The 2024 season is going to be an interesting one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only are they revamping the team’s quarterback room, but the longest tenured pass catcher on the team is in a contract year.

Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The team selected him with the 55th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. During a recent appearance on the Around the 412 Podcast, Pittsburgh’s star TE talked about the importance of him earning a second contract with the Steelers, where he hopes to finish out his NFL career.

“I want to be in Pittsburgh for the rest of my career. Hopefully it shakes out that way,” Freiermuth said. “Next year, this year, whatever happens I want to continue to play for Pittsburgh because Pittsburgh reminds me of where I’m from and how I was raised. So, I feel very at peace and very comfortable in Pittsburgh so hopefully it shakes out the way that I want it to in the next coming year or whenever that may be.”

Freiermuth is no stranger to Pennsylvania. After growing up in Massachusetts, he played three seasons for the Penn State Nittany Lions before declaring for the draft. Freiermuth says he knew Pittsburgh had an interest in him and thought he might get a call from them.

“On draft night my agent made a list of teams that were in on me and were not. There were a couple of picks before Pittsburgh that I could have gone to and then I saw the ‘412’ area code pop up and I knew exactly where it was,” Freiermuth said. “Obviously going to school at Penn State I kind of knew people from Pittsburgh with that area code. It was cool. I kind of knew they liked me a lot. My agent told me that if I was at (pick) 55, they were probably gonna take me which was awesome.”

Freiermuth became a fan favorite as a rookie, scoring seven touchdowns in his first season. However, he missed five games last season due to a hamstring injury. That combined with poor QB play resulted in his worst statistical season.

The Steelers have become one of the most talked about teams this offseason and are now entering a new era with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as potential starting QBs. Freiermuth says he and some other Steelers receivers recently traveled to California to work out with Wilson. He says it’s been part of a good start to the bonding process with the team’s potential new starting quarterback.

“I was just down there in San Diego with him working out and throwing routes,” Freiermuth said. “He’s been great at talking to guys and starting to build that connection. He’s a great guy. You can tell the drive and determination that he has to win and come to Pittsburgh and win some playoff games for us.”

The Steelers may decide to extend Freiermuth prior to the season. However, it is unclear if those conversations have begun yet.