Three days before his game debut as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator — and on the eve of Pat Freiermuth signing a $48 million contract — Arthur Smith sounded downright giddy about the skillset of his No. 1 tight end.

“He’s a unique player,” Smith said of Freiermuth on Sept. 5, 2024.

“There are certain guys that just get it. … He’s got a really good feel as a tight end.”

With Smith holding a reputation as one of the NFL’s foremost tight end-reliant playcallers, Freiermuth appeared poised for a star turn as he entered the prime of his career.

Instead, some 16 months later, Freiermuth ended a season as the third-most deployed tight end on his own team. He established new career lows on a per-game basis for receptions, targets, snaps played and routes run.

For an offense that struggled at times this season and never found consistent footing in an intermediate passing game or in receiving threats in the middle of the field, Freiermuth’s lack of usage was curious.

“I would say that I am disappointed with the lack of opportunities I was given,” he said the day after the Steelers’ season ended Monday via playoff defeat. “But at the end of the day, I’m a team player. I was proud of myself for not making it about myself. It’s always about the team and what we can do to win.

“I feel like I could have been in situations where I could help the team win more. But the longer I’m here, I would like to see myself involved more.”

A 2021 second-round pick out of Penn State, Freiermuth is the longest-tenured member of the Steelers offense. Three times over his first four NFL seasons, he had 60 or more catches — falling shy of that number only during an injury-shortened 2023 season. Freiermuth had 63 receptions in 2022 and 2024 and 60 catches as a rookie. The only tight end in Steelers history to top any of those figures is Heath Miller.

But instead of Freiermuth ascending to the proverbial next level of NFL tight ends in 2025, it went the other way.

He finished 27th in the league at his position in catches (41) and 24th in receiving yards (486).

So, what went wrong? Why was Freiermuth used so little?

Some have pointed the finger at Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers repeatedly — and publicly — campaigned for getting Freiermuth more involved.

Freiermuth had moments with big plays, especially late in games. He had a season-high five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns Oct. 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. That accounted for 23% of his season yardage total and half of his touchdowns.

Freiermuth had a 68-yard catch in that game that was the Steelers’ second-longest gain of the season. He accounted for three of the Steelers’ top 11 passing plays.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Freiermuth had the second-best positive expected yards after catch per reception of any qualifying NFL player this season.

But Next Gen reports that only 10.54% of the Steelers’ intended air passing yards this season went to Freiermuth — that’s the lowest rate in his career, accounting for injury.

With the Steelers embarking on a coaching change, it’s almost certain Smith will not be back next season. Partially as a result, it’s highly likely that Smith favorite (no relation) Jonnu Smith won’t be back, either. Jonnu Smith played more snaps and had as many targets as Freiermuth but produced far less yardage (486-222) and half as many receiving touchdowns. The Steelers could save $7 million in both cash and salary-cap space by cutting Jonnu Smith before next season.

That in conjunction with a change in the offensive coordinator would figure to benefit Freiermuth, who at only 27 years old feels as if he has a far higher pro ceiling than he’s shown — especially this season.

“I have the utmost belief in myself as a football player,” Freiermuth said. “I think I’ve developed into an all-around tight end. I feel like I’ve shown my development on film and my blocking and winning versus man and getting open in zone. I do (believe I fit into the offense).”

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