Steelers’ Punters Have A Lot Of Disadvantages According To Pat McAfee: 'Very Tough Place To Punt, Wouldn’t Want To Do it'

In a recent announcement, the Pittsburgh Steelers revealed their decision to part ways with Pressley Harvin III, marking the end of a challenging tenure for the seventh-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. 

Despite his accolades at Georgia Tech, including winning the Ray Guy Award for exceptional punting, Harvin failed to find consistency in the NFL, ultimately leading to his departure from the Steelers roster.

Steelers Punter Pressley Harvin III Struggled In Pittsburgh

While Harvin occasionally showcased his punting prowess with booming kicks, his overall performance was marred by inconsistency. Throughout the 2023 season, Steelers fans voiced their discontent with Harvin's struggles, particularly in contributing to the team's field position woes. 

Despite executing 78 punts, Harvin's average distance per punt fell well below expectations at 43.8 yards, ranking him 35th in the league. Although he managed to pin opponents deep in their territory on occasion, with 30 punts landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line, his inability to consistently deliver strategic kicks led to his downfall. With only 32 NFL teams, ranking 35th isn't something that will keep you on a NFL roster as a punter. 

While Harvin's shortcomings were evident in his statistics, it's crucial to consider the situational nature of punting in the NFL. Merely measuring performance by yards per punt fails to capture the strategic importance of pinning opponents deep in their territory. Despite sporadic successes, Harvin's overall performance fell short of expectations, prompting the Steelers to seek alternative options for their punting game.

Former Indianapolis Colts punter, Pat McAfee weighed in on the Steelers' punting struggles, drawing from his own experience in the NFL. On his show, The Pat McAfee Show, he dropped some insight about how difficult it is to be a punter in Pittsburgh.

“I think being in Pittsburgh is tough. I think that is a tough place to punt. Just everywhere you play is terrible. Pittsburgh is terrible. The fans will boo you. It’s a very tough place to punt, wouldn’t want to do it.”

McAfee, who achieved notable success during his career as a punter, emphasized the importance of finding a reliable punter to help shift the field and compete effectively within the division. McAfee highlighted Matt Araiza, the former Buffalo Bills punter known as the "Punt God," as a potential solution for the Steelers' punting woes. 

“I did see though, after watching his film and how he punts. Matt Araiza is a guy that would be able to potentially handle the AFC North stadiums. You have to have a very strong leg. The Punt God has obviously been through a lot and now he’s been cleared of charges, and he’s not been back in the NFL. Maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers are at a place to pick him and maybe they have a little punter play.”

Despite recent allegations against Araiza, which have since been dropped, McAfee believes Araiza's skill set aligns with the Steelers' needs, offering a promising solution to their punting challenges. With everything Araiza has overcome, including the allegations he faced and ultimately being cleared, he's now in an excellent position for the Steelers to consider bringing him in as a replacement for Harvin.

With the departure of Harvin, the Steelers face the task of bolstering their punting game to remain competitive in the league. Araiza emerges as a viable candidate to fill this crucial role, offering the potential to enhance the team's field position and overall performance. Should the Steelers pursue Araiza, they would address a significant offseason concern while positioning themselves for success in the upcoming season.

Many Steelers fans are eagerly anticipating Araiza's potential as the next punter in Pittsburgh. The upcoming decision regarding the Steelers' next move will certainly make headlines. McAfee injects humor into his show, yet his analysis, particularly on punting, is highly regarded. His insights on Araiza's performance on film are likely to amplify the excitement among Steelers fans rooting for Araiza to join the team.