | Titans |
| WR | George Pickens | Cowboys |
| WR | Mike Williams | Chargers |
| T | Dan Moore Jr. | Titans |
| DT | Montravius Adams | No Team |
| DT | Larry Ogunjobi | Bills |
| ILB | Elandon Roberts | Raiders |
| DE | Preston Smith | No Team |
| FS | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Dolphins |
| CB | Donte Jackson | Chargers |
| CB | Damontae Kazee | Browns |
| G | Nate Herbig | Commanders |
| DB | Ryan Watts | Retired |
| RB | Cordarrelle Patterson | Released |
WOW that’s a list. Big names; Wilson, Fields, Harris, Pickens, and, most recently, Minkah. Sidenote – I just realized today that Elandon Roberts was on the Patriots for 28-3.
Minkah will be greatly missed. He has had a massive impact on the team in the years since his trade from Miami. Minkah is largely responsible for keeping the Steelers relevant from bottom-dwelling in 2019. Minkah tallied 18 interceptions and 3 TD’s with the team combined with 4 fumble recoveries and 1 scoop & score.
Wilson/Fields, while big names, didn’t exactly leave a lasting impression, although I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see how things would’ve played out with Fields driving the bus for 2025. Wilson fell off hard after the team made it to 10-3, but the whole team slipped into a sump at that point. Fields started the year off strong with a 4-2 record before being replaced by the, now healthy, Russel Wilson.
Harris was an enigma. When he chose to run north-south he would absolutely punish those in front of him. At least half of the time it was Dan Moore or Zach Frazier because he ran directly into their numbers, but man he hit them hard. Harris liked to fancy himself a Le’Veon Bell-style runner. Problem is (was?) that we didn’t have a Bell-Style line to open gaps for him, so while he was being patient, our O-line was getting flattened and that non-existent gap became “tackled for a loss.” Long story short; I’m not shocked to see Harris go.
Pickens was also an oddity. He could make the most stupid crazy contested catches. Pickens had one of the most bizarre incompletions in recent memory where he managed to get two feet down inbounds, except they were both the same foot. The athleticism is there. The skill is there. But AB is also there. Somewhere. Inside his brain? Sitting on his left shoulder opposite Hines Ward? Pickens, while one of my favorite players since his addition, can be a bit chaotic and could really use someone to manage his social media. This is why I don’t drink and text. The last time I did that I ended up agreeing to sign up for a 50-mile footrace in the mountains Georgia. It hurt.
Patterson would have been 34-years old for this season and only had 135-yards for the team in 2024. An interesting back with a very niche role, but never terribly impactful on the team. His release, in late July, doesn’t exactly come as a surprise.
Not many other “big names” on the list. Williams did almost nothing with the team, because they flatly refused to use him. Ryan Watts has had to medically retire due to a neck injury, although he is exploring second opinions and alternatives.
Incoming
| Position | Player | 2024 Team | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Aaron Rodgers | Jets | 1-yr, 10-million |
| QB | Mason Rudolph | Titans | 2-yr, 7.5-million |
| QB | Will Howard | Ohio State | 4-yr, 4.448-million |
| QB | Skylar Thompson | Miami | Future/Reserve |
| RB | Kenneth Gainwell | Eagles | 1-yr, 1.79-million |
| RB | Evan Hull | Colts | Future/Reserve |
| RB | Kaleb Johnson | Iowa | 4-yr, 6.4-million |
| RB | DJ Thomas-Jones | South Alabama | 3-yr, 2.995-million |
| RB | Trey Sermon | Colts | 1-yr, 1.17-million |
| WR | Montana Lemonious-Craig | University of Arizona | 3-yr, 2.995-million |
| WR | DK Metcalf | Seattle | 4-yr, 132-million |
| WR | Roc Taylor | Memphis | 3-yr, 2.995-million |
| WR | Robert Woods | Texans | 1-yr, 2-million |
| TE | Jonnu Smith | Miami | 1-yr, 12-million |
| G | Nick Broeker | Texans | 1-yr, 1.03-million |
| DT | Domenique Davis | Bengals | 1-yr, 840k |
| DL | Daniel Ekuale | Patriots | 1-yr, 2.8-million |
| DT | Derrick Harmon | Oregon | 4-yr, 18-million |
| DT | Esezi Otomewo | Jaguars | 1-yr, 1.03-million |
| ILB | Carson Bruener | Washington (college) | 4-yr, 4.2-million |
| OLB | Malik Harrison | Ravens | 2-yr, 10-million |
| OLB | Jack Sawyer | Ohio State | 4-yr, 5.15-million |
| SS | Sebastian Castro | Iowa | 3-yr, 2.99-million |
| CB | Brandon Echols | Jets | … |
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