Pat Freiermuth
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Pat Freiermuth
| image = Pat Freiermuth.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Freiermuth with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021
| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| number = 88
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|25}}
| birth_place = Merrimac, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 258
| high_school = Brooks School {{avoid wrap|(North Andover, Massachusetts)}}
| college = Penn State (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 55
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Big Ten Tight End of the Year (2020)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2020)
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2019)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek = 16
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 205
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 2,045
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 17
}}
Patrick John Freiermuth (born October 25, 1998) is an American professional football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
A longtime resident of Merrimac, Massachusetts, Freiermuth attended Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, Massachusetts, before transferring to the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. At Brooks, he played tight end and outside linebacker on the football team, wearing jersey number eight. He also played basketball there as a power forward and a small forward.{{cite web | last=Snyder | first=Audrey | title=The extra development that allowed Pat Freiermuth to quickly make his mark at Penn State | website=The Athletic | date=May 7, 2019 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/965320/2019/05/07/pat-freiermuth-penn-state-impact-tight-end-massachusetts-high-school/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} During his career, he had 1,531 total yards and 24 total touchdowns.{{cite web | last=McGonigal | first=John | title='Excellence and humility': How Penn State's Pat Freiermuth became a local legend | website=Centre Daily Times | date=December 7, 2018 | url=https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article222662475.html | access-date=October 15, 2024}} He committed to Penn State University to play college football.{{cite web | last=Parello | first=Joe | title=Brooks' Pat Freiermuth commits to Penn State | website=ESPN.com | date=August 16, 2016 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/43323/brooks-pat-freiermuth-commits-to-penn-state | access-date=October 15, 2024}}
College career
As a freshman for the Nittany Lions in 2018, Freiermuth made nine starts and recorded 26 receptions for 368 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking the record of most receiving touchdowns by a freshman tight end.{{Cite web |last=Juliano |first=Joe |date=April 2, 2019 |title=Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth surpassed his own first-year expectations |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/penn-state/penn-state-tight-end-pat-freiermuth-football-freshman-20190402.html |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=Inquirer.com}}{{Cite web |last=Wogenrich |first=Mark |date=August 25, 2019 |title=Pat Freiermuth is Penn State's next great tight end |url=https://www.mcall.com/sports/penn-state/mc-spt-penn-state-football-pat-freiermuth-20190826-k2ppse7weza6bblw4scb6kznqi-story.html |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=mcall.com}}{{cite web | last=Scarcella | first=Rich | title=Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth is a big catch | website=Reading Eagle | date=April 3, 2019 | url=https://www.readingeagle.com/2019/04/03/penn-state-tight-end-pat-freiermuth-is-a-big-catch/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} He remained the starter for the next two seasons, was voted Penn State Football's Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2019, and was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine a year earlier. Although rumor said he would jump at this, he declined this chance, and in a press conference with Coach James Franklin announced that he had planned to recommit to Penn State for yet another year.{{Cite web |last=Wogenrich |first=Mark |title=What Staying at Penn State Means to Pat Freiermuth |url=https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/what-staying-at-penn-state-means-to-pat-freiermuth |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=Sports Illustrated Penn State Nittany Lions News, Analysis and More |date=October 2, 2020 |language=en}} He played in a total of 30 games there, and started all but four of them. He scored sixteen career touchdowns, tied for eighth place overall at Penn State for career touchdowns and first place by a tight end. In the end, he had a total of 92 career receptions, 1,185 career receiving yards, and he was named the Big Ten Conference's Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year in 2020, making him the first ever Penn State tight end to win this award.{{cite web | last=Broder | first=Acacia Aster | title=Penn State Football: Pat Freiermuth Named Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year | website=StateCollege.com | date=December 15, 2020 | url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/local-news/penn-state-football-pat-freiermuth-named-kwalick-clark-tight-end-of-the-year/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} He was also voted first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches, and finished the season leading the conference for most receiving yards by a tight end.{{Cite web |title=Pat Freiermuth (TE): Bio, News, Stats & more |url=https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/pat-freiermuth/ |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=www.steelers.com |language=en-US}}
College statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2018 | Penn State
| 12 || 26 || 368 || 14.2 || 8 | ||||
| 2019 | Penn State
| 13 || 43 || 507 || 11.8 || 7 | ||||
| 2020 | Penn State
| 4 || 23 || 310|| 13.5 || 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/pat-freiermuth-1.html Career] | 29 | 92 | 1,185 | 12.9 | 16 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5
| weight = 251
| dash =
| ten split =
| twenty split =
| shuttle =
| cone drill =
| vertical =
| broad ft =
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| arm span = 32 1/2
