Former Steelers Undrafted Rookie Explained How Chuck Noll Extended His Career: 'They're Getting Ready To Cut Me'

The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for their legendary run in the 1970s, as Head Coach Chuck Noll helped turn a dysfunctional basement-dweller of a team into the envy of the league. Even after that success faded in the '80s, he was still one of the most respected coaches in the league, as he helped many players have long, fruitful careers. Even in a franchise as storied as Pittsburgh since then, he is still the best coach the team has ever had, and the wonders he did are still talked about to this day. 

While making an appearance on The Approach Shot, former Steelers great Dwight Stone spoke about how he thought his career was almost over when Noll was really setting him up for the future.

"It was Coach Noll's idea to move me to receiver after my third or fourth year," Stone said. "I was like, 'Ah man, they're getting ready to cut me. That's what they're doing; they're doing it in a soft way.' Coach Noll said, 'No, we're going to be very patient with you, Stoney. Your body was not going to uphold the kind of offense [we are] running': more of a power, and they said that, 'It will wear you down.' I was doing most of the blocking, and Merril Hoge got to carry the ball."

Instead of being released like he thought, Stone's career was just getting started, as he spent eight years with the Steelers and 14 total seasons in the NFL. In his fifth season in Pittsburgh, shortly after he changed positions, he had his best season as a pure wideout with 649 yards and five touchdowns on just 32 receptions, as he made himself known as a big play threat. 

The next two seasons, Stone embraced more of a utility man role, as he had over 500 receiving yards and over 100 rushing yards in each of those seasons. He averaged about 14.5 yards per reception and about 10 yards per carry during that timeframe. He was also a return man and a special teamer, but he played less in that regard while he was having his best offensive seasons of his career.

He may have not had the greatest numbers as a utility man, but he had a very defined role in the offense: get in the open space and make magic happen. That's what made him a successful kick returner before and after his offensive outbursts. For a team that was constantly running the ball like the Steelers, having a burner that could take the top off the defense like that forced opposing defenses to play back a bit and open the run game more.

Steelers Are Currently Embracing Same Mindset That They Had With Stone

As usual, the Steelers are projected to be a ground-and-pound offense for the 2025 season, as they have a solid rotation of three different running backs with differing skill sets to be less predictable. However, opposing defenses can't sell out for the run on first down due to the weapons that Pittsburgh has on the outside. 

DK Metcalf has made a living off of running go routes and making opposing defensive backs look bad. That's exactly why the Steelers gave up a second-round pick and gave him a massive four-year extension. He is expected to be the top wideout on the team, as his big-play abilities will be relied on to get the offense moving and provide another dimension to it. 

On the other side of the field, there is Calvin Austin III: a small, shifty, speedy receiver that is much better with running routes, and he also that ability to take the top off the defense. Instead of outright "mossing" everyone and powering through defenses like Metcalf, Austin can make men miss tackles as he runs circles around them before getting to the end zone. Those two receivers will both be acting as Stone did during the 1990s.