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Pat Freiermuth
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Patrick John Freiermuth (fryer-MOOTH; born October 25, 1998) is an American professional football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]A longtime resident of Merrimac, Massachusetts, Freiermuth attended Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, Massachusetts, before transferring to the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. At Brooks, he played tight end and outside linebacker on the football team, wearing jersey number eight. He also played basketball there as a power forward and a small forward.[1] During his career, he had 1,531 total yards and 24 total touchdowns.[2] A four-star recruit, he committed to Penn State University to play college football.[3]
College career
[edit]As a freshman for the Nittany Lions in 2018, Freiermuth made nine starts and recorded 26 receptions for 368 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking the record of most receiving touchdowns by a freshman tight end.[4][5][6] He remained the starter for the next two seasons, was voted Penn State Football's Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2019, and was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine a year earlier. Although rumor said he would jump at this, he declined this chance, and in a press conference with Coach James Franklin announced that he had planned to recommit to Penn State for yet another year.[7] He played in a total of 30 games there, and started all but four of them. He scored sixteen career touchdowns, tied for eighth place overall at Penn State for career touchdowns and first place by a tight end. In the end, he had a total of 92 career receptions, 1,185 career receiving yards, and he was named the Big Ten Conference's Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year in 2020, making him the first ever Penn State tight end to win this award.[8] He was also voted first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches, and finished the season leading the conference for most receiving yards by a tight end.[9]
College statistics
[edit]| Season | Team | GP | Receiving | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||
| 2018 | Penn State | 12 | 26 | 368 | 14.2 | 8 | |
| 2019 | Penn State | 13 | 43 | 507 | 11.8 | 7 | |
| 2020 | Penn State | 4 | 23 | 310 | 13.5 | 1 | |
| Career | 29 | 92 | 1,185 | 12.9 | 16 | ||
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
251 lb (114 kg) |
32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) |
9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) | |||||||||
| All values from Pro Day[10][11] | ||||||||||||
2021 season
[edit]
Freiermuth was selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace tight end Vance McDonald, who retired after the 2020 season.[12] He signed a four-year rookie contract with Pittsburgh on May 25, 2021, and was assigned number 88, most famously worn by Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann. Freiermuth started his first NFL game in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills and recorded his first career reception for 24 yards.[9] He caught his first professional touchdown pass on September 26, 2021, as the Steelers lost to the Cincinnati Bengals when he caught a four yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger. On November 8, Freiermuth had one of his best game of the season, catching five passes on six targets for 43 yards and scoring two touchdowns as the Steelers defeated the Chicago Bears 29–27. The following week against the Detroit Lions, Freiermuth caught five passes for 31 yards in the only tied game of his professional career with a final score of 16–16.[13]
During the season, Freiermuth sustained two concussions.[14] The first happened in Week 12 during a 41–10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The second concussion was sustained in a 19–13 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.[15][16] He finished the regular season with 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns.[17]
On January 16, 2022, Freiermuth played in his first post-season game of his career against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card Round of the 2021 playoffs. In the game, he caught four passes on five targets for 25 yards.[13]
During his rookie season, similar to former Steelers tight end Heath Miller, home crowds began chanting "Muth", an abbreviation of "Freiermuth", when he would gain yardage or score a touchdown.[18]
2022 season
[edit]In the 2022 season, Freiermuth played in 16 regular season games, starting eight of them. Freiermuth finished the 2022 season catching 63 passes on 98 targets for 732 yards, the most of his professional career as of August 2024. He scored two touchdowns across all 16 games.[19]
2023 season
[edit]On October 21, 2023, Freiermuth was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.[20] He was activated on November 18.[21] He would return to the team on November 19 against the Cleveland Browns.
