Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott reveals the secret advantage that having training camp in Latrobe gives the team

Thursday marks the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp practice in Latrobe. The next three weeks will undoubtedly be the most challenging of the year for the players.But if you listen to Steelers safety DeShon Elliott, that hardship will end up being a major advantage… DeShon Elliott reveals why Steelers camp is so valuable "But […]

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer

Jul 24, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

Thursday marks the first day of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp practice in Latrobe. 

The next three weeks will undoubtedly be the most challenging of the year for the players.

But if you listen to Steelers safety DeShon Elliott, that hardship will end up being a major advantage…

DeShon Elliott reveals why Steelers camp is so valuable

"But like doing this [going to Latrobe], honestly, it makes you appreciate your life a little bit more," said Elliott via the Steelers YouTube channel. "I'm not going to lie to you. It makes you appreciate life a little bit more. And also, you get to know your teammates a lot more, because you spend so much more time with them, like you are down the hall from some guys, or you might be outside after practice, playing Connect Four or Uno or whatever games we have for hours on hand for curfew . . .

". . . So I think, I think it's pretty cool. I think that it's not for the weak. And this is why Mike T (Coach Tomlin) does it, because this is not something that's for the weak; it's for strong-minded individuals. He wants guys who can withstand the toughest of toughest situations like that. That's what it means to be a Steeler. Somebody (who) can overcome. This city has overcome multiple things for the longest time. So I'm excited to get back to Latrobe man. The history they have, and us being able to be in front of those fans…Getting cool again."

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I think the coolest part about that quote is that those words didn't come from T.J. Watt or Mike Tomlin or Cam Heyward. They came from DeShon Elliott, who probably didn't even know where Latrobe was on a map this time a year ago. 

It came from a second-year player in Pittsburgh. A player who, after one year signed an extension this offseason with the Steelers because of not only how well he played, but how much he loves the Steelers. 

The hardness that is camp in Latrobe, whether it be 2:00 pm practices, being away from family, living in dorm rooms older than any coach on the staff for weeks, or any other factor you can think of, all of that will pay off in 2025. 

Because while the Steelers haven't had the most success in terms of Super Bowls lately, they are still a cut above when it comes to toughness and mental discipline. 

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Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt was in the news a lot late last week and into the weekend.  A good portion of that was due to his record deal, which he signed a week before the first practice was scheduled in Pittsburgh.  It just so happened to coincide with PFF releasing their top 50 NFL […]