Tyler Boyd is no stranger to Western Pennsylvania football. From breaking records at Clairton High to starring at Pitt, the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has long been a fixture in the region. Now 30 and still unsigned, Boyd could be eyeing one final full-circle chapter — this time in black and gold as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaking at his eighth annual youth camp Saturday — held at the newly renamed Boyd Stadium in his hometown — Boyd made it clear a Steelers reunion would be more than just a job. “Absolutely,” he said, when asked if he’d sign with Pittsburgh.
“You know, all my family is here. I’d be able to have the majority of them be able to support me.”
Boyd remains capable of contributing. He caught 39 passes for 390 yards last season with the Tennessee Titans, after eight seasons with the Bengals where he racked up over 500 receptions and multiple 1,000-yard years.
Bengals Legacy
He was Cincinnati’s steadiest wideout through their rebuild and still profiles as a reliable slot option. He isn’t a game-breaker anymore, but for a Steelers team that just traded George Pickens and lacks proven depth behind D.K. Metcalf, he brings the experience and familiarity that Pittsburgh could desperately use right about now.
More importantly, Boyd brings Pittsburgh DNA. He helped transform Clairton into a high school football powerhouse, going 63–1 and setting the WPIAL record with 117 touchdowns.
At Pitt, he trailed only Tony Dorsett in all-purpose yardage, totaling over 5,200. Even now, he stays rooted — returning each summer for camps, mentoring local athletes, and embracing his place in the community.
His connection to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin runs deep. “I’m real cool with Tomlin,” Boyd said, per Joe Fitzgerald of SteelersNow. “He’s always been a good person… When I was at Pitt, we had a good relationship. After practice, I’d walk over there and talk to AB [Antonio Brown], talk to Tomlin, just pick at different things… He was always a great guy.”
It’s not the first time the two sides have circled each other. Boyd and the Steelers reportedly had exploratory talks last offseason before he signed with Tennessee.
How Boyd Fits Into Steelers Corps
Now, with training camp around the corner and Pittsburgh still sorting out its WR room, the need is more obvious than ever. After Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers is currently slated to throw to Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller, Robert Woods, and Ben Skowronek.
It’s a group long on speed but short on certainty. And with Rodgers potentially in his final season, Pittsburgh can’t afford to guess at wide receiver. They need answers. They need trust.
Yes, other veterans could make sense — Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper, or Gabe Davis — but Boyd offers a unique combination of availability, affordability, and local relevance. He doesn’t just fill a role; he connects eras. He’s the rare case of a rival-turned-ally whose signing would be embraced by both fanbase and locker room.
Whether the Steelers are ready to make that call remains unclear. Boyd, for his part, isn’t forcing it. “If it happens, it happens,” he said. “If not, it is what it is.” He believes he has “a few more years” left and is prepared to wait for the right fit — Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
But with rosters soon to shift, injuries bound to happen, and playoff windows shrinking, a hometown return for Boyd looks as logical as it is overdue.