Freiermuth had his statistically best game of the season on November 26 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He caught nine passes on 11 targets for 120 yards, the only game of the season in which he was able to eclipse 100+ receiving yards.[22]
He finished the 2023 regular season making 32 catches on 47 targets for 308 yards and two touchdowns, playing in 12 games and starting nine of them.[23]
In the second post season appearance of his professional career, Freiermuth caught five passes on eight targets for 76 yards in the AFC Wild Card Round against the Buffalo Bills. During the final minutes of the first quarter, Freiermuth caught a pass from quarterback Mason Rudolph before taking off down the sideline. He was tackled by Bills cornerback Christian Benford causing the ball to come loose before being recovered by linebacker Baylon Spector. Replay officials determined the fumble had rolled out of bounds due to the ball making contact with Freiermuth as he exited the field of play, giving possession back to the Steelers.[24] The game ended with the Steelers losing 31–17.[25]
2024 season
[edit]
On September 6, 2024, Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers, keeping him with the team through the 2028 season.[26] He caught his first touchdown pass of the season on an eight yard pass from Justin Fields during Week 4's 27–24 Steelers loss to the Indianapolis Colts.[27][28]
In the final moments of Week 5's loss to the Cowboys, the Steelers needed to score a field goal to tie the game with less than ten seconds remaining. Moving downfield to get the ball into field goal range, Steelers receiver George Pickens caught a pass before stopping momentarily and lateraling the ball to Isaac Seumalo. After a series of lateral passes, Freiermuth caught the final pass from Fields before attempting to lateral back to Mason McCormick. The pass fell short of McCormick, being ruled a fumble, which was recovered by the Cowboys as time expired.[29]
Freiermuth ended the regular season having appeared in all 17 games making 65 receptions for 653 yards, seven touchdowns as the Steelers finished with a record of 10–7.[30] This gave Freiermuth the third playoff berth of his career as the Steelers entered as the sixth seeded team in the playoffs. During the AFC wildcard playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, Freiermuth made three catches for 15 yards as the Steelers lost 28–14, ending their season.
2025 season
[edit]With the acquisition of Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins in June 2025, Freiermuth and Smith both shared the tight end one spot on the official depth chart released on August 5.[31] He made his first start of the season in Week 1's 34–32 win over the New York Jets. During the game, he made three catches on three targets for 23 yards.[32] On October 16's Thursday Night Football loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, Freiermuth caught his first touchdown pass of the season on a 19 yard reception from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.[33] He finished his first prime time outing of the season as Pittsburgh's leading receiver, catching four passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.[34] This was also Freiermuth's first game since November 8, 2021 in which he caught multiple touchdown passes in a single game.[13]
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | PIT | 16 | 9 | 60 | 497 | 8.3 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | PIT | 16 | 8 | 63 | 732 | 11.6 | 57 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PIT | 12 | 9 | 32 | 308 | 9.6 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PIT | 17 | 11 | 65 | 653 | 10.0 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | PIT | 15 | 6 | 35 | 372 | 10.6 | 68 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 76 | 43 | 255 | 2,562 | 10.0 | 68 | 22 | 4 | 2 | |
Postseason
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2021 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 6.3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PIT | 1 | 0 | 5 | 76 | 15.2 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 5.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 3 | 2 | 12 | 116 | 9.7 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Personal life
[edit]Freiermuth's uncle, Michael Foley, was a longtime college football coach, most recently as the offensive line coach for UMass.[35] His father, John Freiermuth, played basketball at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire[9] and in 1988 he was named New Hampshire's "Mr. Basketball."[36] His mom is a history teacher and former coach (fifteen seasons) for North Andover High School field hockey.[citation needed] She retired from coaching in 2007 after leading her team to two North sectional titles and a 147–85–66 record.[37] She was also president of the Penn State Football Parents Association.[7] His brother Tim played offensive line for Springfield College and is currently a high school football coach.[9][38]
References
[edit]- ^ Snyder, Audrey (May 7, 2019). "The extra development that allowed Pat Freiermuth to quickly make his mark at Penn State". The Athletic. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ McGonigal, John (December 7, 2018). "'Excellence and humility': How Penn State's Pat Freiermuth became a local legend". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ Parello, Joe (August 16, 2016). "Brooks' Pat Freiermuth commits to Penn State". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ Juliano, Joe (April 2, 2019). "Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth surpassed his own first-year expectations". Inquirer.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ Wogenrich, Mark (August 25, 2019). "Pat Freiermuth is Penn State's next great tight end". mcall.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ Scarcella, Rich (April 3, 2019). "Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth is a big catch". Reading Eagle. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Wogenrich, Mark (October 2, 2020). "What Staying at Penn State Means to Pat Freiermuth". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Broder, Acacia Aster (December 15, 2020). "Penn State Football: Pat Freiermuth Named Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year". StateCollege.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Pat Freiermuth (TE): Bio, News, Stats & more". www.steelers.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth, Penn State, TE, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ Popejoy, Curt (May 14, 2021). "Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth makes it clear he hates his nickname". Steelers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Pat Freiermuth 2021 Game Log". StatMuse. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth – Injury History". www.draftsharks.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ "2021 Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Michael David (December 19, 2021). "Steelers lose Pat Freiermuth after hard hit to head". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth Stats, News, Bio". ESPN. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Koehler, Allison (January 21, 2022). "Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth reveals what pumps him up post-catch". Steelers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ Varley, Teresa (October 21, 2023). "Steelers activate Johnson, make other moves". Steelers.com.
