A record seventh Super Bowl championship.
A rousing tribute to Daniel M. Rooney.
A reward for all that Ryan Shazier's already contributed, and fuel for his fight that lies ahead.
Over the past couple days, our staff surveyed 20 current and one legendary member of the Steelers to pose one simple question: What would it mean to them, whether individually or collectively?
And with each, we prefaced that we weren't presuming that they were beating the Jaguars or anyone else. We were focused solely on the visualization of the ultimate victory in the NFL and how, or if, they've allowed themselves to go that far. And if they had, we challenged them to dig deep and share.
In their own words, then, exclusively for DKPittsburghSports.com ...
STEPHON TUITT
It would be an accomplishment that, literally, maybe one in a million of your peers could say they had a chance to achieve. I mean even just the chance.
Doors will open up. Dramatically. Connections. On the field, off the field. Having the opportunity to be part of that, to be part of history, to be part of a great class within a great franchise ... the information that you gain, the way you'd want to be an even bigger part of the history of that franchise, of that ring ... that's what I want.
Just to be talked about, to be in the same room as the greats of the game who came before you, the people we see pass through here ... when I see Joe Greene ... the top player ever for the Pittsburgh Steelers was a defensive lineman. I'm a defensive lineman. I get to walk with Mean Joe.
And my son ... my son can someday say, 'My daddy got a ring. My daddy was a part of that.' I want that. That's why I've fought for everything in my career, in my life. And when I get it, nobody -- nobody! -- can ever take that away from me.
RAMON FOSTER
Everything. Everything. And a sense of relief. Everything that we've put into this team. Individually, units, coaches, everything. What this year has meant with DMR, add Shay into it, then even more. Everything. Every-effing-thing.
I've thought about it more as an adult than as a kid, to be honest. After going to one and thinking I'd be right back and it's been eight years. That's kind of hard to swallow right there. Since that date, I'd say about two years after that, it's been the only goal of mine.
And to cap off Mr. Rooney's legacy ... when the ball is snapped, none of that matters. But at the end of the game, if you can have some acknowledgment that this was dedicated to him, that adds into the fact. That doesn't mean it's extra motivation, but it can be special.
VANCE McDONALD
It's like, once you arrive at that destination, I feel like it would be like one of those things that you see in movies where you die, and it's a flashback of all the work and everything you put into it: The grind, training camp, the battles. And then you die and you don't even know what to think or what to feel except for just looking at all the guys around you that collectively make up the team that just did it and it's, like, such a great feeling.
I don't know. I feel like you can't describe it until you do it. And once you do it, you still can't describe it.
T.J. WATT
We've grown really close. That's one of the things that I was really appreciative of as a rookie, just how close this group is, and not just the linebackers, the safeties or whatever. It's offense, defense, any position, wherever you're from. We're a close-knit group, and it's pretty cool to be part of.
We've got to get past the first game for me. It would be great but, right now, I'm so focused on the Jacksonville Jaguars and trying to put up a big performance. If we don't do that, the end goal isn't anything.
MAURKICE POUNCEY
It'd give me every accomplishment I've ever had in football. I've won on every level. I've been a champion on every level. That's the only thing I really, really care about in this game. It's always been a big dream of mine to finish the career off with a Super Bowl win. That would be amazing. I've been lucky enough, blessed enough, to be on great teams.
We're close. We've matured together. We've been through the bad times and the good times, man. But when a team fights like that, they stay consistent, stay hungry and humble. Things usually happen pretty well for them. That's how I look at our team: We're hungry and we're humble.
And the team that wins it all, man, that team sticks together forever. There's always that brotherhood, that bond that connects you. Once it's all said and done, we'll walk together forever. We'll come back to Pittsburgh years from now. They'll have ceremonies for us. You do that for your high school teams, for colleges. When you're a champion, you're remembered forever.
JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER
I think it would mean a lot. Not just to me, but to everybody. Me being a rookie and making it to the playoffs earlier like this, it would mean a lot. I knew I had an opportunity to come in and make plays and get a job, but I didn't expect to have the season I'm having now. So as far as setting my goals, I did that at midseason.
We've been through some games where we were down tremendously and came back to win the game. At halftime we come in and talk about the situation and get better. But I think over time and the stuff we've been through ... yeah.
CHRIS BOSWELL
Whew ... I don't know if you can really put it into words. I've never been there and never been that far. For a guy like me to think about what it means or what it's going to feel like, I can't really do that. I've been playing football since freshman year of high school, but I doubt what I'm thinking about now is what it's going to turn out to be.
MARTAVIS BRYANT
A great accomplishment, as a team, individually and collectively. You accomplish greatness. You go down in the history books. I grew up watching the Super Bowl as a kid. For me to play in it and win it, would be a tremendous accomplishment for me and my family and friends. It would go out to everybody, not just me.
But to achieve seven would be a great accomplishment for Mr. Rooney and the Rooney family. We don't talk about it much, but we know, everyone knows we want to do it for Mr. Rooney.
BUD DUPREE
When I was, like, 7. I started thinking about the NFL. Just, I always wanted to be in a big game. And the Super Bowl ... man, what an accomplishment. A milestone. Something we've dreamed about when we were kids. Something everyone wants to be part of. And we get a chance to do it. We've got a shot.
DAVID DeCASTRO
It's something you dream about, think about a lot, but you don't actually know and understand until you actually do it. You win championships at different levels, you kind of have an idea, which is big. ... I don't know. I hope I can tell you in four weeks. It could be pretty great.
