All eyes were on the podium at Acrisure Stadium today as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and team president Art Rooney II each held news conferences this afternoon.
Tomlin got straight to the point during his conference, officially announcing that Mitch Trubisky will start under center this Sunday in the team’s season opener against Cincinnati. Tomlin explained his decision to go with the former Bears quarterback.
Tomlin also provided clarity to the rest of the team’s quarterback depth. When the initial depth chart released yesterday, veteran Mason Rudolph was listed as the team’s primary backup and first round pick Kenny Pickett was the team’s third quarterback. However, Tomlin said today that Pickett will be the team’s backup while Rudolph will start as the team’s third option.
One of the things that went into the decision to put Pickett at QB2 was his quick development over the preseason.
Tomlin also credited Rudolph for accepting his role with the team, and that all quarterbacks helped develop the team’s young wideout core.
Rudolph will not dress for Sunday’s opener.
Then, in his news conference, Rooney announced that Hall-of-Fame running back Franco Harris will have his No. 32 retired during the team’s Christmas Eve game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The retirement comes a day after the 50th anniversary of “The Immaculate Reception”, which saw Harris make the famed shoe-top catch during the final seconds of the AFC Divisional playoff game in 1972 against the then-Oakland Raiders.
Rooney called the jersey retirement “long overdue” and it marks the third time in franchise history that the Steelers retire a number. The other two: Ernie Stautner’s No. 70 and Joe Greene’s No. 75.
The celebration will take place at halftime.
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