- ^ Varley, Teresa (November 18, 2023). "Steelers make roster moves ahead of Sunday's game". Steelers.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ Pryor, Brooke (November 27, 2023). "Pat Freiermuth teaches tight end master class on Steelers' big offensive day". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Bryan (January 15, 2024). "Pat Freiermuth fumble: Bills out of challenges after controversial call in wild-card game vs. Steelers". Sporting News. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Wild Card - Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2024". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Steelers, TE Pat Freiermuth agree to terms on four-year, $48.4 million contract extension". NFL.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth - Pittsburgh Steelers Tight End". StatMuse. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ "Colts 27-24 Steelers (Sep 29, 2024) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- ^ "Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Game Highlights NFL 2024 Season Week 5". YouTube. October 7, 2024. Event occurs at 14:45.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth 2024 Season". StatMuse. January 4, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
- ^ "Steelers Depth Chart". Steelers.com. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
- ^ "Steelers 34-32 Jets (Sep 7, 2025)". StatMuse. September 7, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
- ^ "Pat Freiermuth reels in a 19-yard TD marking his first of the '25 season". NFL.com. October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ Wexell, Jim (October 17, 2025). "Steelers fall to Bengals, 33-31". Steelers.com. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ "Under the Lights: Freiermuth, Marshall blowing up". Eagle-Tribune. April 3, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ Prisuta, Mike (May 1, 2021). "Second Round: Pat Freiermuth". Steelers.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ "Coach's Corner: Dianne Freiermuth". rallynorth.net. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ "Hamilton-Wenham names Freiermuth new head football coach". Yahoo News. March 1, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports · Pro Football Reference
- Pittsburgh Steelers bio
- Penn State Nittany Lions bio
Media related to Pat Freiermuth at Wikimedia Commons
Pat Freiermuth
View on GrokipediaEarly life and personal background
Upbringing and education
Pat Freiermuth was born on October 25, 1998, in Merrimac, Massachusetts.[1] Growing up in the small town of Merrimac, he developed an early passion for sports, influenced by his family's athletic heritage.[14] Freiermuth began his high school education at Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, Massachusetts, where he played football and basketball as a freshman and sophomore. Seeking enhanced opportunities in football, he transferred to the Brooks School in North Andover after his sophomore year, repeating the 10th grade to align with the academic and athletic calendar.[15] At Brooks, an independent preparatory school, he focused on football, playing both tight end and linebacker while continuing to excel in basketball, contributing to the team's 78-game winning streak over three seasons.[16] Over his three-year varsity career at Brooks School, Freiermuth amassed 1,531 total yards and accounted for 24 touchdowns, helping elevate the program's profile with back-to-back league titles in 2016 and 2017.[14] His versatility and physicality on the field drew attention from college recruiters, leading to offers from programs including Boston College, Duke, LSU, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. In August 2016, he committed to Penn State University, choosing the Nittany Lions for their strong tight end tradition and development opportunities.[17]Family
Pat Freiermuth was raised in a sports-oriented household in Merrimac, Massachusetts, where athletics formed a core family value that encouraged his early multi-sport participation.[16] His father, John Freiermuth, played basketball at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and was named the state's "Mr. Basketball" in 1988, instilling a competitive drive in his son through shared athletic experiences.[18][19] Pat's mother, Dianne Freiermuth, served as a longtime field hockey coach and later became president of the Penn State Football Parents Association, where she advocated for player safety and supported the team's return to play during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[18][20][16] His uncle, Mike Foley, a veteran football coach who served as head coach at Colgate University from 1988 to 1992 and was involved with the program from 1981 to 2005, later served as offensive line coach at UConn and UMass, provided direct mentorship to Pat, including being the first to offer him a college scholarship during recruiting.[19][21][16][22] The familial focus on education and sports, exemplified by both parents' backgrounds as educators, further shaped Pat's development, emphasizing discipline and passion for competition from a young age.[23]College career
Performance and achievements
