Pat Freiermuth Bio
Patrick John Freiermuth, born on October 25, 1998, is an American professional football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Freiermuth has become a reliable pass-catching option and a familiar presence on the Steelers offense. Known to teammates and fans simply as “Muth,” he has earned a reputation for dependable hands, smart route running, and a willingness to work across the middle of the field.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 258 pounds, Freiermuth combines the size of a traditional in-line tight end with the athleticism of a pass-catching weapon. After starring at Penn State, where he set program records for touchdowns by a tight end, he transitioned quickly to the professional ranks. He remains under contract with Pittsburgh through the 2028 season.
Early Life and Background
Freiermuth is a longtime resident of Merrimac, Massachusetts, where he grew up in a sports-minded household. He attended Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, Massachusetts, before transferring to the Brooks School in North Andover to further his athletic and academic development. At Brooks, he wore jersey number eight and played tight end and outside linebacker on the football team while also contributing on the basketball court as a power forward and small forward.
During his high school career, Freiermuth accumulated 1,531 total yards and 24 total touchdowns, the kind of production that drew attention from college recruiters across the region. His blend of size, hands, and football instincts made him a priority target for several programs, and he ultimately committed to Penn State University to play college football. The decision set the stage for one of the most productive careers ever by a Nittany Lions tight end.
Freiermuth comes from a deeply athletic family. His father, John Freiermuth, played basketball at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and was named the state’s “Mr. Basketball” in 1988. His mother built a long career as a history teacher and a field hockey coach at North Andover High School, where she led her teams for fifteen seasons before retiring in 2007. She also served as president of the Penn State Football Parents Association.
Path to American Football
Freiermuth arrived at Penn State as a highly regarded recruit and immediately made an impact at the college level. As a freshman in 2018, he made nine starts and recorded 26 receptions for 368 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking the program record for most receiving touchdowns by a freshman tight end. The performance signaled that he was ready for the speed and physicality of the Big Ten Conference.
He remained the starting tight end for the next two seasons and was voted Penn State Football’s Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2019. Although he was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine a year early, Freiermuth declined the opportunity and announced his plan to return for another season under head coach James Franklin. Across his three-year college career, he played in 30 games, scored 16 career touchdowns, and finished with 92 receptions for 1,185 receiving yards.
In 2020, Freiermuth was named the Big Ten Conference’s Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year, becoming the first Penn State tight end ever to win the award. He was also voted first-team All-Big Ten by the conference coaches and finished the year leading the Big Ten in receiving yards by a tight end. Those honors positioned him as one of the top tight end prospects heading into the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pat Freiermuth Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Freiermuth was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round, 55th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft, brought in to replace the retired Vance McDonald. He signed a four-year rookie contract on May 25, 2021, and was assigned jersey number 88, a number famously worn by Hall of Fame receiver Lynn Swann. He started his first NFL game in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills and recorded his first career reception for 24 yards.
His first professional touchdown came on September 26, 2021, on a four-yard pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He later scored twice against the Chicago Bears in a 29–27 win, a performance that helped Steelers fans adopt the “Muth” chant now heard at home games. He finished his rookie regular season with 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns, and added four catches for 25 yards in an AFC Wild Card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2022, he played all 16 games, starting eight, and posted 63 receptions for 732 yards and two touchdowns, a career high in receiving yards at that point.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
The 2023 season tested Freiermuth’s durability after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve on October 21. He was activated on November 18 and quickly returned to his role as a featured tight end. His most productive game came on November 26 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he caught nine passes for 120 yards, the only 100-yard game of his season.
He finished 2023 with 32 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns across 12 games. In the AFC Wild Card round against the Buffalo Bills, he caught five passes for 76 yards, highlighted by a sideline catch from Mason Rudolph in which replay officials ruled the ball had gone out of bounds. Pittsburgh ultimately fell 31–17.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024–Present)
On September 6, 2024, Freiermuth signed a four-year, $48.4 million contract extension that keeps him in Pittsburgh through the 2028 season. He opened the year by catching his first touchdown of the season on an eight-yard pass from Justin Fields in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts. He appeared in all 17 regular-season games and finished with 65 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns as the Steelers went 10–7 and earned the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. Pittsburgh’s postseason run ended with a 28–14 Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Heading into 2025, Freiermuth continued as a central figure in the Steelers offense. He shared the tight end one spot on the official depth chart with newly acquired Jonnu Smith and started the season opener, a 34–32 win over the New York Jets. On October 16, against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football, he caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers and finished the game as Pittsburgh’s leading receiver with four catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, his first multi-touchdown performance since November 2021.
Driving Style and Strengths
Freiermuth is known for his reliable hands, willingness to work over the middle, and steady production as both an in-line blocker and a pass catcher. His large catch radius and red-zone instincts make him a frequent target in scoring situations, while his competitive toughness has helped him earn the trust of multiple quarterbacks and offensive coordinators in Pittsburgh.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his statistical production, Freiermuth’s standout moments include the two-touchdown performance against the Bears in 2021, the lateral-filled final play against the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, and his two-touchdown primetime showing against the Bengals in 2025. He also became the first Penn State tight end to win the Kwalick–Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year award.
Pat Freiermuth Career Wins
Pat Freiermuth has built his reputation on consistency rather than trophies, delivering reliable production as both a blocker and a pass catcher. His career to date has been measured in receptions, touchdowns, and the trust of his quarterbacks, all of which have translated into team success for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL Highlights
Across his first four full NFL seasons, Freiermuth surpassed 60 receptions in both his rookie year and the 2022 and 2024 seasons, while reaching career highs of 732 receiving yards in 2022 and seven touchdowns in both 2021 and 2024. He has helped Pittsburgh reach the postseason in 2021, 2023, and 2024, with one Wild Card appearance in each of those years.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Freiermuth captured the 2020 Big Ten Tight End of the Year award and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, earning first-team honors in 2020 and second-team honors in 2019. His freshman record of eight touchdowns set a standard for Penn State tight ends that has yet to be matched.
Pat Freiermuth Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Freiermuth was raised in Merrimac, Massachusetts, in a family with deep roots in athletics and coaching. His brother, Tim Freiermuth, played as an offensive lineman for Springfield College in Massachusetts, and his uncle, Michael Foley, has built a career in college football coaching, including time as the head coach at Colgate University and a role as the offensive line coach at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.
Personal Life
Freiermuth keeps his personal life largely private, and the verified details shared through interviews focus on his close family ties. His parents have remained active in his football journey, with his mother serving as president of the Penn State Football Parents Association during his college career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has positioned Pat Freiermuth as a centerpiece of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense alongside veteran addition Jonnu Smith at tight end. Through the early weeks, he has served as both a security blanket and a red-zone weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and he opened the year by starting in the Week 1 win over the New York Jets.
His most eye-catching performance came on October 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he caught four passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns, including a 19-yard scoring grab that marked his first touchdown of the season. The stat line matched his previous multi-touchdown game from 2021 and signaled that he remains a focal point in Pittsburgh’s passing attack.
Freiermuth’s long-term contract keeps him in Pittsburgh through the 2028 season, allowing the Steelers to build their offensive identity around his steady presence. With Pittsburgh aiming for another playoff push, his production in the middle of the field is expected to remain a key part of the team’s outlook.