Tag: Fans

Saints interim coach has one goal for the team’s home crowd

The Caesars Superdome hasn’t held the same magical homefield advantage as of late. Interim Saints head coach Darren Rizzi is on a mission to change that:

Darren Rizzi has a major goal as New Orleans Saints interim head coach that goes beyond wins and losses. He wants to restore a “domefield” advantage in New Orleans.

There was once a time where the Caesars Superdome was on the list of places opposing teams didn’t want to go. That magic had faded away. The Saints haven’t had a winning record at home since Drew Brees retired, going 2-5 at the Superdome in 2021 (not counting a “home” win in Jacksonville due to Hurricane Ida), 4-4 in 2022 (discounting their “home” loss in London), and 5-3 in 2023, with a 2-3 start to this season’s home slate. That’s a 13-15 home record altogether.

After knocking off the Atlanta Falcons, Rizzi declared, “We are going to get this dome back to where it used to be and that was just the start.” Part of restoring the aura has to do with winning games. The Saints hadn’t been doing that at home or on the road lately, so Rizzi was concerned if the fans were going to be bought in. He clearly underestimated how much the coaching change reinvigorated the fanbase.

That mistake won’t be made again. Rizzi complimented the home crowd by saying, “our fans were incredible today.” He credited the fans’ engagement for forcing the visiting Falcons into some errors, such as jumping offsides.

He knows this city wants a winner and the team wants to give them that just as badly. This is just one win, but that’s how every winning streak starts.

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Pittsburgh has seemingly taken over D.C. ahead of Week 10 matchup

Fans of the Black and Gold seem ready to outnumber the Burgundy and Yellow, potentially forcing a silent count in Washington for Week 10.

Fans of the Black and Gold have arrived in droves in the nation’s capital to represent their Pittsburgh Steelers as they take on the Washington Commanders in Week 10.

It seems that no matter where the Steelers travel—Las Vegas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, or perhaps even the moon—Steelers Nation shows up in astonishing numbers.

Ahead of the Week 10 contest, a video circulating on social media highlights the potential impact Pittsburgh fans could have on what should have been a tough road game for the Steelers.  Adding fuel to this passionate fire is the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the Washington Capitals on Friday.

Will Steelers fans be able to outnumber Commanders fans, forcing the home team to work off a silent count for the majority of the contest? Pittsburgh could use the extra support as they face a very formidable Commanders team in a game that could set the tone for the second half of the 2024 season.

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How big a part did fans pay in Saints’ coaching change?

Saints fans were frustrated with Dennis Allen for a long time. Eventually, those frustrations became too loud for Gayle Benson to ignore:

When New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, not Mickey Loomis, made the decision to fire Dennis Allen, she listened to the fan base, literally.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said, “Benson and her group was hearing from the fan base in a way they hadn’t before.” The fan base wasn’t the reason Allen was relieved of his duties, but their vocal opposition to him remaining as coach played a part. Breer reported Benson’s “resolve was strengthened through that.”

Saints fans have been frustrated with Allen for a while. Many fans hoped for his termination at the end of last season. Allen was .500 as the Saints head coach coming into 2024, but with context it wasn’t impressive. The inability to take advantage of a weak schedule or defeat quality teams over two years had taken its toll.

Things improved to start the season. The addition of Klint Kubiak had the Saints looking like a high flying offense and one of the best teams in the NFL. That may have made the seven game losing skid hurt even more because those first two weeks were essentially false hope.

Being embarrassed at home in back to back weeks against the Buccaneers and Broncos only incited fans more. The chants for change weren’t always vocal, but the volume was louder than ever. Loud enough to reach ownership.

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Steelers fans react to OLB Preston Smith trade

Former Packers’ OLB Preston Smith’s unexpected trade to the Steelers adds valuable depth to the defense, and was surprising to fans alike.

One of the most underrated acquisitions at the 2024 NFL trade deadline was OLB Preston Smith being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It had been reported in recent days that while wide receiver was a major area of concern for the Steel City, the team could prioritize trading for edge rusher depth.

Much to the surprise of absolutely no one, the team did, in fact, acquire a wide receiver at the deadline, Mike Williams from the New York Jets, but also acquired defensive depth from the Green Bay Packers in the 31-year-old Smith, who should plug in nicely behind outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

While fans of the Black and Gold have been clamoring for their team to make a WR trade for months, Smith was a welcomed surprise. Here are some of the best reactions to Pittsburgh trading a 2025 seventh-round draft pick for the Green Bay Packers’ OLB Preston Smith.

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Steelers fans react to D.K. Metcalf trade rumors

Fans of the Black and Gold are in a trade rumor frenzy after Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson teased the recruitment of WR D.K Metcalf.

Speculation and trade rumors are beginning to reach an all-time high as the November 5th trade deadline, at 4:00 PM EST, is less than one day away. While the Pittsburgh Steelers have been rumored to pursue any and all available wide receivers, such as Carolina Panthers’ Adam Thielen and New York Jets’ Mike Williams, the most recent and perhaps most exciting rumor involves none other than Seattle Seahawks’ former All-Pro WR D.K. Metcalf.

Fans of the Steel City erupted on social media when Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson, who has been actively recruiting several receivers for the team in recent weeks, seemingly began to recruit Metcalf following Seattle’s Week 9 loss.

