The Pittsburgh Steelers, at 8-3, have had their fair share of fun weekends throughout the first half of the season.
Week 12, after losing in heart-breaking fashion to the Cleveland Browns, wasn’t one of them.
However, before the league moved onto Week 13, it released its nominations for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, making at least one of Pittsburgh’s finest a little happier ahead of another crucial AFC North clash.
On Monday, it was announced that Steelers safety Miles Killebrew was the team’s nominee for the award. Each team gets one nomination before eight finalists are revealed, with ultimately one winner.
Despite being named after Rooney, Pittsburgh's founding owner, no one has won the award while wearing the black and gold.
"Sportsmanship is the core of the game, the vanguard of public confidence, the keeper of game integrity," said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations (via the team’s website). "These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the spirit of fair play and the values of respect, integrity, commitment to team and resiliency at the highest level of competition."
Killebrew, notably, is the Steelers’ special teams captain and one of the players who best embodies head coach Mike Tomlin’s vision for his roster. Pittsburgh might play down to opponents from time to time, but the reputation for playing a physical, 60-minute game is well-earned, and not without players like Killebrew.
A nine-year veteran, Killebrew is now in his fourth campaign in Western Pennsylvania. Coming off a Pro Bowl and All-Pro season, he’ll have a chance to add additional hardware in 2024.
The winner will be announced at the NFL Honors ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 9.
