The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to begin their preseason journey, with Mike McCarthy and Eli Heidenreich making their debuts. McCarthy, the new Steelers coach, is a Pittsburgh native who was hired in January. Heidenreich, a seventh-round draft pick, is also from the Pittsburgh area and played college football at Navy.

Homecoming for Heidenreich

Heidenreich’s homecoming is a significant storyline for the Steelers. The young player is looking to carve out a niche on the team, potentially as a contributor on special teams. Heidenreich has been working closely with backfield coach Ramon Chinyoung and has been noticed for his elusiveness, which could make him an intriguing option as a kick returner.

Heidenreich is focused on making the most of his opportunity and is not getting caught up in comparisons to other players. When asked about being compared to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Heidenreich said, “He’s a fantastic player and one of the best to ever do it… I look up to him and try to model him in certain ways.”

McCarthy’s Coaching Debut

McCarthy is also making his Steelers coaching debut, and it’s a special moment for him. The chance to begin his coaching career against the team where it all started for him makes it even more meaningful. McCarthy said, “Having a personal and professional connection to Green Bay, that’s part of my life… I want to see these young guys play and see how they play connected to each other.”

The Steelers are looking to make a strong start to the preseason, and McCarthy is focused on evaluating his team’s progress. The game against the Green Bay Packers will be an important test for the Steelers, and McCarthy is eager to see how his team performs under the lights.

Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.