I think it's interesting since I've been here, the progression we've had, it's almost like we're supposed to be here, right? The more you do something, the more comfortable you get. So we're comfortable in the playoffs. We're excited. We've been here before. It's one of those things. We'll be pretty disappointed if we didn't at least get to the Super Bowl as we keep taking these steps and progressions.
JORDAN BERRY
It would be just unreal. Yeah. It's always something you think about when you play here. I can't really describe it. Everything you work for. The reason I came over to the States.
When you're a kid in Australia, you kind of see American football on cartoons and stuff, but I never really looked into it. My dad was trying to come over here to do college, as well, but didn't really know the rules and he already had done his undergrad and was trying to get his PhD. paid for. But I first started paying attention in 10th-11th grade and, toward the end of high school, realized that Australian football wasn't going to happen.
If we get things to fall our way, I think we've got a chance. We've got a good squad here. Everyone's here for a reason.
ARTIE BURNS
It would mean everything. I've never been able to call myself a champion, with all the good teams I've been on, all the sports I've played. Never been able to win a championship or play in one. I've been playing since I was 4 years old. I think about it all the time. Every year, when it comes around this time of year, championship season ... I think about it all the time.
I can't taste this yet, but I can smell it. Can't taste it yet, but I can smell it coming.
ELI ROGERS
That started when I was 6, and I'm still at it. I'm 25 and still at it. It's been a long time. Almost 20 years. It would mean everything.
Being a young player and seeing that so many coaches and stuff that have been in the league 30-plus years that haven't been to a Super Bowl ... just understanding the magnitude of how hard it is to get to a Super Bowl and to win one, it's just an amazing feeling to bring one back to the organization, No. 7, is more important.
JOE HADEN
It would mean a lot to me. It would be special. This is my eighth year and will be my first playoff appearance. Going to a Super Bowl, man, just getting to the playoffs and being now one of the eight teams that has a chance to win it ... it's crazy. I've been fighting for this every year since I've been in the league, just to get in the party. Once you get in the party, you feel everyone's got a shot.
Now being here, feeling like, coming in and to win a championship, it would be special for me just because of the way my career was going. Got cut by Cleveland before the first week of the season and got picked up here. They've made me feel like nothing but family. We've just been successful and rolling with it. It would be crazy.
The thing was, in Florida, we won a national championship. I can say I won it. In high school, I was on a state championship team. Now in the league, it's time to get a ring.
MIKE HILTON
It's something I've dreamed about since I was a kid. You want to be on that big stage. You want to hold that Lombardi Trophy. You want to make that big play. You want to be a part of NFL history. I've been excited all season for the opportunity I've been given here. A lot of guys don't get this opportunity.
But look at us, at the position we're in. And I'm a part of it! Me!
SEAN DAVIS
To accomplish our goal, to be the best in the world, to do it through adversity ... it's going to be crazy, man. It's going to mean the world to us.
And for me? Ha! I'm talking endless trash! When I go into offseason training with everybody, guys from other teams, I'm showing off my ring! You ain't gonna be able to tell me nothing for a minute! It's gonna be the best! I'm looking forward to it! Ha!
Le'VEON BELL
Obviously, everything. Not everyone gets to win a Super Bowl, but it's a goal I've had. You watch Super Bowls as a little kid. You see the confetti rain down on people. You want that feeling. I can't really imagine it. I just got to get there. I want to get there. I'm going to do everything in my power to get there.
This year is definitely the year. I don't think anybody can beat us. We can beat ourselves, but nobody can beat us.
ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA
It probably means something different to everybody else.
Me, I think the journey of accomplishing it with this team is what's significant. The trophy, I'm not going to have it in my house. I'm probably not going to touch it, if you think about it. I don't get caught up in things like that: dreams, accomplishments. I try to do the best I can as a player. Me, I can't imagine what it's like to win it. I don't know the feeling. I don't know what it'll mean to me.
The thing to me is being a good father and being a good family man, being all that I can. That's going to keep me happy. Everything else is going to be extra-plus.
JESSE JAMES
It would be huge. It's what we work for. It makes the season worth it. We didn't come here to just make it to the playoffs and lose and be done for the year. We've done that the past couple years. We need to take the next step and win it.
MARCUS GILBERT
I've been chasing this my whole career. The older you get, the more valuable it means to you, and you just know that your window is closing. To do it this year, I think this is the best chance I've had since I've been here. Honestly, it would mean everything to me.
Seriously, I've had countless dreams about it. I've been having dreams these past couple years, waking up and just knowing that we were there. Just win a couple football games. ...We're so damn close ... But I don't want to jinx myself and talk too much.
JACK HAM
We've got such a great tradition, winning in my era and winning after that, as well. They've got a lot of hardware in that trophy case, and they've been a consistent team year in and year out with a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger.
I think once you win one -- and the New England Patriots are a great example -- that the first one is the hardest to win and then after that you kind of feed off of that. Our team was able to win back-to-back twice, which for me is always a great accomplishment because you truly did not sneak up on anybody that second year. It gives me great pride to know that we were able to do that. But, I think the first one is the toughest one and I know it was for us. After that, we've been able to stay such a great organization here.
I guess that, if Pittsburgh won another one this year, it would justify their approach and how the organization is run. I think it would validate everything that this organization stands for.
Staff writers Audrey Snyder and Dejan Kovacevic, photographer Matt Sunday and staff cartoonist Rob Ullman contributed to this Midweek Reader.
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