Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew has special teams to thank for the Division I football scholarship he earned at Southern Utah, which served as the springboard for the long NFL career he's built.
Now Killebrew can thank his lifelong work as a "teamer" for the first Pro Bowl selection of his career, which he didn't believe was real, even when Steelers general manager Omar Khan shared the news in person.
"It was exciting. I didn't believe it at first. Omar [Kahn] came over and congratulated T.J. Watt over there and then he congratulated me. I said 'For what?'" Killebrew said. "He said 'Oh congratulations, you made the Pro Bowl. I was just overwhelmed with gratefulness, excitement. It's still a little surreal for me."
Killebrew has been a special teams ace going back to his high school days and credits the 10 plays of kickoff coverage that leadoff his highlight tape as the reason why he was recruited to play at Southern Utah University. He calls it 'the purest form of the game' and appreciates how even great individual efforts are the result of teamwork.
Special teams are part of Killebrew's football DNA and that has manifested itself on the field. He's not just a consistent tackler and communicator during special teams snaps but he's personally blocked four punts since joining the Steelers in 2021, a mark that would rank second among all NFL teams over that same period.
"I've always been a teamer. I've always loved it, always had a soft spot for it," Killebrew said. "It's something I've always known I could be good at and when I got to the league, it was I've been right in step with doing. I never had to change my mindset to say 'Okay now I've got to focus on this.' It's something near and deal to my heart and I take it very seriously."
So for as surprised as he was to earn his first Pro Bowl selection, he has always held faith in his abilities to do his job well. Killebrew remains humble and grateful for the different ways he's been supported by Steelers fans and his family, who he knows voted tirelessly to get him into the NFL's end-of-season exhibition to honor the best in the game.
"It means a lot to everyone who voted. Shoutout to my family and friends. I know I owe some ibuprofen or something to some of those wrists. I've got some heavy voters in my family," Killebrew said. "But I'm truly grateful to Steelers nation and it's a really exciting honor."
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