Payton Wilson says he’ll take huge step in 2025

LB says they don’t have to game play to help weaker links out this year

LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Without naming names, some insight from Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson as to why there were issues with the defense last year.

“You don’t have to game plan to help people out anymore,” Wilson said. “We have guys you can put on an island at any position. Whether that’s linebacker, nickel, DB spot, safety spot. You can put them on an island and they are going to get the job done and you can trust them with that.”

You can speculate to the names and probably be right. What he said was powerful in that the Steelers couldn’t do what they wanted because they felt like they had some weak links on defense in 2024. For him specifically, Wilson said he was a shell of himself, but what you see from number 41 this year should be much different.

For one reason-confidence.

“At the beginning, you are more so worried about not messing up than making the big play,” Wilson admitted about his rookie season. “Once you get really comfortable, it just becomes football again. When you know the playbook, you don’t have to think about it. You can just rely on instincts and play fast.”

He’s now able to give captains Cam Heyward and TJ Watt a play call without hesitating. He’s not worried about giving the wrong signal because Wilson says he knows the defense like the back his hand. It’s instinctual. He’s able to react instead of think. He’s not concerned about a mistake, rather excited to make a big play.

This confidence not only comes from being in his second year, but the time he’s spent with veteran Patrick Queen. Every rep during the first four days of training camp, Queen and Wilson were on the field together. He’s inspired by how he says Queen plays. Wilson said he learned from Queen how to give maximum effort on every snap.

“It was kind of cool to see after the games how dog tired he was,” Wilson said. “How much he put on the line for the team. I want to do the same thing. When I walk off that field, I want to be able to say I gave it everything that I completely had, the coaches trusted me fully and I played the whole game.”

If he does that, Wilson says he will be elite.

“I feel like I’m one of the better cover linebackers in the world, to be honest,” Wilson said. “I feel like any tight end, any running back that lines up out there, I’m willing to go toe-to-toe with them.”

One of his new teammates agrees.

“Payton is probably one of the best coverage linebackers in the league,” said linebacker Malik Harrison. “I feel like he is going to skyrocket up and be one of the top linebackers. Just seeing him practice, he’s real athletic. He can move. He can run.”

To prepare for the season, Wilson has done a ton of work against running back Kenneth Gainwell. The Eagles Super Bowl champ matches up with Wilson in practice and the coaches keep track of the results. He really likes new inside linebackers coach and former Pitt linebacker Scott McCurley. He said he brings details, energy and critical accountability.

“He wants us in a sense be perfect, which is what you want from a coach,” Wilson said. “You don’t want someone that’s like ‘you did this, but it’s ok because we can do this’. No, you want it exactly right. As a linebacker that is looking to be as good as I want to be, that’s been really helpful.”

The goal is to be on the field for every snap. Someone you can count on to not only cover in obvious passing downs, but go downhill on run plays.

Told about what he’s said, head coach Mike Tomlin said simply.

“I appreciate the mindset, he’ll be given an opportunity to prove that.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images