Steelers WR DK Metcalf impressed with new team and teammates: “A lot of people don’t give them the respect they deserve”

DK Metcalf is now fully settled in with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team he hopes will allow him to realize his career dream of reaching the Super Bowl.

The 27-year-old wide receiver joined Pittsburgh back in March, signing a five-year contract worth $150 million. After six seasons with the Seahawks, making it to the postseason in 2019, 2020 and 2022, he felt the time was right to move on.

The Steelers have advanced to the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, each time losing in the Wild Card round but Metcalf, who comes on board along with postseason arrivals including four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, is confident that the team will advance further this time around.

That’s what he told Inside Training Camp Live this week. The Steelers kicked off their training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania six days ago and Metcalf has taken no time to build up a rapport with his teammates.

The Metcalf-Rodgers connection

“It’s been fun here, just getting to know my teammates, throwing with Aaron, getting to know him more. Just being in Pittsburgh and seeing these awesome fans man - you see how much history this franchise, organization carries. Just to be a part of it, I’m just happy to be here,“ Metcalf told Ian Rapoport and Steve Smith Sr.

The former Seattle WR added that he has been “welcomed with open arms” by his new team. He was asked about the private throwing sessions he held with Rodgers at UCLA‘s facilities back at the end of March. Meltcalf believes he helped to build a solid connection with the veteran QB.

“It does help but getting those live team reps, there’s nothing like, y’know, getting the 11-on-11 reps with the QB-center exchange, making sure the O-line has the blocking assignments, going against that reckless defense we’ve got on the other side of the ball... Every play I get to go against either JPJ [Joey Porter Jr.], Jalen [Ramsey] or [Darius] Slay, so I’m always getting better in that aspect. The offseason workout helps but it doesn’t compare to real football once you put the ball down in training camp".

Metcalf and Ramsey, from rivals to teammates

Along with Rodgers, Melcalf now also finds himself on the same team as cornerback Jalen Ramsey - his old rival in NFC West. Ramsey was traded to the Steelers in June in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick plus a 2027 fifth-round pick.

“We both understand that we’re teammates,” Metcalf says. “One thing I’ve always respected about Jalen was his competitive edge, and every time we stepped on the field it was always, ‘I’m not going to let you win’ and vice versa. But now that we’re teammates, first one-on-one rep we always jump up there, shake each other’s hand, and let’s work and that’s it. Just having him here like I said man, Slay, Joey Porter Jr., Juan Thornhill, Deshon Elliott... all those guys on the back end. They’ve got my respect, because they’re ultimate competitors but off the field, we can chop it up about anything, chill in the lunch room, play cards together..."

As the the defense, he enthused: “Man, you don’t want my opinion because I think they’re the best defense I’ve ever seen. I tip my hat to them because they come to work every day and we don’t have any choice but to get better”.

Hard work and sacrifice

Looking at the depth chart for the 2025 season, Metcalf says the Steelers have talent throughout the roster - including the WR position. “We’ve got dogs everywhere around the room and a lot of people don’t give them the respect that they deserve. Just like the defense comes out the work, the offense does the same thing, day in, day out. No complaining, they go out there banged up every day at practice and you don’t hear anything about them, they just go out there and work. That’s one thing I respect not only about the defense but this whole team”.

He continued: “Just speaking on the receiver room, we have our own identity and I think that’s what’s going to make us special because the outside noise doesn’t carry any weight in this organization or in our room. We’re always gonna be us and we’re always gonna put our identity on the game”.

DK Metcalf’s team objective in Pittsburgh

Metcalf is happy in his new home and the objectives are clear. “I just wanna win the Super Bowl and that’s it. I think all the personal accolades and everything else is gonna take care of itself. If I just come out here, work hard, take care of my brothers on the field to my right and my left, everything else is gonna take care of itself”.

The Steelers preseason gets underway as guests of the Jaguars at EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville on Saturday August 9. The team are at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week later on August 16, then face the Carolina Panthers at Bank Of America Stadium on August 21.

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