Steelers bucking a league-wide trend and revitalizing ‘dead’ position

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not the only team that uses fullbacks, but they are coming up with some creative ideas for the position in training camp.

While it may feel like the fullback position in the NFL is “dead,” that’s not the case. Many teams still have a designated fullback on the roster. One of those teams is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At the start of training camp, the Steelers were informed by undrafted free agent Monte Pottebaum that he is retiring from the NFL. With that, Connor Heyward was the lone designated fullback on the depth chart.

However, head coach Mike Tomlin had some different ideas for the position. And by different, we mean fun.

In recent training camp practices, backup center Kendrick Green would line up at the fullback position for some drills. On Friday night, Green caught a pass out of the backfield for a gain, which got a huge ovation from fans in attendance. The video comes courtesy of ESPN’s Branton Beard.

Oh, and Green was a lead blocker on a play, in motion, and completely leveled a Steelers defender. The video comes courtesy of Twitter user “@kaedynpago.”

Steelers having fun by giving center Kendrick Green snaps at center

Green is 6-foot-4 and weighs 315 pounds. Now imagine him having a running start as a lead blocker. Good luck defenders.

The offensive lineman wasn’t done having fun at the fullback position, as he caught another pass during practice this Saturday. The video footage below comes courtesy of Still Curtain’s Tommy Jaggi.

Tomlin was asked about utilizing Green at fullback and how he came up with the decision. Tomlin said that he first realized Green’s skill at the position when he was standing in as the fullback in practice in preparation for the rival Baltimore Ravens. Of course, the Ravens have Patrick Ricard as a starting fullback.

So, Tomlin said he decided to put that “in our hip pocket” for the future. The video comes courtesy of 93.7 The Fan’s Jeff Hathhorn.

Green was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Illinois and started immediately. In 15 games played, Green drew four holding penalties on 977 snaps, per Pro Football Reference.

As for last season, Green didn’t log a single snap.

Based on the reactions from the Steelers fans in attendance of practice and those on social media, they would be totally on board with seeing Green take some snaps at fullback this upcoming season. That would make for one heck of a trick play for Tomlin to use, especially if they want to contend for the playoffs.