Pittsburgh Steelers March Madness ‘25: Pierogi Bracket, Round 1 (publish 3/3)

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It’s the return of Steelers March Madness, our annual NCAA-style voyage through black and gold history. In 2023, we brought you the 64 greatest Steelers moments. In 2024, it was the 64 saddest Steelers moments.

This year, we step off the field. The theme is the Steelers’ 64 greatest front-office decisions. This includes trades, free agency signings and contract extensions. It doesn’t include individual draft selections. That’s an entirely separate discussion and those rankings exist elsewhere on the internet. But this does include trades of draft picks, which led to major Steelers contributors.

We’ll introduce a new quadrant every day this week, and you vote on which moments move on to the next round. We’ll continue all March until we have a Final Four and ultimately a champion.

PIEROGI BRACKET

Pierogi Bracket ‘25

1 seed: April 20, 1996 – Traded for running back Jerome Bettis

(Traded 2nd round pick (59th overall, Ernie Conwell) and 1997 4th round (121st overall later traded, Jerome Daniels) to Rams for Bettis and 1996 3rd round (72nd overall, Steve Conley)

SetNumber: X64443 TK2 R5 F12

In one of the most lopsided transactions in NFL history, Pittsburgh moved down 13 spots from pick 59 to 72 and added a future 3rd rounder in exchange for Jerome Bettis. The Rams were transitioning to a pass-oriented offense and drafted Nebraska’s Lawrence Phillips. St. Louis gave Bettis the option to pick his destination, and he almost considered Houston. Writers in Pittsburgh didn’t love the trade initially, because Bettis had a pair of down seasons and his contract was up at the end of the year. But they changed their tune after The Bus won Comeback Player of the Year and became the highest-paid player in Steelers history at that point.

16 seed: April 4, 2023 – Signed free agent safety Keanu Neal

(signed a two-year, $4.25 million deal)

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Pittsburgh needed to add to the safety room after Terrell Edmunds signed with the Eagles. Neal had been a Pro Bowler in 2017, but he spent recent years battling injuries. He ultimately played in nine games in 2023, starting eight of them. Neal had 50 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. The pick came late in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the end zone, in a play that saved the victory for Pittsburgh. But he sustained a rib injury in that game that sent him to IR.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

1: Trade for Bettis

(0 votes)

16: Sign Keanu Neal

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

2 seed: April 29, 2006 – Traded up to draft receiver Santonio Holmes

(traded 1st round pick (32nd overall, Mathias Kiwanuka), 3rd round pick (96th overall, Gerris Wilkinson), and 4th round pick (129th overall, Guy Whimper) to Giants for 1st round pick (25th overall, Santonio Holmes)

SetNumber: X78614 TK1 R3

Holmes was one of the players Kevin Colbert had his eyes on at the start of the 2006 draft. When he was still available at pick 20, Colbert started making calls. The Chiefs weren’t interested in trading at 20. Neither were the 49ers at 22, but the Giants made the deal at 25. In his four seasons in Pittsburgh, Holmes had 3,835 receiving yards, 20 touchdowns, and one of the most iconic Super Bowl moments ever.

15 seed: March 13, 2024 – Traded for cornerback Donte Jackson

(traded Diontae Johnson and 2024 7th (240th overall, Michael Barrett) to Panthers for 2024 6th (178th overall, Logan Lee) and Donte Jackson)

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Cornerback was an urgent need as free agency opened in 2024. Contracts had expired for both Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace. The Steelers were also looking for a fresh start in their receivers room. Jackson would have his best season as a pro, landing five interceptions.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

2: Trade up for Holmes

(0 votes)

15: Trade for Donte Jackson

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

3 seed: October 3, 2015 – Signed free agent kicker Chris Boswell

(signed two-year, $960,000 deal)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

In Week 4, kicker Josh Scobee missed two fourth-quarter field goals in an overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was released two days later and replaced with Boswell. Since then, Boswell has played in 150 games in the black and gold and has more 50-yard field goals than all other Steelers’ kickers combined.

14 seed: March 16, 2024 – Traded for quarterback Justin Fields

(traded a 2025 pick (6th round) to Bears for Justin Fields)

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Chicago had the number one overall pick in the draft and wanted Caleb Williams. Pittsburgh needed a quarterback after Kenny Pickett requested a trade following the Russell Wilson signing. Chicago received better offers but honored Fields’ request to come to Pittsburgh. He started six games in 2024, going 4-2, before relinquishing the pole position to Wilson.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

3: Boswell signing

(0 votes)

14: Trade for Justin Fields

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

4 seed: May 30, 2000 – Signed free agent safety Brent Alexander

(signed two-year, $1.29 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Brent Alexander never missed a game in six seasons with the Cardinals and Panthers. But Carolina released him in the 2000 off-season. Pittsburgh brought him on board, where he started the next 64 games. He was released due to the emergence of a young safety named Troy Polamalu.

