The Extra Point

The sound still catches Pat Freiermuth off guard. On the road anyway.

So yeah, it was a little weird last Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end caught a pass and heard a sizable chunk of black-andgold-clad fans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta yell “Muuuuuuuuth” as he made his way downfield.

The 24-year-old understands the chant is an honor and also a callback to retired Steelers tight end Heath Miller, who spent 11 seasons as Ben Roethlisberger’s security blanket. Most of Miller’s 592 receptions were met with the crowd — no matter the venue — bellowing “Heeeeeeeeeath” after those receptions.

Miller retired after the 2015 season. Yet his shadow has loomed for the better part of a decade while the Steelers have searched for his replacement. Now it seems, they have. Having Freiermuth put on nearweekly displays of why he in many ways seems to be Miller’s spiritual successor will do that.

The latest came last Sunday against the Falcons when Freiermuth turned a short out pattern into a 57-yard sprint, flexing afterward in a celebration that evoked Miller’s favorite — though rare — move after a big play.

Like Miller, Freiermuth is 6-foot-5. Like Miller did with Roethlisberger during his rookie season in 2005, Freiermuth has quickly developed a rapport with a young quarterback in rookie Kenny Pickett. Like Miller, Freiermuth finds a way to get downfield despite a relative lack of speed that fluctuates somewhere between plodding and passable.

Freiermuth has converted 29 of his 50 receptions into first downs, tied with wide receiver Diontae Johnson for most on the Steelers even though Johnson has 11 more catches. His 5.5 yards after-thecatch average is a testament to his ability to find open space before breaking a tackle. Or sometimes three.