Steelers tight ends coach says Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are a “selfless” tandem

With Cincinnati ahead on the schedule, Steelers tight ends coach Robert Kugler is pointing to a specific strength of Pittsburgh’s passing game shape: the way Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington complement one another as a “selfless” pair.

Kugler said that in practice and in how they carry themselves, the duo has matched the reputations he’d already heard when he arrived in Pittsburgh. He described them as selfless and noted that the tight end room has been a good one “on and off the field.”

The production has helped validate that message. Kugler pointed out that, since Week 4, one or both tight ends have recorded a touchdown in every game, and that Freiermuth and Washington have alternated as the team’s leading receiver at the position.

For the season totals through the point of Kugler’s comments, Washington has 254 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns and 19 receptions on 28 targets, while Freiermuth has 235 yards, 5 total touchdowns and 25 receptions on 35 targets.

Kugler said the coaching staff is also able to use both players differently. He described Washington as having a distinctive presence in the run game, while also asking more of him as a receiver, and he said Freiermuth has been able to take on a blocking-heavy role in addition to his pass-catching.

Kugler emphasized the strategic advantage Pittsburgh gets from keeping both tight ends on the field in ways that can stress defenses, contrasting the Steelers with teams that must heavily scheme around a single tight end. He said Pittsburgh can “scheme to” No. 80, describing it as a mismatch opportunity.

Freiermuth’s role has also included recent short-yardage production. Kugler referenced Freiermuth’s first NFL rushing touchdown in a Week 8 win over the Browns, explaining that Pittsburgh calls the quarterback-sneak concept “Nittany” and that Freiermuth is the short-yardage ball-carrier.

Kugler also tied the matchup to Freiermuth’s previous Bengals success at Paycor Stadium. He noted that in five career road games against Cincinnati, Freiermuth has 29 catches for 414 yards and 4 touchdowns, and that he has recorded at least 75 receiving yards or a touchdown plus four or more receptions in each of those appearances.