| hand span = 9 7/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/pat-freiermuth/32004652-4543-9769-d771-bdf1de25cd8b |title=Pat Freiermuth Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=December 12, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027664&DraftYear=2021 |title=Pat Freiermuth, Penn State, TE, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=December 12, 2021}}
}}
=2021 season=
File:Greg Newsome II and Pat Freiermuth (51655031700).jpg]]
Freiermuth was selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers to replace tight end Vance McDonald, who retired after the 2020 season.{{cite web | last=Popejoy | first=Curt | title=Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth makes it clear he hates his nickname | website=Steelers Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=May 14, 2021 | url=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2021/05/14/steelers-nfl-pat-freiermuth-baby-gronk-nickname/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}} He signed a four-year rookie contract with Pittsburgh on May 25, 2021, and was assigned number 88, most famously worn by Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann. Freiermuth started his first NFL game in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills and recorded his first career reception for 24 yards. He caught his first professional touchdown pass on September 26, 2021, as the Steelers lost to the Cincinnati Bengals when he caught a four yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger. On November 8, Freiermuth had one of his best game of the season, catching five passes on six targets for 43 yards and scoring two touchdowns as the Steelers defeated the Chicago Bears 29-27. The following week against the Detroit Lions, Freiermuth caught five passes for 31 yards in the only tied game of his professional career with a final score of 16-16.{{cite web | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/pat-freiermuth-29201/game-log?seasonYear=2021 | title=Pat Freiermuth 2021 Game Log }}
During the season, Freiermuth sustained two concussions.{{Cite web |title=Pat Freiermuth – Injury History |url=https://www.draftsharks.com/fantasy/injury-history/pat-freiermuth/10749 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=www.draftsharks.com}} The first happened in Week 12 during a 41–10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The second concussion was sustained in a 19–13 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 15.{{Cite web |title=2021 Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=December 19, 2021 |title=Steelers lose Pat Freiermuth after hard hit to head |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/12/19/steelers-lose-pat-freiermuth-after-hard-hit-to-head/ |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}} He finished the regular season with 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns.{{Cite web |title=Pat Freiermuth Stats, News, Bio |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4361411/pat-freiermuth |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
On January 16, 2022, Freiermuth played in his first post-season game of his career against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card Round of the 2021 playoffs. In the game, he caught four passes on five targets for 25 yards.
During his rookie season, similar to former Steelers tight end Heath Miller, home crowds began chanting "Muth", an abbreviation of "Freiermuth", when he would gain yardage or score a touchdown.{{cite web | last=Koehler | first=Allison | title=Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth reveals what pumps him up post-catch | website=Steelers Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=January 21, 2022 | url=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/21/steelers-pat-freiermuth-muth-nickname-rob-gronkowski/ | access-date=October 15, 2024}}
=2022 season=
In the 2022 season, Freiermuth played in 16 regular season games, starting eight of them. Freiermuth finished the 2022 season catching 63 passes on 98 targets for 732 yards, the most of his professional career as of August 2024. He scored two touchdowns across all 16 games.{{Cite web |title=Pat Freiermuth 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreiPa00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=2023 season=
On October 21, 2023, Freiermuth was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.{{cite web|title=Steelers activate Johnson, make other moves|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-activate-johnson-make-other-moves|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=October 21, 2023}} He was activated on November 18.{{cite web|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-roster-moves-ahead-of-sunday-s-game|title=Steelers make roster moves ahead of Sunday's game|date=November 18, 2023|accessdate=November 21, 2023|first=Teresa|last=Varley|work=Steelers.com}} He would return to the team on November 19 against the Cleveland Browns.
Freiermuth had his statistically best game of the season on November 26 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He caught nine passes on 11 targets for 120 yards, the only game of the season in which he was able to eclipse 100+ receiving yards.{{cite web | last=Pryor | first=Brooke | title=Pat Freiermuth teaches tight end master class on Steelers' big offensive day | website=ESPN.com | date=November 27, 2023 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38986609/steelers-tight-end-pat-freiermuth-vs-bengals-100-yard-receiving-day | access-date=October 15, 2024}}
He finished the 2023 regular season making 32 catches on 47 targets for 308 yards and two touchdowns, playing in 12 games and starting nine of them.{{Cite web |title=Pat Freiermuth 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreiPa00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In the second post season appearance of his professional career, Freiermuth caught five passes on eight targets for 76 yards in the AFC Wild Card Round against the Buffalo Bills. During the final minutes of the first quarter, Freiermuth caught a pass from quarterback Mason Rudolph before taking off down the sideline. He was tackled by Bills cornerback Christian Benford causing the ball to come loose before being recovered by linebacker Baylon Spector. Replay officials determined the fumble had rolled out of bounds due to the ball making contact with Freiermuth as he exited the field of play, giving possession back to the Steelers.{{cite web | last=Murphy | first=Bryan | title=Pat Freiermuth fumble: Bills out of challenges after controversial call in wild-card game vs. Steelers | website=Sporting News | date=January 15, 2024 | url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/pat-freiermuth-fumble-bills-steelers-challenge-wild-card-game/d62e64603986c973028b630c | access-date=October 15, 2024}} The game ended with the Steelers losing 17–31.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2024 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202401150buf.htm |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
