On Wednesday, he got engaged to his girlfriend. Just a few days before that, the Steelers acquired him in a trade and gave him a five-year, $150-million contract, the richest non-quarterback deal in franchise history.
"It's been great. I don't know too many more words than 'great,' " Metcalf said Thursday. "I found a new home here. I found a new fiancée. Everything's just falling in line just the way God planned for it to be. I'm just excited to continue to move forward."
Metcalf stepped to the podium Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, accompanied by his friends and family on one side and Mike Tomlin on the other. While many are counting the seconds while Aaron Rodgers mulls his NFL future and whether or not the Steelers will be a part of it, Metcalf was counting his blessings.
Furthermore, Metcalf didn't display one shred of anxiety, wondering who was going to throw him the football for the next five seasons. He didn't have any pitch for Rodgers or any other quarterback, including his good friend, Russell Wilson, who helped set him up with his fiancée, Normani, who rose to prominence with the girl group Fifth Harmony.
Instead, his focus was intently on the team that immediately reached out to the Seahawks when he became available via trade.
"I hopped on the phone with those three great gentlemen (Tomlin, Omar Khan, Art Rooney II), they made me feel welcome," Metcalf said. "And then secondly, they made me feel like they had the right decision with who was going to be throwing me the football. And I'm not making the decision in the quarterback room, so I'm just going to try to do the best of my abilities to help whoever they have out there throwing the football so they make the correct decisions to bring the quarterback in here. So I'm just going to roll with that."
Adding Metcalf is a shift from the way the Steelers normally do things. The size of the contract alone does that. And, given the recent history of talented wide receivers in Pittsburgh, committing that kind of money to a receiver can come with some criticism.
But, as far is first impressions go, Metcalf passed with flying colors. He didn't take a stance on the quarterback situation. Yes, Mason Rudolph is returning on a two-year, $8-million contract. So, at least the Steelers have somebody under contract who can throw the football. But, that's not exactly a needle-mover in terms of potentially pleasing a $150-million wide receiver.
Metcalf also didn't come in and try to assert himself as some alpha male. He'll let his play on the field speak for itself. There's a reason why the Steelers traded away a second-round pick and forked over all that cash. But, he's not even trying to negotiate with George Pickens for the No. 14 jersey, the same number he wore during his six seasons in Seattle. He's ditching it for a fresh start with the No. 4.
"He's been here, he's made a staple in the number 14," Metcalf said. "I'm not trying to take away from anybody’s legacy. I'm just trying to help build mine."
Metcalf now gets to add to his legacy in Pittsburgh. While it's a new team, it's not all that unfamiliar. No, he likely won't have Wilson as his quarterback. But, Tomlin planted that seed with Metcalf during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That's what his mind went back to the moment he heard the Steelers were interested after he requested a trade:
"I felt ecstatic just to hear about the Steelers," Metcalf said. "(Tomlin) always spoke volumes into me and spoke of my play style in college. Just being in the league, going up to him before or after a game and he kept that same rapport with me. It just felt like the right decision for me."
That's what Tomlin does. Even if the Steelers don't draft a player, that doesn't mean there isn't an avenue to Pittsburgh somewhere down the line. Metcalf has grown into one of the league's best receivers. But, Seattle acquiesced to Metcalf's trade request and Tomlin pounced.
"Everything comes full circle in this league or in life," Metcalf said. "It just felt right hearing his voice again. Just seeing that same excitement from the Combine to six years later. He sees the type of player that I am. He's a football guru. He watches film. My play style, I think, jumps off the tape to him. Just to be in the same realm or organization to where I felt wanted was a big plus."
Of course, Tomlin will have his work cut out for him. Metcalf plays with a lot of emotion and passion. He will take penalties every now and then. Pickens can't keep his name out of headlines, whether it be due to messaging on eye black, exchanges with media members or arguing with fans while on the sideline. And if Rodgers signs with the team, he comes with his own set of potential distractions.
But, Metcalf seems to be about the betterment of the team. He sees himself making his own impact in Arthur Smith's offense, the same way A.J. Brown did when Smith was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. And, when it comes to two highly-talented receivers sharing targets, Metcalf believes you can both want the football and play the "ultimate team game."
"I'm just here to try to instill any wisdom or any knowledge that he allows me to, and vice versa," Metcalf said. "I feel like there's some things that I can learn from him that he does, and ... I've been around some very talented receivers to where I knew how to take a backseat and learn from guys like that. I'm willing to do the same if the case may be that here."
Given the five-year contract Metcalf signed, it's pretty clear who the organization will be leaning on moving forward. While Pickens is still in Pittsburgh, just the acquisition of Metcalf has cast a cloud over his future beyond this season, when his rookie contract expires.
Bringing in Metcalf solidifies the top of the wide receiver depth chart for a long time. That's why he's had one of the best week's of his life.
"I don't think many conversations needed to be had," Metcalf said. "Like I said, Coach Tomlin watching the film to where he recognized the player that I am first and the leadership skills will come as they need to be, but we're here to win games. We're here to win as many games as we can. That's why I'm here."
