'They're going to cut me up': Pat Freiermuth describes recovering from rookie struggles

Playing in the NFL is a dream come true for so many people. It's the culmination of so much hard work and dedication. The journey doesn’t end on draft day, however. Many players quickly realize that life in the NFL can get stressful very quickly. Pat Freiermuth recently described an experience early in his career where he felt like he couldn't do anything right.

“I remember my rookie year here in Pittsburgh, I went through a really tough time,” Freiermuth wrote in a recent article on The Players' Tribune. “I fumbled in overtime against the Lions. Then a few weeks later I had a chance to catch a late touchdown against the Vikings. Harrison Smith made a great play to get the win. Still, I should have persevered.

“I remember talking to my brother at the time and I felt like I had let the whole city down. I actually remember telling him, 'I don't know if I can make it at this level.'”

It's funny that Freiermuth felt so negative after those two mistakes because he was great in his rookie season. He had 60 catches for 497 yards and 7 touchdowns. He made numerous great plays that more than made up for both of those mistakes, and yet it's the negatives that he focuses on.

It would be really difficult to blame Freiermuth for any of these losses. Both games took place in 2021 and Freiermuth was the least of the team's problems. The Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger against the Detroit Lions in Week 10. Mason Rudolph was the quarterback and he made a lot of mistakes that day. Diontae Johnson also lost a fumble in this game.

The end result was a draw, which wasn't the worst thing in the world, but still wasn't the result anyone wanted. However, things like this happen. Even this year, players have had mistakes that cost the Steelers. It is very rare for a player to lose a game. There are several factors that contribute to losing.

Freiermuth goes on to tell how several people helped pull him up when he was on the ground.

“Two people really got me through that time. One was Coach (Tomlin). When I played the Lions, I remember walking into the facility the next day and Coach (Tomlin) was one of the first people I saw in the lobby. He came right up to me and said, “I'll come back to you every time in this situation.” That gave me so much confidence. But when I dropped the pass against the Vikings, I was devastated. I was like, 'Man, they're going to cut me.' That's not the standard.'”

Freiermuth was probably beating himself up because his fumble came at the end of overtime when the Steelers were already within field goal range. However, this play didn't cost them the win, just as it didn't cost them the loss in the game against the Vikings. Again, his loss came on the last play of the game, but the Steelers defense allowed 36 points in that game, which is unacceptable.

This also shows how incredible of a leader Tomlin is. As a coach he has his problems, but when it comes to getting the best out of players there may be no one better. Freiermuth was a young player on a team that had Super Bowl aspirations, and he felt responsible for the team not getting two wins. This was a crucial point in his career and Tomlin helped him move forward.

However, as Freiermuth says, all of that negativity came rushing back as soon as he dropped the ball against the Vikings. This time it was Roethlisberger who helped him get over it.

“Like clockwork, the first person I see in the facility the next day is Ben Roethlisberger. He comes right up to me, just like Coach (Tomlin), and he says, “Hey, don’t hold your head. You know I'm going to go right back to you in this situation, right?” That's why these guys are both Hall of Famers could have frozen me in that moment, but they pumped me back up.”

Roethlisberger has been a strong believer in Freiermuth for a long time, so it's no surprise that he has the tight end behind him. Freiermuth was actually one of the reasons the Steelers even had a chance of beating the Vikings. He had already caught a touchdown from Roethlisberger that day. It's not like he had a terrible game at the end.

However, there was another person who motivated Freiermuth to push forward, and it wasn't a teammate or a coach.

“There was a third person who accompanied me through my rookie year. More than one person, actually. It was all of you. Steeler Nation. I won't lie, you gave me tough love. I needed it. But I'll never forget coming to my first day of training camp and I don't even think we had that Pads We were still catching a few balls and I heard it for the first time…

“'Mmmmuuuuuuthhhhhhh.'”

The NFL can be a cold world. One day you will have realized your dream. The next moment you are cut and suddenly you have to do something else with your life. Freiermuth was drafted in the second round, but that doesn't guarantee job security. He made mistakes and fans called him out on them, but it seems like he appreciated them, especially because of the love they showed him.

It seems silly to step back and watch an entire fan base chant the end of a rookie tight end's name, but it was more important than anyone could have imagined. Freiermuth was a young player trying to achieve his dream, and it felt like the whole world saw his every mistake. But in all 60 of his catches, the entire fan base showed him that he was loved.

Ultimately, football is just a game. At some point it ends for everyone. However, for some people it means so much more. It can unite countless people, regardless of their differences. Freiermuth was a New England kid who grew up in a family that loved the Patriots. Normally he would be someone that Steelers fans despise.

But once he became a member of the team, he was wholeheartedly accepted. He made mistakes in his rookie year, but no player is perfect. The most important thing was that he didn't lie down when he felt down.

That's life in the NFL. You will be beaten down physically and mentally. Most players struggle more than people realize. However, it sounds like the Steelers have a good support system to help each other out. There's a reason they're one of the most successful franchises in the league. Young players like Freiermuth are not punished for being human. They get the opportunity to prove that they can be better. The NFL is a company, but the Steelers are a family.