13 seed: August 11, 2011 – Signed free agent receiver Jericho Cotchery

(signed a one-year, $860,000 deal)

Cotchery felt underappreciated in New York. Pittsburgh seemed like a good opportunity. Antwaan Randle El left (again). Hines Ward was 35. Antonio Brown was weeks away from his breakout. Although he ended up being the fourth or fifth name on the depth chart, Cotchery played in 43 games over three seasons, including 2013, when he had 602 yards and 10 touchdowns in six starts.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

4: Alexander signing

(0 votes)

13: Cotchery signing

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

5 seed: April 5, 1993 – Signed free agent quarterback Mike Tomczak

(signed three-year, $2.55 million deal)

Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images

By the time Neil O’Donnell cemented his position as starting quarterback, it was time for the Steelers to move on from Bubby Brister. They needed a new backup, and Tomczak saw Pittsburgh as his best opportunity for playing time. He stayed for seven seasons, starting nearly all of 1996, including two playoff games.

12 seed: March 20, 2020 – Traded for Chris Wormley

(traded 2021 5th round (168th overall subsequently traded, Zach Davidson) to Ravens for Chris Wormley (#355, 41 games) & 2021 7th round (254th overall, Pressley Harvin)

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Wormley and his $2 million contract became expendable when Baltimore acquired Calais Campbell. This was an inter-rival trade, so rare that it had only happened once before, in 1997. Wormley played in 41 games over three seasons. He started 14 in 2021, which is known for having the franchise’s worst rushing defense.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

5: Tomczak signing

(0 votes)

12: Chris Wormley trade

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

6 seed: October 20, 2004 – Signed free agent safety Tyrone Carter

(signed one-year deal)

Photo by: Bill Amatucci, Jr./Diamond Images/Getty Images

Although Carter had career highs in tackles and interceptions in 2003, the Jets cut him after the season to save salary cap space. He was still available in October when safety Mike Logan was lost for the season due to a hamstring injury. Carter mostly played special teams in 2004, but he soon became the next man up behind Polamalu and Clark. He played in 89 games, starting 22. He was AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 17 of 2008 and Week 9 of 2009. He has two Super Bowl rings.

11 seed: March 16, 2024 – Signed free agent quarterback Russell Wilson

(signed a one-year, $1.21 million deal)

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Denver was so desperate to part ways with Russell Wilson, that the Broncos released him and still paid his $37.79 million salary. Whatever team signed him next would only pay the veteran minimum. After a four-hour meeting between Wilson and Mike Tomlin that is said to have been “perfect,” number three joined the black and gold.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

6: Tyrone Carter signing

(0 votes)

11: Russell Wilson signing

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

7 seed: June 2, 1997 – Signed free agent receiver Courtney Hawkins

(signed three-year, $1.45 million deal)

Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Hawkins was the Bucs’ leading receiver the season before he hit free agency. He chose Pittsburgh because wide receivers coach David Culley used to coach in Tampa Bay. Hawkins was the third receiver behind Yancy Thigpen and Charles Johnson. Fortunately, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey used a lot of 4-receiver sets. Hawkins played in 54 games over four seasons, including in 1998 when he had 66 receptions and 751 yards. Although, in the biggest game of his career, the 1997 AFC Championship, Hawkins only had four catches for 30 yards on 11 targets.

10 seed: November 30, 2021 – Signed defensive tackle Montravius Adams from the New Orleans practice squad

(signed a one-year, $990,000 deal)

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

The Steelers were making history for all the wrong reasons. They were on the verge of becoming the team with the worst rushing defense in franchise history. Pittsburgh had just given up 41 points in back-to-back weeks. Something needed to change, so they poached Adams from the Saints practice squad. He’s earned two contract extensions since then, playing in 46 games over four seasons and starting 21.

Poll

Better Front Office Move?

7: Courtney Hawkins signing

(0 votes)

10: Montravius Adams signing

(0 votes)

0 votes total

Vote Now

8 seed: March 17, 2022 – Signed free agent offensive guard James Daniels

(signed three-year, $26.5 million deal)

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

In 2021, the Steelers suddenly lost David DeCastro, causing them to turn to Trai Turner at right guard. The results were poor, so in 2022, Pittsburgh signed one of the top free-agent guards on the market. Daniels said he came to Pittsburgh because of the history and the opportunity. He started 36 games in three seasons.

9 seed: March 8, 2008 – Signed free agent running back Mewelde Moore

(signed three-year, $4.95 million deal)

Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images

Moore didn’t feel appreciated in Minnesota. He received other offers in free agency, but he chose Pittsburgh in 2008 because of his desire to work with Mike Tomlin. Moore started four games during that Super Bowl season when Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall were hurt. Over four seasons, Moore appeared in 59 games.