New Steelers hire sends crystal-clear message to Pat Freiermuth

For Pat Freiermuth, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest coaching hire feels less like a transaction and more like a long-overdue gift. As the Mike McCarthy reunion tour continues to take shape, the Steelers are finally giving their offense — and their tight end — a reason to believe in what comes next.

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh officially announced the hiring of Brian Angelichio as offensive coordinator. It may not have generated the loudest headlines, but inside the building, this move carries real weight. Angelichio is a familiar face to McCarthy, serving as a peer from 2016 to 2018 when he coached tight ends under McCarthy’s watch.

In recent seasons, Angelichio sharpened his résumé as the Minnesota Vikings’ passing game coordinator and tight end’s coach, quietly earning a reputation for maximizing a quarterback’s most trusted weapon: the safety blanket over the middle.

For a Steelers offense desperately searching for an identity, that reputation matters. And for Freiermuth, it matters even more.

There was very little to feel good about with Pittsburgh’s offense last season. Yes, brief flashes of Aaron Rodgers’ magic helped steal a few wins, but consistency was nonexistent. Momentum never arrived. And somehow, Pat Freiermuth — once viewed as a foundational piece — faded into the background.

That disappearance was baffling.

Brian Angelichio must develop Pat Freiermuth into a premier tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Coming off an impressive 2024 campaign in which Freiermuth hauled in 65 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns, expectations were high. Instead, his role shrank. Arthur Smith leaned heavily on Darnell Washington for the majority of tight end snaps, and Freiermuth’s ability to stretch the field or control the middle of the defense vanished from the game plan.

The result was a frustrating season for a player who should have been central to Pittsburgh’s offensive vision. Freiermuth finished with just 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns — a noticeable dip in production during a year when the Steelers needed contributions from every corner of the roster. It wasn’t just disappointing. It felt wasteful.

Fans have been begging for a new era of Steelers offense, and frankly, Freiermuth has been waiting for it, too. Last season, Pittsburgh became painfully predictable. Defenses knew what was coming, and the Steelers did little to counter. By year’s end, they ranked 26th in yards per game (299.2), an offense that slowly erased its own X-factors.

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That’s where the McCarthy-Angelichio pairing brings real hope. McCarthy has already stated he’ll be calling plays, and Angelichio’s tight end background suggests the offense won’t fall into the same trap. His philosophy aligns perfectly with what Freiermuth does best — working the seams, winning in space, and becoming a reliable presence when everything else breaks down.

Make no mistake, Darnell Washington still deserves his role. His size and blocking ability are valuable. But forgetting about Pat Freiermuth again simply cannot happen. Not now. Not with an offensive coordinator who understands the power of a tight end who can tilt coverage and keep defenses honest.

If this new staff delivers on its vision, Freiermuth won’t just be involved — he’ll be essential. And for the first time in a while, it feels like the Steelers are finally giving him the chance to be exactly that.