Steelers rookie outside linebacker Jack Sawyer admits that he's been groomed to follow in the footsteps of Pittsburgh legends
The Pittsburgh Steelers approached the 2025 NFL Draft with a very clear strategy. To bring back physicality on both sides of the ball. Jack Sawyer was a part of that process for the Steelers, and it turns out he's been preparing for his upcoming role his whole life…. Jack Sawyer aims to follow in the […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers approached the 2025 NFL Draft with a very clear strategy.
To bring back physicality on both sides of the ball.
Jack Sawyer was a part of that process for the Steelers, and it turns out he's been preparing for his upcoming role his whole life….
Jack Sawyer aims to follow in the physical footspets of Steelers greats
"I mean, you think of the Steelers, you think of the defense, Jack Ham, Mean Joe Green, all the guys that you know came and just been great, hard nosed, gritty, tough football players," Sawyer told Big Ben on his most recent podcast episode. "Put on the Black and Gold and for me, that's like, who I tried to be growing up. My dad tried to instill being tough, gritty, and nosed. Play the game physical. So for me, being able to come into this place and really just exactly where I wanted to be, the town, the city, [I] kind of wanted to be in, tough blue, blue collar, hard working people….
"…Like you said, you know, [We] got T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. And I'm super excited to get in there and learn from those guys and go to work every day with them. I couldn't be more fired up. And obviously, big Cam Heyward. Excited to get to work with all these guys and you know hopefully go win a couple championships."
The level of physocality and grit that Sawyer speaks of isn't all talk. You turn on his college tape and you see a player who practices what he preaches. Sure, he's a high motor, lunch pail, try hard guy, but he's no slouch in the run game and he can use his power to overwhelm pass protectors.
Sawyer is a carbon copy of a Steelers EDGE. The epitome, of what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steelers defender. As Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin often say around the time of the draft, you just know what guys have Steelers DNA.
There's no rhyme or reason to it, no surefire rubric or specificity, it just emanates from their playstyle and personality.
It just so happens that Sawyer has been waiting his whole life to show it off in Pittsburgh.
