Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth emulates Cam Newton, celebrates TD with aggressive dab
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth evoked Cam Newton and busted out the quarterback’s vintage dab celebration after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in a preseason bout on Saturday evening. Freiermuth’s score gave the Steelers a 14-0 lead.
With Kenny Pickett in at quarterback, Freiermuth ran route right up the hash through the seam of the defense. As he came open right between a quartet of Bills defenders, Pickett’s well-timed throw found him.
Just a few yards shy of the end zone, Freiermuth’s momentum carried him in for a score that further fired up the home Pittsburgh crowd.
The dab celebration is one that Newton used frequently and popularized during the 2015 NFL season when he won MVP and led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance.
Freiermuth isn’t likely to account for 45 total touchdowns or be in the MVP race, but the Pittsburgh tight end might be doing something else that Newton once did: Bring the dab to the forefront of the NFL celebration game.
He’ll probably need to work on his form and flow into the celebration, but the intensity is clearly more than enough.
The Steelers took an early lead on a big run from Jaylen Warren
It didn’t take long for Jaylen Warren to show off his speed in Saturday’s preseason game against the Bills. Just a little more than two minutes into the first quarter, Warren took a handoff and raced past several defenders on his way to the end zone for a 62-yard touchdown.
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Warren weaved around a block from Pittsburgh receiver Diontae Johnson and was off to the races as a defender dived to try to trip him up but missed.
It was the first carry of the game for Warren and he certainly made it count. The Oklahoma State product is set to enter his second season in Pittsburgh after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie to finish with 379 yards rushing and a touchdown behind Najee Harris.
It was a big day off the field for the Steelers, too
Fans crowded into the FedEx Great Hall Saturday at Acrisure Stadium to honor the late, great Franco Harris. Saturday is the first home game for the Steelers, although it was a preseason contest.
But Pittsburgh decided it was the best time to unveil Harris’ retired number exhibit. Franco’s widow, Dana, and son, Dok, also were part of the ceremony.
Dana looked out at the crowd and told them “Franco would be grinning ear to ear.” And she said it would be the best time because that what her husband would say.