What Happened to Patrick John Freiermuth?
Pat Freiermuth is an American professional football tight end who has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers since being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After signing a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension in 2024, he continues to be a key component of the Steelers' offense, with his contract restructured in May 2026 to create cap space. As of September 2026, he remains an active player for the team, looking to increase his production under new offensive schemes.
Quick Answer
Pat Freiermuth is currently an active tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, having been with the team since his 2021 NFL Draft selection. He signed a significant four-year contract extension in September 2024, keeping him with the team through the 2028 season. In May 2026, his contract was restructured to free up salary cap space for the Steelers. As of September 2026, he is preparing for the upcoming season, with expectations for a potentially increased role in the offense following personnel changes and a new coaching staff.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Born in Merrimac, Massachusetts
Patrick John Freiermuth was born in Merrimac, Massachusetts, U.S.
Begins College Career at Penn State
Freiermuth started his college football career at Penn State, making nine starts as a freshman and setting a record for most receiving touchdowns by a freshman tight end.
Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round, 55th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Signs Rookie Contract
Freiermuth signed a four-year rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rookie Season with 7 Touchdowns
In his rookie season, Freiermuth recorded 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns, despite suffering two concussions.
Career-High Receiving Yards
Freiermuth achieved a career-best 732 receiving yards on 63 catches and two touchdowns in 16 games.
Placed on Injured Reserve with Hamstring Injury
Freiermuth was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, missing several weeks of the season.
Signs Four-Year Contract Extension
Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers, keeping him with the team through the 2028 season.
Strong Performance Post-Extension
He played in all 17 games, catching a career-best 65 passes for 653 yards and seven touchdowns.
Modest Production with Aaron Rodgers
Freiermuth recorded 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games, playing with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Contract Restructured by Steelers
The Steelers restructured Freiermuth's contract to create approximately $4.25 million in cap space for the 2026 season, converting part of his base salary into a signing bonus.
Active for 2026 Season, Anticipating Increased Role
As of today, Pat Freiermuth is an active player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with expectations for a potentially larger role in the offense following personnel changes and a new coaching staff. He has no reported recent injuries.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Patrick 'Pat' Freiermuth embarked on his NFL journey when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (55th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, following a successful college career at Penn State where he set records for tight end touchdowns. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Steelers in May 2021. His rookie season saw him quickly establish himself, recording 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns, despite sustaining two concussions during the season.
The 2022 season marked a career high in receiving yards for Freiermuth, as he caught 63 passes for 732 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games. However, the 2023 season was hampered by injuries, most notably a hamstring injury that placed him on injured reserve in October. He returned in November but finished the season with reduced production, making 32 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games.
A significant turning point came on September 6, 2024, when Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers, securing his place with the team through the 2028 season. He followed this with a solid 2024 campaign, appearing in all 17 games and recording a career-best 65 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns. The 2025 season saw a dip in his statistical output, with 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games, playing alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers. This was his lowest receiving yardage total in a full season.
As of 2026, Freiermuth remains a central figure for the Steelers. In May 2026, the Steelers restructured his contract, converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus to create approximately $4.25 million in cap space for the 2026 season. This move did not reduce his overall earnings but shifted cap implications to future years, increasing his cap hits for 2027 and 2028. With the departure of other tight ends like Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward, and changes in the offensive coaching staff, there is an expectation for Freiermuth to potentially see an increased role and target volume in the 2026 season. He has been active in preseason activities and is currently healthy, with no recent injuries reported as of September 2026.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Patrick John Freiermuth made different choices?