Steelers Nation was out in full force on Saturday night, showing their love for the black and gold at one of the most unique events the team holds each year.
And it was ladies only, with the female fanbase showing unprecedented support for the team.
The Steelers hosted the second annual SteelHERS Social, presented by UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, at Acrisure Stadium.
The event is part of the team's Women of Steel platform, which was created to celebrate, connect, develop and empower the team's female fanbase.
"This event is awesome," said tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was among the group of current players attending. "Obviously, we're trying to expand the game of football into many different regions. Girls flag football is big right now in Pennsylvania and in the country. So, you're seeing even more female support of the Steelers, and it means a lot.
"The female fans here in Pittsburgh are very knowledgeable. They definitely know what they're talking about, and it's good anytime fans can have healthy dialogue about us. It's productive and it's good. It's cool to see that Steelers fans are diverse, with plenty of female fans. It's cool to bring everyone together and talk football.
"Pittsburgh fans in general give us great support, and I love to see how much the game means to them, whether they are from Pittsburgh or all around the world. This event brought a lot of fans together and to see their support and all of the energy that they brought was amazing."
Over 800 ladies, with all ages represented, were in attendance, coming from Pittsburgh and far beyond to enjoy a night of bonding with other Steelers fans.
Brittany Rizos was there with her mother, Brenda, taking in the fun and enjoying an early Mother's Day celebration.
"I thought it would be a fun mother-daughter thing to do," said Brittany. "She is a big Steelers fan. She loves the Steelers. And it's a great thing for Mother's Day weekend. It's amazing they are doing an event for just the women."
The tradition of being a Steelers fan is something that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Rizos family, and it's something they bond over.
"We watched the games together growing up," said Brenda, wearing a T.J. Watt jersey along with her daughter. "The love for the Steelers started with my mother to me and then to her, so it's special."
There was no shortage of Steelers apparel, as fans were decked out in everything from jerseys to dresses with the team's logo front and center.
Activities took place throughout the stadium, including the locker room and FedEx Great Hall, with something for everyone.
Special teams coordinator Danny Smith and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar held a series of mini coaching clinics, giving the ladies beyond the basics of what they do.
"I love it, I really do," said Smith. "The fan base here is Pittsburgh is so strong, and anytime you get to engage with that fan base, I love every minute of it.
"The ladies are very knowledgeable. It's a credit to them. They're not there just for the show and showmanship, so to speak. They're there because of their knowledge of the game in a lot of cases. And it's incredible to be a part of it.
"I went over some of the basic fundamental stuff, so we understand the game, the start of the game. The new kickoff stuff is different, the new kickoff return stuff is different, and there are still people in our league that still don't understand it, so I wanted to explain it to them."
Dunbar is no stranger to doing coaching clinics, but this was the first time he did something like this for a completely female audience.
"When I was in Minnesota and New York coaching, all I ever heard about was the female fan base in Pittsburgh and you see it when you get here," said Dunbar. "There are a lot of female fans that really love the game. And they are knowledgeable.
"I approached it the same way I approach it with the guys, when I go to football clinics with men, just explaining to them what we do and try to interact and see what they really know about the game. That's the fun part about it. I taught them about the defensive line get off, pass rush. I taught them how we play ball on defense The thing is to see if they retained any of that knowledge. Hopefully they'll get a better understanding of what we're doing on the field.
"It's always great to be around the fans, especially people cheering you on for what you do for a living is awesome."
While the evening was centered around football, it wasn't just about X's and O's. There was locker room access, a yoga session, photo opportunities with current players, face painting, bingo, friendship bracelet making, tailgate party games and so much more.
"This is really nice," said safety DeShon Elliott, who spent some time teaching defense with Dunbar. "There are a lot of mothers here, ready to celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow. My mother has played a big part in my life, so it's really cool to see.
"It's fun to be able to put a smile on these women's faces and spend time with them. They aren't just Steelers fans; they are educated Steelers fans. They love football, they love learning about football. They are part of the team, part of our family.
"And there are so many ladies here. I didn't know we had that many diehard female fans. There are a lot of people here. This is my second year here, and I love seeing the fanbase. I went to Mexico for the draft and saw all the fans we have there. Now to see how many female fans we have is great."
Long snapper Christian Kuntz grew up in Pittsburgh, so he is no stranger to what Steelers fans are like. But even he was in awe of the support and love they receive.
"It's awesome to see the turnout we get with all the women that are interested in football, interested in the Steelers," said Kuntz. "It's a great experience. It's a humbling experience to see that many women involved in our sport and involved with the Steelers.
"The turnout is amazing. I am not surprised anymore. I was surprised last year when we did this for the first time, but not anymore.
"These women know football. It's impressive. They're all very knowledgeable about the sport, our rules, our game. The questions we get when we're out there with the fans interacting, it is remarkable how much knowledge there is.
"We have a really strong women's fan base. Pittsburgh has the best fans in general."