It was rumored that Seattle could consider moving on from their star WR with a Week 9 defeat, but could Steelers General Manager Omar Khan be the hero of Pittsburgh, and bring this elite talent to the Steel City? Only time will tell, but here are some of the best fan reactions to the speculation and rumors.

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Cameron Jordan apologizes to Saints fans after loss to Panthers

Cameron Jordan issued an apology to the New Orleans Saints fan base following their loss to the Carolina Panthers:

The New Orleans Saints reached a special level of bas in Sunday’s 23-22 road loss to the Carolina Panthers. The team was considered to be one of the worst — if not the worst in the NFL — when the Saints headed over to Charlotte.

Now, it looks more than anything like that’s a title the Saints may hold themselves, running pretty closely in contention with the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan took to social media after the game with a message for the Saints fan base, which everyone has recognized deserves a far better product at this point.

“We just lost to the Panthers,” Jordan wrote. “I love y’all New Orleans truly had higher expectations and the best of hopes for us, y’all deserve it.”

Jordan finished out the game with one solo tackle to his name.

The Saints are now on a dismal seven-game losing streak with a lot that needs to happen in order for them to at least get another win in what is already a lost season.

That opportunity won’t come easy against their next opponent on the schedule either, as the Atlanta Falcons will look to sweep New Orleans in the series in Caesars Superdome on Sunday, Nov. 10.

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Steelers fans react to devastating trade target injury news

Steelers fans passionately reacted to the trade news regarding the Steelers almost trading for WR Christian Kirk before his injury.

Teams around the NFL were acquiring receivers via trade left and right, and the Steelers, perhaps the most WR-needy team of them all, made no moves whatsoever.

On Friday, fans of the Steel City received an update from insider Adam Schefter on the Pittsburgh WR trade rumors, and it was heartbreaking, to say the least.

Schefter reported that the Steelers were close to acquiring WR Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars just before his season-ending collarbone injury against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

Fans can still hold onto hope for other prominent veteran WRs on the trade market; however, a player of Kirk’s caliber could have been exactly what the 6-2 Steelers needed.

The Black and Gold faithful continue to lobby for the Steelers to acquire additional talent, but some have given up hope after hearing the awful news. Here are some of the passionate fan responses to the news on social media.

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Steelers fans react to Roman Wilson IR news

Roman Wilson’s injured hamstring resulted in the rookie being placed on IR. Here are some passionate fan reactions to the awful news.

The, ‘will Roman Wilson play’ drama, appears to be taking a short-term hiatus—four weeks at least—as the rookie’s hamstring injury resulted in the receiver being placed on injured reserve. In recent weeks, fans and reporters alike have been calling for clarification as to why Wilson was being used so sparingly, only playing for a total of 5 snaps in one game thus far in 2024. 

Some were quick to point out Wilson’s injuries leading up to his Week 5 debut; however, he was a healthy scratch in the weeks before this. Wilson also missed his team’s Week 6 game, but Tomlin argued that Wilson’s hamstring injury was less of a reason and that he had ‘moved on’ from the situation.

Fans of the Steel City were split on their initial reactions to Wilson being added to IR on Monday, and here are some of the passionate social media responses to the news. 

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Terry McLaurin, Jayden Daniels appreciative of Commanders’ fans

After the win, Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels share their appreciation of Commanders’ fans.

Terry McLaurin has been in Washington since 2019. While that’s only six seasons, it feels like a lot more. McLaurin has seen it all: multiple owners, multiple coaches, name changes, a lot of quarterbacks, and even more losing.

Finally, things are heading in the right direction, and McLaurin couldn’t be happier.

While there are many reasons for the Commanders’ turnaround, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels stands out above them all. On Sunday, Daniels led the Commanders to an 18-15 win over the Chicago Bears. It wasn’t just any win. Daniels’ Hail Mary into the waiting hands of wide receiver Noah Brown pushed Washington to 6-2 on the season.

McLaurin was excellent again, finishing with five receptions for 125 yards.

After the game, McLaurin was leaving the field and wanted to take a second to show his appreciation for Washington fans.

Through the good and bad, Washington fans have always chanted McLaurin’s name. And he’s always made time for them.

While McLaurin shared his love for the fans, Daniels joined Scott Van Pelt on ESPN’s Sportscenter and showed his appreciation for the fans, too.

They love you too, Jayden.

Steelers fans react to latest All-Pro WR trade rumor

Fans are excited about the possibility of getting All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp to the ‘Steel City’. Can GM Omar Khan make it happen?

After missing out on three heartbreaking wide receiver trades in 2024 so far, the fourth time’s a charm, right? 

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and the team’s front office certainly hope so, as 31-year-old All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp remains a strong trade target for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Fans who were frustrated by the Steelers missing out on receivers Brandon Aiyuk, Davante Adams, and DeAndre Hopkins could be in for a pleasant surprise if Khan can work out a deal with the Los Angeles Rams to send the 2021 Triple Crown receiver to the ‘Steel City.’ 

Acquiring Kupp would likely take no more than a second-round draft pick, and the Rams have agreed to take on a hefty portion of his guaranteed salary. This seems like the perfect trade Pittsburgh could use to keep pace with their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in the race to the top of the division. Here are some of the best fan reactions to the ‘Cooper Kupp to Pittsburgh’ rumors: 

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