Buy or Avoid: Steelers jersey buying guide for the 2019 offseason
With free agency and the start to the NFL business year right around the corner, it’s time to take a look at what Steelers jerseys are a good, or bad, investment for fans.
Below are a number of current Steelers: yes, you may be surprised at a name or two on this list, but the objective is to get the most bang for your buck when you pluck down your hard-earned money on a football jersey. What you want to avoid is a player who won’t be on the team in the fall… and that list could be growing based on all of the drama surrounding the team after failing to make the postseason.
Here’s my educated guesses on your safe bets for jersey buys, along with some reasons as to why you should or shouldn’t buy them.
Alejandro Villanueva
Here’s a jersey you may be able to find on the cheap this offseason since there was a late season flood of Villanueva jerseys in 2017 which may still be leftover through the 2018 season.
The Steelers starting left tackle made his second-straight Pro Bowl and is signed through the 2020 season. With his background as an Army Ranger, he’s beloved in the Steel City and is someone who should definitely be on your radar for a jersey purchase this offseason.
Antonio Brown
Before skipping out on the last game of the season AB was a must-buy and appeared to be an all-time Steelers great whose jersey you could wear any day of the year.
Now that status is in jeopardy, so you know what to do: hold off on buying a Brown jersey for the foreseeable future.
UPDATE: Avoid at all costs after AB’s recent Instagram “moving on” post!!
Ben Roethlisberger
Speaking of all-time greats, a Roethlisberger jersey purchase will be as good for as long as you own it. Big Ben owns nearly every meaningful franchise passing statistic and his story continues to be written.
With an offseason contract extension being discussed, you could make a worse decision with your jersey purchase!
Cameron Heyward
I’m not sure why Heyward’s jersey isn’t seen more often in the Steel City, but it’s a solid purchase. The defensive captain isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. He was just named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl, further solidifying his number as one you want to wear on your back.
James Conner
One of the hottest jerseys in the entire league back in 2017, Conner ascended to a starting running back in 2018 and made the Pro Bowl in doing so.
His feel-good story is one we all know and will never forget. You should feel just as good about buying his jersey too!
Joe Haden
One reason I would avoid buying Joe Haden’s jersey: the entire secondary decided to change their uniform numbers last offseason!
Other than that, Haden only has one more year left on his current deal, giving us further reasons to avoid a purchase until we know if he returns beyond 2019.
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Another second-year Pro Bowl player for the Steelers who also led the team in receiving, JuJu is one of the hottest names in pro football and under contract for two more seasons on his rookie deal. I’d be shocked if the Steelers didn’t make every effort to give him a second contract beyond that in the coming years, making Smith-Schuster a safe bet for any new jersey acquisition.
Le’Veon Bell
I had to list Bell just because his jersey will be found in discount bins everywhere. Until we know for certain his future playing status, I would avoid the temptation of saving a few bucks just to wear what could be what could be an old Black and Gold jersey in the coming weeks.
T.J. Watt
Pro Bowl? Check.
Sack leader? Check.
Bright future? Check.
Instant name recognition? Check.
Along with Conner and Smith-Schuster, you can’t go wrong wearing Watt’s jersey. He will likely get a fifth-year option on his contract as well, extending the longevity of his number 90 on year beyond his draft class peers. Buy!
Vance McDonald
McDonald is popular and if you can find his jersey, you will be one of the few at Heinz Field with one.
If that appeals to you, great. Another consideration is that McDonald is under contract through 2021: the longest of anyone else on this list.
I’m not sure if he plays through that contract, as injuries have nagged his career, but following a solid 2018 season I’d imagine McDonald is here to stay for a while.
Vince Williams
Vince Williams is the other player on this list signed as long as McDonald, but doesn’t see his 98 around games very often. However, he’s another long-term Steelers player who you should get your mileage out of with a jersey purchase. Williams will turn 32 at the end of his new contract extension and could even sign yet another beyond that, perhaps making his #98 the least risky of all of the names here outside of Roethlisberger.
Which Style?
The final question after you choose which player to purchase, is what kind of jersey do you want?
My safe bet is on the black home jersey, with the traditional white second. If you want to get more mileage from you purchase, I’d suggest avoiding white if you’re someone who can’t keep that color clean or you’re paranoid about doing so like I am, where it will collect dust in the closet!
The alternate jerseys are a mixed bag. I would assume that the Steelers will wear their “color rush” style again in 2019 and maybe beyond. It’s very popular, to the point that the team wore it twice in 2018. A “block number” throwback style was introduced in 2018 and since it’s newer, should be around for a season or two into the future.
The older 75th anniversary jersey and “bumblebee” throwbacks are both retired: if you like classics, go for it. If not, avoid wearing something that’s already out of style.
