Even though they haven’t met in nearly three years, the Steelers and Patriots aren’t exactly strangers.
Two organizations, with plenty of tradition, success and hardware to show for it, meet Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
And some on the Steelers side may have a personal vendetta heading into the game.
“Anytime you play the ex, you want to show out,” said Steelers receiver/return man Gunner Olszewski Friday.
Olszewsk spent the last three seasons in New England. But the Patriots declined to tender the 25-year-old, and the Steelers pounced on the 2020 All-Pro.
“Yeah, it stings a little bit,” said Olsewski, whose first NFL game came against the Steelers in 2019. “If you’ve ever been let go from a job or someone doesn’t want you back, it hurts. But I’m appreciative to be where I am now.
“Any time I get the ball I want to do something with it. Playing the old team, the team that didn’t want you. Sure, I want to go out there and show what I can do.”
Hard feelings aside, Olszewski does respect the Patriots’ way of operating, and likens it to his new team.
“Good teams already know how to prepare for football games,” he said. “Being on a good team here in Pittsburgh, we’re doing things similar to what we did in New England.”
Steelers-Patriots may not have the shimmer around it that it once did without the likes of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger in the rivalry, but the two coaches remain, Bill Belichick in New England and Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh.
“It’s the details from Bill,” said Steelers defensive lineman Montravius Adams, who spent last summer with New England. “The things I saw Bill do and the way that he coaches is unbelievable.”
“I don’t think about their differences much, I think about their similarities,” Olszewski added. “They’re two of the most consistent coaches in football. They are who they are every single day and what they expect out of you. I’m very appreciative to have played for both.”
Olszewski is, really, the player most familiar with New England, particularly their offense and special teams units. But he’s not exactly a bastion of insider knowledge for his new team.
“I’m not gong to tell them nothing unless I’m 100 percent sure about it,” he said. “They’ve had some coaching changes over there, so I’m not 100 percent sure on what they’re doing on the offensive side or the defensive side anymore. Stuff that I see, sure, I’ll mention it. But these coaches do this for a living, breaking down film, so I’m sure I won’t tell them nothing they don’t already know.”
Pittsburgh has a definite respect for this week’s opponents. Even with a 20-7 loss in its opening game at Miami, New England is certainly well coached, and the feeling goes both ways.
Both organizations are going through a bit of a transitional period, but their histories are real, their successes are real, and their coaching is as strong as anyone’s.
“(Belichick) told us what kind of team the Steelers are and now I’ve got to experience what the Steelers are,” Olszewski added. “And he was right about every word.”