Over the last few months, Steelers rookies have been getting an introduction to NFL football.
From learning the playbook to putting it to work on the field in OTAs and minicamp, it was a time when football was the number one focus for the team's rookie class.
And while that is job one for the rookie class, there was another focus as well.
Adjusting to life off the field in the NFL.
That is why the team has the Steelers Rookie Development Program, an opportunity for young players to adapt and learn how to handle off the field responsibilities that are part of being a professional athlete.
"You have so many stressors when you come into the NFL, and you don't even know that they're stressors," said Darrel Young, the Steelers Director of Player Development. "That is what we are getting in front of in these meetings. We talk about the financial aspect. It's a two-pronged approach. In the offseason you talk about what you did before you had money. What does it look like? What does my pay look like, what are my benefits? In-season, the different approach is, now that I have my money, what do I do with it? How do I invest it? How do I start to create this generational wealth? The cool thing is guys are coming out with more knowledge from an NIL perspective. They have a better understanding of money than when I came into the NFL. But there's still some things out there. They get paid over 36 weeks now. There's a rookie minimum. You have little nuances that you don't understand.
"And then there are so many other areas we touch. From the mental health perspective. We spent time focused on how to watch film in the NFL. There are some differences. It's just about breaking it down and looking at the keys. You hear things, you see things, but your head is spinning because you are a rookie.
"It's important to get in front of some of the stressors that slow you down in your rookie year. They say the game is faster. Well, it's because you are thinking in a mile a minute. Slowing it down, putting a plan in place and actually just breaking it down one by one. Okay, what does this look like? What is the focus for today? Here's a break from reality while putting some football involvement in it as well.
"As Coach (Mike) Tomlin always says, football is our game, winning it is our business. So, we want them to be ready."
As Young alluded to, one of the programs the rookies took part in was film study with assistant offensive line coach Isaac Williams.
While the coaches know the rookies understand how to watch film, are familiar with the nuances of what to look for and so forth, they also understand there are different things you look for at this level. Linebacker T.J. Watt, who is fanatical about watching film said last season there are times he can find a 'golden nugget' when watching film closely, something that can be a game-breaker.
The goal is to get the rookies to that place, where they can hone in on things to pick up on those nuggets, something veterans are still perfecting themselves as well.
"It's our responsibility for these guys to have a foundation all around," said Williams. "When it comes to watching tape, it's about where are my eyes? What am I doing? This is a starting point. There are multiple ways to watch film, but it's our responsibility for these guys to grow in every aspect. We put them out on the field expecting them to make plays, but the preparation process is so huge.
"We know they understand how to watch film. We are making sure they have a plan when they're sitting down watching tape. Understanding what they're looking at. How it's going to benefit them when they're playing on Sundays. Just give them a jump start on where they need to be."
The session also gives the coaches a better understanding of the players, seeing where they are and how they adapt to instruction.
"It gives insight on who they are as young men, the guys that you drafted. This group was awesome," said Williams. "They were locked in the entire time, just eager for more. They followed up asking different questions about processes and procedures and the best way to go about watching tape and studying it. It gives you a lot of hope and makes you feel really good about the prospects of the young men that we brought in."
The financial aspect that comes with being an NFL player is one of the biggest adjustments players have to deal with. While it's different for today's players with NIL money in college, there is still a lot to learn.
"I think it's very important coming into this environment, this lifestyle, to understand what you're getting yourself into and be able to find those resources when you need them any type of thing like that," said first-round pick Derrick Harmon. "One thing I have really picked up is managing your money. In this new era, we get NIL money. But with NIL, you get your money upfront, and it's your duty to pay that tax in the back end. With it here in this circumstance, it's already coming out your paycheck, and you're not getting what you really get. It was nice to understand that and really to get a heads up on that."
That is one of the reasons finances are focused on during the sessions, and it's not just about what to do with the paycheck. It covers everything from dealing with investments, taxes, creating a budget, and overall being financially sound.
"We talked about money management, who to go to, who to hire for your team, who can do what for you and how to do it yourself," said quarterback Will Howard, who was selected in the sixth round. "It's good to know those things. While the NIL is cool and all and you're getting money, it's not the same where you are getting a W2. It's all different.
