Chris, just take me through the process of how you became a Pittsburgh Steeler and what it's been like just in the short time you've been here. It was definitely, uh, you know, a crazy ride through draft weekend, you know, just all the uncertainty and things like that, and then, uh, I didn't really talk to the Pittsburgh Steelers, you know, I got brought here on my visit and then uh, you know, coach Tomlin called me and let me know the news, and uh, you know, it was just a
surreal moment, a moment I'll never forget. And I'm just for every you know, grateful you know, to the Steelers
organization for bringing me in. And then since I've been here, it's been really good at just you know, getting to know the guys, going to know my rookie class, and sort of starting to build those relationships, because I do think that's you know, one of the most important, you know things in football is getting to know your guys and you know, really forming those relationships on the field. You know, you know, you're going to bat with guys
that are gonna go to bat with you. So it's been great and just uh, you know, as a quarterback. It's a lot to take in and just get uh, you know, learning, a lot developing and uh, we'll see how this year goes. Who did you meet during your pre draft? Is that when you're in Pittsburgh. I know they're be fast. But who did you spend the most time with. Definitely spent the most time with Blaine he's our wide receiver's assistant coach, and UH coach Tom Show And then I got to meet with coach Canada as
well and coach Hamlin. So it was great to you know, just put a face uh with them and get to know them personally. You know, you see coach Haman on the sideline on TV and he looks all serious, but he's a really cool dude. And we got to you know, sort of bond about you know, when he lived in Tampa. I'm from Tampa, so it was good to meet them. For sure. Is he who you thought he was going to be now that you've had a chance to be
around him more? Yeah, I know, just because you know, there's so many guys that I know that have played for him. You know, Gionta I've known for a while, Ray mcleoud have known for a while, Dion Kane, all those guys have played here. So when I'm back home training, you know, I would ask him about coach Hamlin. They're like, man, if you ever came here, you'd love them. And so it's been it's been great, and he's exactly who I thought,
you know, who I've heard he was. He mentioned a number of guys that you know who who played here, have played here, Deontay somebody who worked out with this season. How has he looked and how is it, you know, getting a chance to work with him. He looks great. You know, he's definitely, uh, he's ready to get back up here, and you know he's just making sure his
body's and you know, recovering from last season. But uh, you know, we've gotten to definitely throw and work out every single day together and he he's definitely gonna be ready, and I'm excited to see, you know, what he does this year or two after coming off a Pro Bowl year last year, which was definitely deserved, and I'm just really proud of him just how far he's come. You know, he was my host when he was at Toledo, so we've known each other for a while and so it's
always good. We see someone from the city doing pretty well. How do you explain you know, getting drafted as the ultimate goal for everybody draft weekend, but coming somewhere where they don't know who the quarterback is going to be. They don't know, I who's going to be in the quarterback room this season? Is that exciting? Is it nervous? Anxious? How do you explain that feeling? I think it's a
little bit of everything. You know, there's there's a lot of uncertains uncertains in our room, and you know, I think we have a really good room with you know, Mitch Mason, then uh Kenny and myself, and we all bring a lot of different things the table, you know,
at the quarterback position. So, like I said, meeting getting to build relationships with other guys on the field, it's just as important to build those relationships with guys in your room because not only you know, we're competing versus each other, then we're all pushing each other. But at the same time, you know, uh, we all have a role, and you know, whatever my role is going to be for this upcoming season, I'm gonna embrace that rolling you know,
hit it full head steam. You mentioned how you all bring something different? What do you bring that's different than the other guys? You know, I think, you know, look at my film and just the ability to use my legs and get out of trouble, you know if need be, uh, you know, evading the rushes and making some off platform throws, you know, pushing the ball down the field and creating explosive plays. You know, that's it makes the game fun for me, you know, making a big splash play, especially
when your team needs it. So I think that's what I bring to the table, and uh, you know, that's what I look to bring to this organization. Have you always been hard to take down? Oh? Yeah, yeah, since I was a little. Uh, I was always growing up, I was like, always one of the fast, these guys
on my team. So I remember when I was little, one of my coaches, you know, he put me out running back and he told my uh, he told my dad that I'd never be a quarterback and that you know, I'd probably be a running back a receiver when I got older. So I'd love to sort of think what he thinks. Now. Yeah, I was gonna say, it's funny you remember that. Yeah, I've never forgotten it sort of that chip that I've always sort of had on my shoulder that, you know, if someone says I can't do something,
then we'll see him. I'm gonna bet on myself every time I know you and Donlin Hodgens know each other. Was he called duck in college? Duck? Yet I've never heard him called Denlin people when we call him duck. Okay, all right, So that just wasn't a Pittsburgh thing. Um. Did you have a chance to watch him when he, you know, was here and what he was able to do in that two thousand nineteen season. Of course. Well,
I was just telling people the other day. You know, I was at Sanford at the time, and I was a quarterback right after him, and uh, he had just gotten cut, you know, after camp. So he was back in Birmingham sort of throwing and then like he'd hit me up, you know, on the weekends we go grab food and hang out, and then you know, I hit him up Friday and like, hey, what are you doing today, and he's like, oh, I'm actually flying back out to Pittsburgh.
He's like, the Steelers just called me back. And I was like, well, congrats. And then two weeks later, he's just starting quarterback. I'm like Sunday Night football, which was crazy and crazy turn around for him. But I kept in contact with him the whole time, and he he loved Pittsburgh. I always told him he was like a Pittsburgh legend for like, you know, those weeks he was playing quarterback here, so I was pretty cool to see. Thanks Christ, appreciate your time. Yeah, for sure, thank you