DK Metcalf has a new team, a new fiancee and a new number. What he doesn’t have is the identity of his new quarterback.
That will come in time, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest offseason acquisition isn’t sweating the choice, whether it’s Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Mason Rudolph or someone else.
The Steelers introduced Metcalf on Thursday moments after his acquisition from the Seattle Seahawks became official. In return for Metcalf and a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft, the Steelers sent second-round and seventh-round selections to Seattle.
The transaction was formalized on a day when the Steelers brought back Rudolph on a two-year contract and continued to await an answer from Rodgers on their contract offer. Wilson, meanwhile, took a free agent visit with the Cleveland Browns before flying to New York in advance of a meeting Friday with the Giants.
Metcalf has averaged 1,000 receiving yards a season over his six-year career, but he’s not going to use his stature as one of the NFL’s top pass catchers to be a pitch man for the Steelers.
“This is a historical organization. They did the recruiting before I even got here,” Metcalf said. “Whoever wants to come here and win as many games as we can, they can join us. If not, good luck on the other side.”
Metcalf requested a trade last week, and the sides agreed to terms Sunday night with the Steelers giving the 27-year-old receiver a five-year, $150 million contract, the richest in franchise history. That bountiful deal likely assuaged any anxiety over who might be under center for the Steelers this season.
“When we hopped on the phone, they made me feel welcome,” Metcalf said. “They made me feel like they had the right decision with who was going to be throwing me the football. I’m not making the decisions in the quarterback room, so I’m going to do the best of my abilities to help whoever they have out there throwing the football.
“They make the correct decisions to bring the quarterback in here, so I’ll roll with that.”
Metcalf spent his first three seasons in Seattle catching passes from Wilson. And it was Wilson, through wife Ciara, who introduced Metcalf to pop/R&B singer Normani.
Normani was Metcalf’s girlfriend until Wednesday when she accepted his marriage proposal during a gathering of families in Houston. Metcalf thought it was only fitting to reach out to Wilson about the announcement — “he was the one who connected us,” he said — but the topic of Wilson’s football future never was broached.
A talk between the two last fall, however, revealed Wilson’s feelings about Pittsburgh and stuck with Metcalf.
“He said I would love it here,” Metcalf said.
Metcalf also felt at ease when he spoke with team president Art Rooney II, general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin over the weekend. Metcalf had met Tomlin at the 2019 NFL Combine.
“It just felt right hearing that voice again and seeing that same excitement from the combine to six years later,” Metcalf said. “He sees the type of player I am. He’s a football guru. He watched the film. My playing style, I think, jumps off the tape to him. Just to be in the same realm and organization where I felt wanted was a big plus.”
Metcalf also debunked a report that he wanted to be traded to a warm-weather city.
“We just took the trade requests and moved forward with the teams that really showed interest,” he said. “They showed interest from Day 1. We built on that relationship that we had from our first conversation, and here we are.”
With the Steelers, Metcalf will wear uniform No. 4. He wore No. 14 with the Seahawks, the same digits George Pickens wears with the Steelers. Metcalf didn’t think about trying to buy the number from Pickens.
“He’s made a staple of No. 14,” Metcalf said. “I’m not trying to take away from anybody’s legacy. I’m just trying to help build mine.”
Metcalf said his goal is to complement Pickens in the Steelers offense and that there is room for two talented — but sometimes volatile — wide receivers in it.
“You shouldn’t be on a team if everybody doesn’t want the football,” Metcalf said. “Just to know George from the little conversations we’ve had in passing, he’s a great player. I’ve watched him from afar. His receivers coach calls him ‘Freak Show.’ I think that is a fitting name for him with the circus catches he makes. I’m here to instill any wisdom and knowledge that he allows me to — and vice versa. There are things I can learn from him that he does.”