"We've gone through a lot of different things that seem like routine things, but when you really think about it, especially from the new position that we're in, a lot is really important. A lot of stuff that I didn't really know about before we learned it in these classes."
And that is exactly the point of them.
To give the rookies knowledge that they didn't even realize they needed.
"I feel like this is crucial for all the young guys," said kicker Ben Sauls, who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Pitt. "It's our first time experiencing this. It's probably a lot of our first jobs. We've probably never had to manage money the way we have to now. I feel learning it as a rookie like we are, is just huge.
"I think it's incredible the team does this for the rookies. To come in from day one and get started, especially with a guy like DY (Darrel Young) and all the people he's brought in, it's big time. I feel like it's going to benefit us. Obviously, we've got to take advantage of it, but it's going to benefit us regardless. If you can learn one thing every day about it, it is a win.
"There's a lot of different alleys and avenues that the NFL goes in regarding player development at a young age. It's been a lot to process with all the rules. Financially, you can get fined for a lot of things that we didn't know about. Things a college athlete doesn't know about. I think building the awareness of how many avenues there are with us and all the responsibilities we have, I think that's the most important part so far."
There were other things that stood out, from nutritionist Kayla Martin teaching them what they should be eating during the season, to uniform codes and violations, and everything in between.
And it hits with the players. Whether it's this year's rookie class, or ones prior, they all put to the lessons they are learning from Young.
"I was a player once, and now I'm in this space to not lecture, not to mentor unless you want to be in that, but just to give back to you to say here's the mistake I made, just don't make that one," said Young. "You can do your own path, just don't make that mistake.
"I love it that they are picking things up. It just speaks to the trust that I'm trying to build with the guys, and just makes you smile and thankful for it."
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While getting the players adjusted to their new life is goal one, having their families get tuned in is just as important.
The team hosts rookie parents for a weekend seminar, which includes guest speakers, attending a Pirates game together and a dinner where they get to know each other and understand they are all in the same boat.
"We do all these draft profiles on the players and you hear about the families and all of the things that come with drafting a guy," said Young. "This is a chance to kind of take a deeper dive into celebrating them. We're also giving them information. Here's where your son is. Here's what he's going to go through. Here's how you support him. And here's what you need to know.
"The first thing is this is a business. Lose your feelings. Don't do or say or tweet anything to hurt him."
Charlotte Heyward, the mother of Cameron and Connor Heyward, spoke to the group, giving them insight that only her years of experience as a mom and a wife of a former NFL player in Craig 'Ironhead' Heyward, can provide.
"As Coach T would say, she's a grizzly veteran," said Young. "She's been through it from different generations. She's seen it from several aspects. She speaks to families now. She gives the real side of things.
"The biggest thing for me is we get to know how to support the player based off where the parents are. But also, how to support the parent."
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A key aspect of playing for the Steelers is being involved in the community. And that lesson was taught early to the rookies.
"It's very important to me to do things in the community," said Howard. "It's something I was really passionate about at Kansas State and then at Ohio State too. It's important to interact with fans, getting out in the community and helping underprivileged people out, using our platform for good. I think it's one of the things I've been the most excited about coming to the NFL. You've got a lot of eyes on you, so you want to use that for good."
During their time in Pittsburgh in the spring they took part in multiple activities around the city, from visiting Café Momentum where they learned about the day-to-day programs they offer to the long-term plans, to visiting the Mel Blount Youth Home, Best of the Batch Foundation and Jerome Bettis Foundation, to taking part in the Urban Impact Football Camp, giving back has been big for this group.
"My own history, I always have been trying to give back to the community," said Harmon. "I feel like that's a big factor that most people don't look at. Giving back always makes you feel good at the end of the day."
Seeing the reaction they received from each endeavor, especially working with kids, is something that brought joy to the rookies.
"If you can put a smile on somebody's face, regardless of what their situation is, how old or young they might be, it's special," said Sauls. "I've been in Pittsburgh for several years now. People really look up to the Steelers. If there's something that we can do, and it's as simple as showing up somewhere and spending time, that's easy for us.
"We can put smiles on people's faces, and that's a win at the end of the day for everybody."
And as Coach Tomlin says, 'winning is our business.'
