Family ties helped in Steelers biggest free-agent signing
A good omen from a close friend.
Pittsburgh made waves this week when it came to the signing of future Hall of Fame corner Patrick Peterson.
The veteran will be dawning black and gold for the next two years, as he looks to retire a Steeler.
As it turns out, there seems to be a connection here with one former Steeler putting in a good word and maybe even persuading Peterson to sign.
During his introductory press conference, Peterson was asked about his ties to Steelers fan favorite Bryan McFadden.
A former defensive back for Pittsburgh himself, McFadden is a cousin of Peterson's with the two of them even co-hosting their own podcast.
Perhaps this has been in the works for some time, but Peterson addressed it formally.
"What did Bryant tell you about the Steelers and how much did that play into your decision?"
"Just telling me how loyal the fans, the organization, the Rooney family are. Just how the passion that this city has for not only the Pittsburgh Steelers, but for sports in general. For me, being a defensive player, when you have the fans making it hard for opposing teams, even on the road because I can remember the Cardinals fans and seeing a bunch of Terrible Towels taking over that stadium. So being defensive player and going on the road and seeing your fans do that, it makes you want to play that much harder and makes you want to bring that W home that much more. It is quite an honor to finally be a part of this organization, this rich tradition that this organization has. Very, very blessed, and Bryant told me that this fan base is like no other, so I'm excited to be a part of it."
There is also a clear connection between Peterson and Mike Tomlin, with the coaching legend seemingly playing a pivotal role in his acquisition.
"What is your relationship like with Mike Tomlin? You said something almost happened last year, but just how well do you know him and how much was that a factor in deciding to come here?"
"With Coach Tomlin having an opportunity to coach my cousin, Bryant McFadden, I had an opportunity to cross paths with him numerous times before I got to college, and obviously, coming out of LSU and getting prepared for the Draft, having communication throughout that process. Just watching him from afar, anytime we played him, it was just always a great deal of respect between us. When you see his coaching style, how much his players talk about him, his sayings, you just want to be a part of something like that. When you have an opportunity, you don't want to waste that opportunity. On the second go round, I feel like I definitely have a lot left in the tank. I can provide a lot to whatever team I was going to land on, but I felt like this was the best fit for me, just because of what Coach can do for my career as a DB."
Networking matters in every organization, and the NFL is proving no different.
