The Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers' Shocking Similarities In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers share some striking parallels with the San Francisco 49ers when examined closely. However, the question arises as to how these teams will perform against each other and how close the end result may be while sharing such a similar foundation. In this regard, Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette hosts Jenna Harner on his Locked on Steelers podcast as they delve into an intriguing examination of these teams, highlighting the prowess of their standout performers including T.J. Watt and Nick Bosa, as well as the promising potential of their respective young quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett and Brock Purdy.

During a respectable first season, Pickett showed signs that he was well-poised to establish himself as the cornerstone of the Steelers' organization. Purdy, a seventh-round pick who helped the 49ers reach the NFC title game last season, made his own impact by creating one of the league's most improbable success stories. Steelers fans are now hopeful that their own quarterback, Pickett, can replicate Purdy's success, especially since he showed steady improvement after taking over as the starting quarterback a month into his rookie season. 

After being given the opportunity to turn things around for Pittsburgh only a month into last season, Pickett displayed continuous growth and development. The progress he made during Pittsburgh's impressive 7-2 winning streak towards the end of the year seemed to gain even more momentum during the 2023 preseason. With his remarkable talent, he led the first-team offense to score every time he stepped onto the field.