Freiermuth redshirted his true freshman season in 2017 before emerging as a key contributor at tight end for Penn State over the next three years, appearing in 30 games and starting 26 of them from 2018 to 2020.[3] As a redshirt freshman in 2018, he quickly established himself with 26 receptions for 368 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns, showcasing his red-zone reliability and earning freshman All-American honors from multiple outlets.[24][25] In his sophomore campaign of 2019, Freiermuth built on that foundation with 43 receptions for 507 yards and seven touchdowns, tying for third among Penn State tight ends in single-season touchdown receptions and contributing to the Nittany Lions' dynamic passing attack.[24][7] His development highlighted improved route-running and contested-catch ability, as he ranked seventh in the Big Ten in touchdown receptions that year.[24] Freiermuth's junior year in 2020 was abbreviated by a shoulder injury that limited him to four games, yet he still managed 23 receptions for 310 yards and one touchdown before undergoing surgery in November.[24][26] Despite the shortened season, his impact was evident enough to earn him the Big Ten's Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year award, making him the first Penn State player to win the honor.[27] Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.[28] Throughout his college tenure, Freiermuth was praised for his blocking prowess and versatility, allowing him to line up inline, in the slot, or even as a lead blocker in Penn State's pro-style offense, where he helped protect the quarterback and create running lanes.[29] Pre-draft evaluations highlighted his reliable hands, precise route-running, and overall completeness as a tight end, projecting him as a second-round NFL selection capable of immediate contributions in both the passing and run games.[30][31]Statistics
Pat Freiermuth redshirted his freshman year in 2017 at Penn State, recording no statistics. Over the following three seasons, he established himself as a key receiving tight end, accumulating notable production in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.[24] The following table summarizes his receiving statistics by year:| Year | Class | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards per Reception | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | FR | 13 | 26 | 368 | 14.2 | 8 |
| 2019 | SO | 13 | 43 | 507 | 11.8 | 7 |
| 2020 | JR | 4 | 23 | 310 | 13.5 | 1 |
Professional career
2021 season
Freiermuth was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (55th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State, where he had established himself as a reliable tight end prospect. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $6.0 million, including a signing bonus of $1.75 million. As the team's primary tight end following Vance McDonald's retirement, Freiermuth quickly integrated into the offense under quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In his rookie season, Freiermuth appeared in all 16 regular-season games, making 10 starts, and recorded 60 receptions for 497 receiving yards and a team-leading 7 touchdowns among tight ends. His debut came in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, where he hauled in 1 reception for 24 yards on his only target, contributing to the Steelers' 23-16 victory. Freiermuth's scoring prowess was evident early, as he notched his first NFL touchdown in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, and he finished the year tied for third among rookie tight ends in touchdown receptions despite sharing targets with veteran Eric Ebron. Freiermuth's season was not without challenges, as he suffered two concussions that affected his late-season performance. The first occurred in Week 12 during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, leading to a brief evaluation period, while the second came in Week 15 against the Las Vegas Raiders after a fourth-quarter touchdown catch, resulting in him missing practice time and entering concussion protocol ahead of Week 16. These injuries limited his explosiveness in the final weeks, though he played through them without missing games. In the Steelers' wild-card playoff matchup—a 42-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs—Freiermuth made his postseason debut, catching 4 passes for 25 yards on 5 targets. His rookie campaign earned widespread recognition for its productivity, highlighting his potential as a red-zone threat and blocker in Pittsburgh's run-heavy scheme.2022 season
In his sophomore NFL season, Pat Freiermuth appeared in 16 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting seven of them, and recorded 63 receptions for 732 receiving yards and two touchdowns, marking career highs in receptions and yards. Building on his rookie-year experience, he demonstrated improved consistency as a pass-catching tight end within the Steelers' offense, which transitioned to rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett starting in Week 4.[32][33] Freiermuth emerged as a primary red-zone target for Pickett, leveraging his size and route-running ability to stretch the field and create mismatches against defenses. His most notable performance came in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he hauled in five receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, including a 36-yard score that highlighted his role in the passing attack. Earlier in the season, he scored his first touchdown of the year in Week 2 against the New England Patriots, contributing to his development as a reliable option in scoring situations. Overall, he showcased durability, missing only one game due to a concussion in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but returning quickly without long-term effects.[34][35][36] The Steelers finished the 2022 regular season with a 9-8 record but did not qualify for the playoffs, ending Freiermuth's campaign without postseason action. His 732 yards ranked him among the top tight ends league-wide in production, underscoring his growth into a key offensive contributor despite the team's inconsistent passing game.[33][32]2023 season
