Steeler Captain, Maurkice Pouncey, Wears Slain Officers Name on Helmet

Pittsburgh Steelers center, and co-captain of the defense, Maurkice Pouncey, wrote the name a slain police officer on his helmet, during week one against the New York Giants.

Steeler Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, promised the Steelers would stand united this season, but there’s discord in the message the team wants to send. Maurkice Pouncey is among three other players that have worn another name on their helmet after the team decided to wear the name “Antwon Rose” in his memory.

However, Pouncey wore the name of slain officer, “Eric Kelly” who was one of three police officers injured in a standoff in 2009. Other defensive players joined Pouncey by wearing other names on their helmets. The Game Haus reported that Alejandro Villanueva had covered Roses’s name with the name of a fallen war veteran. The name on Pouncey’s wore not known at the time.

Steelers Giving Mixed Signals.

It wasn’t just Pouncey or Villanueva, but the rest of the Steelers were giving different messages during their game against the Giants. Right after Tomlin told fans in a speech before practice about “being united”.  

Other Steelers, on the other hand, took action about the message they wanted to send. Benny Snell, wore the name, Breonna Taylor, according to reports by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Ben “Big Ben” Roethlisberger, wore the phrase “It Takes All of Us” and defensive co-captain, Cam Heyward, wore ” “End Racism” on his helmet along with running back James Connor and wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt and wide receiver James Washington wore no name on their helmets, according to reporters. Tuitt also said he would not kneel for the flag during the national anthem.

“As an organization, and myself as the head coach of the organization, we’re going to support our players however they chose to participate and express themselves, or to not participate or not express themselves, as long as they do so thoughtfully and with class,” Tomlin told the press during a conference on Tuesday.

The Steelers play the Houston Texans at home on September 27 for their week 3 game.

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