= 2024 season =
File:Freiermuth 2024.jpg during Steelers training camp in August 2024]]
On September 6, 2024, Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension with the Steelers, keeping him with the team through the 2028 season.{{Cite web |title=Steelers, TE Pat Freiermuth agree to terms on four-year, $48.4 million contract extension |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-te-pat-freiermuth-agree-to-terms-on-four-year-48-4-million-contract-extension |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}} He caught his first touchdown pass of the season on an eight yard pass from Justin Fields during Week 4's 24–27 Steelers loss to the Indianapolis Colts.{{Cite web |title=Pat Freiermuth - Pittsburgh Steelers Tight End |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/pat-freiermuth-29201 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Colts 27-24 Steelers (Sep 29, 2024) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671867 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
In the final moments of Week 5's loss to the Cowboys, the Steelers needed to score a field goal to tie the game with less than ten seconds remaining. Moving downfield to get the ball into field goal range, Steelers receiver George Pickens caught a pass before stopping momentarily and lateraling the ball to Isaac Seumalo. After a series of lateral passes, Freiermuth caught the final pass from Fields before attempting to lateral back to Mason McCormick. The pass fell short of McCormick, being ruled a fumble, which was recovered by the Cowboys as time expired.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2irzWjTkJE | title=Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Game Highlights NFL 2024 Season Week 5 | website=YouTube | date=October 7, 2024 | time=14:45}}
Freiermuth ended the regular season having appeared in all 17 games making 65 receptions for 653 yards, seven touchdowns as the Steelers finished with a record of 10-7.{{cite web | title=Pat Freiermuth 2024 Season | website=StatMuse | date=January 4, 2025 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/pat-freiermuth-2024-season | access-date=January 5, 2025}} This gave Freiermuth the third playoff berth of his career as the Steelers entered as the sixth seeded team in the playoffs. During the AFC wildcard playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, Freiermuth made three catches for 15 yards as the Steelers lost 28-14, ending their season.
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="2"| Legend |
|---|
| style="width:3em;"| Bold
| Career high |
= Regular season =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Receiving yards}} | {{abbr|Y/R|Yards per reception}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest reception}} | {{abbr|TD|Receiving touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Fum|Fumbles}} | {{abbr|Lost|Fumbles lost}} | |
| 2021 | PIT
| 16 || 9 || 60 || 497 || 8.3 || 24 || 7 || 1 || 1 | ||||||||
| 2022 | PIT
| 16 || 8 || 63 || 732 || 11.6 || 57 || 2 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2023 | PIT
| 12 || 9 || 32 || 308 || 9.6 || 29 || 2 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2024 | PIT
| 17 || 11 || 65 || 653 || 10.0 || 30 || 7 || 3 || 1 | ||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreiPa00.htm Career] | 61 | 37 | 220 | 2,190 | 10.0 | 57 | 18 | 4 | 2 |
= Postseason =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Rec|Receptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Receiving yards}} | {{abbr|Y/R|Yards per reception}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest reception}} | {{abbr|TD|Receiving touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Fum|Fumbles}} | {{abbr|Lost|Fumbles lost}} | |
| 2021 | PIT
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 25 || 6.3 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2023 | PIT
| 1 || 0 || 5 || 76 || 15.2 || 33 || 0 || 1 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2024 | PIT
| 1 || 1 || 3 || 15 || 5.0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FreiPa00.htm Career] | 3 | 2 | 12 | 116 | 9.7 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Personal life
Freiermuth's uncle, Michael Foley, is the offensive line coach for the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.{{cite web | title=Under the Lights: Freiermuth, Marshall blowing up | website=Eagle-Tribune | date=April 3, 2016 | url=https://www.eagletribune.com/sports/under-the-lights-freiermuth-marshall-blowing-up/article_90956232-6eec-5caf-86a1-9b540dc446da.html | access-date=October 15, 2024}} Prior to this, he was head football coach at Colgate University. His father, John Freiermuth, played basketball at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and in 1988 he was named New Hampshire's "Mr. Basketball."{{cite web | last=Prisuta | first=Mike | title=Second Round: Pat Freiermuth | website=Steelers.com | date=May 1, 2021 | url=https://www.steelers.com/news/second-round-pat-freiermuth | access-date=October 15, 2024}} His mom is a history teacher and former coach (fifteen seasons) for North Andover High School field hockey.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} She retired from coaching in 2007 after leading her team to two North sectional titles and a 147–85–66 record.{{Cite web |title=Coach's Corner: Dianne Freiermuth |url=http://rallynorth.net/localsports/teams/story/738?story_id=1240 |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=rallynorth.net}} She was also president of the Penn State Football Parents Association. Tim Freiermuth, Patrick's brother, was an offensive lineman for Springfield College in Massachusetts.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/pat-freiermuth/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
- [https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/pat-freiermuth/10538 Penn State Nittany Lions bio]
- {{commons category-inline}}
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{{Steelers2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freiermuth, Pat}}
Category:People from Merrimac, Massachusetts
Category:Players of American football from Essex County, Massachusetts
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players