Latrobe, PA – August 4, 2025
Some coaches come in to run a system. Arthur Smith came to break the rules.
This week in Latrobe, the Steelers rolled out a formation that felt more like a fever dream from Madden or a Reddit deep dive than real-life football: four tight ends on the field — at the same time. No, you didn’t misread that. It actually happened. Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward, and rookie JJ Galbreath lined up together. And yes — Pat Freiermuth wasn’t even in the play.
At first glance, the defense saw heavy run personnel. That’s what the formation screamed. But that’s exactly where the trap was set. Just before the snap, the offense shifted into an empty set, flexing Kenneth Gainwell out wide and spreading the tight ends across the entire width of the field. What looked like a ground-and-pound setup became a matchup nightmare. Mason Rudolph found Washington for a clean touchdown. Simple. Brutal. Classic Steelers deception.
Arthur Smith couldn’t hide his grin. This wasn’t just a wrinkle — it was the fulfillment of a long-time vision. “Each of our tight ends brings something different,” one assistant coach whispered after practice. “But when you put them all together, you get something no defense is ready for.”
Freiermuth is the refined route-runner. Jonnu Smith is explosive after the catch. Washington moves like a wrecking ball in cleats. Heyward is versatile and cerebral. Galbreath? He’s the rookie with ice in his veins. Together, they give Pittsburgh a toolbox no other team in the league can match.
In a league obsessed with spread offenses and speed, the Steelers are zagging — compressing space, breaking defensive structure, and punishing opponents with diversity from a single position group. No flash. No gimmicks. Just pure, suffocating unpredictability.
“Four tight ends isn’t a joke anymore,” one reporter muttered as he packed up. “For the 2025 Steelers, it might just be a warning shot.”