In 2023, his third NFL season, Pat Freiermuth appeared in 12 games with nine starts for the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording 32 receptions for 308 receiving yards and two touchdowns.[2] His production was hampered by a hamstring injury sustained during the Week 4 loss to the Houston Texans on October 1, which forced him to miss the subsequent five games after being placed on injured reserve on October 21.[37] [2] Freiermuth was activated from injured reserve on November 18 and returned for the Steelers' Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, contributing to a late-season surge that included three consecutive wins to close the regular season.[37] This momentum helped Pittsburgh clinch an AFC wild card berth on January 7, 2024, following a Tennessee Titans victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.[38] Despite the reduced volume from his prior seasons—where he exceeded 60 receptions—Freiermuth demonstrated efficiency in his routes, achieving a 68.1 passer rating when targeted.[2] In the playoffs, Freiermuth recorded five receptions for 76 yards in the wild card round loss to the Buffalo Bills on January 15, 2024, marking the Steelers' only postseason game that year.[39]2024 season
In 2024, Pat Freiermuth enjoyed a breakout season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing in all 17 regular-season games and starting 11 of them while recording 65 receptions for 653 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.[2] Fully recovered from a hamstring injury that limited his play in 2023, Freiermuth established himself as a reliable option in the passing game, particularly in the red zone where his scoring output highlighted his development as a receiving threat.[2] On September 6, 2024, the Steelers secured Freiermuth's long-term commitment with a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension, reflecting the team's confidence in his role within the offense.[40] Under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who emphasized multiple-tight-end sets, Freiermuth emerged as a key target, benefiting from schemes that leveraged his blocking and route-running skills to create mismatches against defenses.[41] Freiermuth reached a career milestone in 2024 by tying his rookie-year high in touchdown receptions with seven. In the playoffs, he appeared in the Steelers' AFC Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens on January 11, 2025, catching three passes for 15 yards.[2]2025 season
In June 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins in a blockbuster trade that also involved cornerback Jalen Ramsey heading to Pittsburgh and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami; Smith subsequently signed a one-year, $12 million contract extension with the Steelers.[42] This addition created a tight end committee alongside Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, resulting in shared duties and fewer early-season targets for Freiermuth, who saw his snap percentage around 49% through the season.[43] Freiermuth appeared in all 11 games through Week 11 of the 2025 season, recording 23 receptions for 279 yards and three touchdowns.[2] These contributions brought his career totals to 243 receptions for 2,469 yards and 21 touchdowns. A highlight came on October 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, where Freiermuth hauled in five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Steelers in receiving; his 68-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Rodgers with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter narrowed the Bengals' lead to 30-31 in the eventual 33-31 loss.[44][45] Freiermuth adapted to the committee approach by emphasizing blocking assignments against heavier defensive fronts, such as 4-3 schemes, where head coach Mike Tomlin noted it was "unfair" to rely solely on him for those duties, while maintaining a role in third-down situations.[46] The season remained ongoing as of November 20, 2025, with the Steelers holding a 6-4 record and the top spot in the AFC North, positioning them for playoff contention.[47]Professional statistics
Regular season
Pat Freiermuth has appeared in 71 regular-season games over his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting 40 of them. Through ten games of the 2025 season (as of Week 10), he has recorded 243 receptions for 2,469 yards and 21 touchdowns.[2] The following table summarizes his regular-season receiving statistics year by year:| Year | Games Played | Games Started | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16 | 9 | 60 | 497 | 7 |
| 2022 | 16 | 8 | 63 | 732 | 2 |
| 2023 | 12 | 9 | 32 | 308 | 2 |
| 2024 | 17 | 11 | 65 | 653 | 7 |
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 23 | 279 | 3 |
| Career | 71 | 40 | 243 | 2,469 | 21 |
Postseason
Pat Freiermuth has appeared in three postseason games during his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, all in the wild card round, where the team was eliminated each time.[2] In total, he recorded 12 receptions for 116 yards and no touchdowns across these contests.[2] His postseason debut came in the 2021 wild card playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a 42-21 defeat, during which Freiermuth caught four passes for 25 yards.[48] The Steelers were unable to advance beyond the opening round.[49] In the 2023 wild card matchup against the Buffalo Bills, which ended in a 31-17 loss, Freiermuth had his most productive playoff outing with five receptions for 76 yards, including a long of 33 yards.[50] Pittsburgh again fell short of progression.[51] Freiermuth's most recent postseason appearance was in the 2024 wild card game at the Baltimore Ravens, a 28-14 loss that marked another first-round exit for the Steelers.[52] He contributed three catches for 15 yards in that contest.[53] Throughout these high-pressure games, Freiermuth has served as a reliable check-down option for Steelers quarterbacks, providing a consistent safety valve in the passing attack.[54]| Year | Game | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Wild Card vs. Chiefs (L 21-42) | 4 | 25 | 0 |
| 2023 | Wild Card vs. Bills (L 17-31) | 5 | 76 | 0 |
| 2024 | Wild Card vs. Ravens (L 14-28) | 3 | 15 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 116 | 0 |
