The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
DE LANO HULL FROM LOS ANGELES, CA: We all knew of and loved the exploits of our vaunted "Steel Curtain" defense. What were their rankings in total defense from 1970-80?
ANSWER: Before getting to your question, a point of clarification. While the nickname "Steel Curtain" came to refer to the Steelers defense over time, initially that name only applied to the front four, which competed in the same era of the NFL as Los Angeles' Fearsome Foursome and Minnesota's Purple People Eaters.
Here are where the Steelers defenses ranked from 1970-80, and when you refer to total defense, that means yards allowed in the NFL:
• 1970: No. 14
• 1971: No. 18
• 1972: No. 8
• 1973: No. 4
• 1974: No. 1
• 1975: No. 5
• 1976: No. 1
• 1977: No. 7
• 1978: No. 3
• 1979: No. 2
• 1980: No. 12
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MARK PETRO FROM MARIETTA, GA: With Tyler Lockett's release from Tennessee, might a reunion with DK Metcalf be in the cards for the Steelers, or do you think they may be looking for younger help? Considering they have already played together for years could bode well.
ANSWER: At this point in his career, Tyler Lockett is more of a possession receiver type, and I would think the Steelers already have enough WRs on their roster who could fill that role. And I have to be honest with you, I cannot figure out how one WR having played with another WR is a benefit to either of them or to the offense as a unit. Now, if a WR had played with a QB on the roster, that would be a different story.
KEN WILSON FROM MILTON, FL: Mike Munchak currently is not coaching anywhere. Do you have any thoughts on why Pittsburgh isn't trying to lure him back?
ANSWER: In 2019 Mike Munchak decided he wanted to be closer to his family, and so his last NFL jobs were west of the Mississippi River – in Denver and then in Los Angeles. Munchak is currently out of football, and he turned 65 in March. I am certain if Munchak still wanted to coach in the NFL, he would be able to find a job coaching in the NFL.
JON DUNLAP FROM MARENGO, OH: I read with interest your answer to the 2-point conversion question in the Oct. 23 edition. While Coach Tomlin was no doubt confident in his run/pass options in 2015-2016 with Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown in top form, I suspect his frequent election to go for 2 had much to do with the increased difficulty of the traditional PAT. The previous offseason, the owners had voted 30-2 to move the PAT position back to the 15-yard line so the single point would no longer be a foregone conclusion. Tomlin's decision thus became in part an expected value calculation.
ANSWER: Yeah, that's a nice theory, but allow me to remind you that the Steelers placekicker in those years was Chris Boswell, who in those 2 seasons converted 62-of-63 (98.4 percent) of those "more difficult" PATs. I'm sticking with my explanation of the quality of the personnel available to him in those seasons, and in addition to Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown a key weapon for Ben Roethlisberger in that area of the field was Heath Miller.
EVAN BUTLER FROM SANFORD, FL: With Will Howard returning to practice, implying an eventual activation to the 53-man roster (pending unexpected circumstances), that ostensibly leaves Skylar Thompson as the odd man out in the QB room. My question is this: can a team trade a player who is on IR? And if so, what is the process for the other team to move them off IR?
ANSWER: I cannot imagine a realistic scenario in which a team would trade for a player currently on another team's injured reserve list.
SETH BLACK FROM NEW CASTLE, PA: What is the Steelers record on Monday Night Football? How does Coach Tomlin compare to Bill Cowher in those games as to their record? Also separated by home and away.
ANSWER: Bill Cowher's teams were 11-0 at home on Monday Night Football, and 6-8 on the road. Mike Tomlin's teams are 12-0 at home on Monday Night Football, and 9-3 on the road.
JASON GODFREY FROM ENOREE, SC: With play percentage being a part of a lot of answers in Asked and Answered, what is the highest percentage played on defense? Is there a player with 100 percent or close?
ANSWER: In his 2 seasons with the Steelers, Patrick Queen played 100 percent of the defensive snaps during the 2024 season, and he has played 99 percent so far in 2025. Jalen Ramsey has played 91 percent of the defensive snaps so far in 2025, and he was injured during the game vs. the Vikings in Minnesota.
JIM WOLFE FROM ARLINGTON, TN: Is a player's information like height and weight on the team's website ever audited or reviewed by the NFL? Are teams required/responsible for providing up to date player information to other teams?
ANSWER: The NFL does not monitor what players' heights and weights teams post on their websites, and all 32 teams have access to heights and weights from the NFL Combine, which are actually conducted by NFL personnel. The only up-to-date information a team must provide is injury information, and that is reported to the NFL.
MIKE ROBEY FROM TILTONSVILLE, OH: Much has been made concerning a trade for a No. 2 WR. Aaron Rodgers utilizes tight ends and backs because he doesn't have time to throw deep very often, so I don't see the urgency. Where is Roman Wilson? The kid has talent but is rarely targeted. Also Mike Tomlin hesitated to play Nick Herbig when he is the best pass disrupter on the team. Does salary or draft placement enter into these decisions?
ANSWER: No, but game circumstances often do dictate an individual's playing time. Against Cincinnati, for example, because the Steelers couldn't stop the run and get the Bengals into a lot of obvious passing situations, that had an impact on the team utilizing the pressure packages that include/feature Nick Herbig. Be patient with Roman Wilson. I have a feeling he is coming close to a breakout game.
JOHN KOSTIC FROM PITTSBURGH, PA: Since the Steelers have a losing record to division opponents on Thursday night games, why doesn't management refuse to schedule such games?
ANSWER: Doesn't work that way. The NFL is in control of the schedule, and the league really doesn't care whether a team has a losing record on the road on a Thursday night in putting it together.
IRENE SMITHAM FROM NEW SOUTH MEMPHIS, TN: What are your thoughts on the chances of Franco Harris being inducted into the Hall of Fame?
ANSWER: Franco Harris is already enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 1990. Harris is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
ALDO GALVAN FROM TORREON, COAH, MÉXICO: Currently Justin Fields got benched, same as Russell Wilson. And Najee Harris is on IR. Should we be concerned that next year's compensatory picks are at risk?
ANSWER: The NFL uses a complicated formula in determining compensatory draft picks, and it's a formula I admittedly do not completely understand. But what I am pretty sure of is that if Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Najee Harris do not play another snap during the 2025 season, it could impact where those compensatory picks are in the 2026 NFL Draft.
