Freiermuth: “We’re in the position where we can help people in need. And so, why not help back?”
Update: TruEdge Sports, the organization running the “George Pickens youth football camp” has since apologized for its previous “inappropriate” statement criticizing the wide receiver for backing out of the camp.
“At no point did George Pickens communicate with us directly, and our communications with George’s representative’s led to confusion about the camp’s status and future direction,” read TruEdge’s latest statement. “Regrettably, the language used in our original message mischaracterized George’s intent and actions.”
However, Freiermuth has himself confirmed he will be stepping up to visit the camp in Pickens’ absence.
Former Steelers wide receiver George Pickens once again made the news in Pittsburgh earlier this week after he backed out of a June 28 youth football event at the city’s Highmark Stadium.
However, TruEdge Sports, the organization running the camp, announced that current Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth committed to appearing at the event in Pickens’ absence, adding that some of Freiermuth’s Steelers teammates might make the trip as well.
In an June 27 episode of Around the 412, Freiermuth told host Zachary Smith about why he chose to step up at the camp:
“I feel very passionately about the Pittsburgh community … any time something happens, I want to make sure I have the city of Pittsburgh’s back.” he said. “An opportunity came to me, and I was able to make it work with dates and travel and stuff like that.”
In the podcast, Freiermuth didn’t mention Pickens. He focused on the kids of Pittsburgh: “Any time they can interact with not only myself, but anyone on the team, those are the days and the moments that those kids remember forever.”
He also talked about his mindset around scheduling community events: “I obviously know how much football and sports mean in Pittsburgh … But I think, when you first get to Pittsburgh, you meet so many people. And everyone on the team, you try to focus on them, because it’s your job, it’s your business, you want to play well and everything like that,” he said. “But when you get established and you figure out a schedule and stuff like that, you want to give back to the people who show you support on Sundays.
“We’re in the position where we can help people in need. And so, why not help back? Why not show support to the city that needs it when they support us? I mean, they pay to watch us play. They tune in every Sunday. Their lives revolve around Sunday — Steelers football. And you kind of lose that with not making personal relationships in the city.”
Freiermuth, 26, is entering his fifth NFL season. In 2024, the Penn State product signed a four-year, $48.4 million extension with the Steelers.