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
11:08 pm - 03.13.2025South SideMetcalf's 'great' week full circle
It's been quite a week for DK Metcalf.
On Wednesday, he got engaged to his girlfriend. Just a few days before that, the Steelers acquired him in a trade and gave him a five-year, $150-million contract, the richest non-quarterback deal in franchise history.
"It's been great. I don't know too many more words than 'great,' " Metcalf said Thursday. "I found a new home here. I found a new fiancée. Everything's just falling in line just the way God planned for it to be. I'm just excited to continue to move forward."
Metcalf stepped to the podium Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, accompanied by his friends and family on one side and Mike Tomlin on the other. While many are counting the seconds while Aaron Rodgers mulls his NFL future and whether or not the Steelers will be a part of it, Metcalf was counting his blessings.
Furthermore, Metcalf didn't display one shred of anxiety, wondering who was going to throw him the football for the next five seasons. He didn't have any pitch for Rodgers or any other quarterback, including his good friend, Russell Wilson, who helped set him up with his fiancée, Normani, who rose to prominence with the girl group Fifth Harmony.
Instead, his focus was intently on the team that immediately reached out to the Seahawks when he became available via trade.
"I hopped on the phone with those three great gentlemen (Tomlin, Omar Khan, Art Rooney II), they made me feel welcome," Metcalf said. "And then secondly, they made me feel like they had the right decision with who was going to be throwing me the football. And I'm not making the decision in the quarterback room, so I'm just going to try to do the best of my abilities to help whoever they have out there throwing the football so they make the correct decisions to bring the quarterback in here. So I'm just going to roll with that."
Adding Metcalf is a shift from the way the Steelers normally do things. The size of the contract alone does that. And, given the recent history of talented wide receivers in Pittsburgh, committing that kind of money to a receiver can come with some criticism.
But, as far is first impressions go, Metcalf passed with flying colors. He didn't take a stance on the quarterback situation. Yes, Mason Rudolph is returning on a two-year, $8-million contract. So, at least the Steelers have somebody under contract who can throw the football. But, that's not exactly a needle-mover in terms of potentially pleasing a $150-million wide receiver.
Metcalf also didn't come in and try to assert himself as some alpha male. He'll let his play on the field speak for itself. There's a reason why the Steelers traded away a second-round pick and forked over all that cash. But, he's not even trying to negotiate with George Pickens for the No. 14 jersey, the same number he wore during his six seasons in Seattle. He's ditching it for a fresh start with the No. 4.
"He's been here, he's made a staple in the number 14," Metcalf said. "I'm not trying to take away from anybody’s legacy. I'm just trying to help build mine."
Metcalf now gets to add to his legacy in Pittsburgh. While it's a new team, it's not all that unfamiliar. No, he likely won't have Wilson as his quarterback. But, Tomlin planted that seed with Metcalf during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That's what his mind went back to the moment he heard the Steelers were interested after he requested a trade:
"I felt ecstatic just to hear about the Steelers," Metcalf said. "(Tomlin) always spoke volumes into me and spoke of my play style in college. Just being in the league, going up to him before or after a game and he kept that same rapport with me. It just felt like the right decision for me."
That's what Tomlin does. Even if the Steelers don't draft a player, that doesn't mean there isn't an avenue to Pittsburgh somewhere down the line. Metcalf has grown into one of the league's best receivers. But, Seattle acquiesced to Metcalf's trade request and Tomlin pounced.
"Everything comes full circle in this league or in life," Metcalf said. "It just felt right hearing his voice again. Just seeing that same excitement from the Combine to six years later. He sees the type of player that I am. He's a football guru. He watches film. My play style, I think, jumps off the tape to him. Just to be in the same realm or organization to where I felt wanted was a big plus."
Of course, Tomlin will have his work cut out for him. Metcalf plays with a lot of emotion and passion. He will take penalties every now and then. Pickens can't keep his name out of headlines, whether it be due to messaging on eye black, exchanges with media members or arguing with fans while on the sideline. And if Rodgers signs with the team, he comes with his own set of potential distractions.
But, Metcalf seems to be about the betterment of the team. He sees himself making his own impact in Arthur Smith's offense, the same way A.J. Brown did when Smith was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. And, when it comes to two highly-talented receivers sharing targets, Metcalf believes you can both want the football and play the "ultimate team game."
"I'm just here to try to instill any wisdom or any knowledge that he allows me to, and vice versa," Metcalf said. "I feel like there's some things that I can learn from him that he does, and ... I've been around some very talented receivers to where I knew how to take a backseat and learn from guys like that. I'm willing to do the same if the case may be that here."
Given the five-year contract Metcalf signed, it's pretty clear who the organization will be leaning on moving forward. While Pickens is still in Pittsburgh, just the acquisition of Metcalf has cast a cloud over his future beyond this season, when his rookie contract expires.
Bringing in Metcalf solidifies the top of the wide receiver depth chart for a long time. That's why he's had one of the best week's of his life.
"I don't think many conversations needed to be had," Metcalf said. "Like I said, Coach Tomlin watching the film to where he recognized the player that I am first and the leadership skills will come as they need to be, but we're here to win games. We're here to win as many games as we can. That's why I'm here."
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