Thursday, February 20, 2025, 4:46PM |  20°
MENU
Advertisement
Antonio Brown had plenty of electrifying moments during his time with the Steelers.
1
MORE

Antonio Brown's best moments with the Steelers

Andrew Stein/Post-Gazette

Antonio Brown's best moments with the Steelers

The Antonio Brown era in Pittsburgh appears to be over.

Multiple reports early Sunday said the Steelers have agreed to trade Brown to the Oakland Raiders, closing the book on an exhilarating nine-year career here and ending one of the franchise’s most dramatic offseason story lines ever. 

Through the twists and turns of the Brown saga since the last week of the regular season, it can be easy to forget how the unheralded wide receiver from Central Michigan grew before our eyes. Here’s a look at the top moments in Brown’s career as a member of the Steelers: 

Advertisement

2010

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin works with the defensive backs during afternoon practice Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Pittsburgh.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Mike Tomlin gets chance to take back his team

The sixth-round pick out of Central Michigan had the look of a future star from the start. In just his second NFL game, he took a kickoff return 89 yards for a touchdown in a 19-11 win against the Tennessee Titans. His overall stats that year weren’t great — 16 catches for just 167 yards. That moment, however, was a clear signal that the Steelers may have gotten a steal at the bottom of the draft. It was just the first of many big plays to come.


2013

Calvin Johnson was the premier receiver in the NFL, fresh off a nearly 2,000-yard season, when Brown had his true breakout campaign a few years later. It’s appropriate, then, that the two had a memorable duel as Brown began his own ascent. In a November meeting at Heinz Field, both scored a pair of touchdowns. Johnson won in the yardage department, putting up 179 yards on six receptions. But Brown’s 147 yards on seven catches were more than enough to lead his team to a 37-27 win. 

Advertisement

2014

If the return touchdown his rookie year was the sign that Brown was on his way to stardom, “the kick” was his announcement that he’d arrived. He actually did not score on what’s become an iconic punt return in the season opener at Heinz Field. He did make a statement, though. He knew he was good, and he wasn’t afraid to remind you in memorable — even controversial — ways.


2015

Among those controversial ways? Touchdown dances. Over the years, we’ve seen twerking. We’ve seen Hingle McCringleberry imitations. The most memorable was probably his, um, embrace of the the goalpost at the end of a punt return touchdown against Indianapolis. He was fined for that one, but hey, it’s not difficult to pay when business is boomin’ to the tune of a career-best 1,834-yard season.

LSU linebacker Devin White stops Louisiana Tech running back Jaqwis Dancy in the first half of a 2016 game in Baton Rouge, La. White was named to the 2018 AP All-America NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman, File)
Ray Fittipaldo
Steelers didn't get good return on Antonio Brown, but Kevin Colbert has ammunition to make a big move on draft night

2016

Brown didn’t win a Super Bowl with the Steelers, but you can’t accuse him of shrinking in big moments. With the Steelers trailing Baltimore late in a Christmas Day contest that would determine the AFC North, Brown willed his way into the end zone for a touchdown immediately dubbed the “Immaculate Extension.” The score sparked a run to the franchise’s first AFC championship appearance since Brown’s rookie year of 2010. 


2017 

How about a clutch catch and a miraculous one all in one play? In a rematch of an AFC divisional playoff game from the year before, Brown silenced the crowd at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium by hauling in a deflected pass and running it into the end zone that put the Steelers up by 10 points late in the fourth quarter. His 2017 season included a lot of key plays, but this was probably the prettiest.


2018

Brown’s last appearance in a Steelers uniform will go down as one of his best. With his team needing a win to preserve control of its playoff destiny, he left it all on the field, racking up 185 yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions against the Saints. A phantom pass interference call on teammate Joe Haden and a late meltdown by the defense cost the Steelers a victory. But Brown gave fans one last great performance before the benching that was beginning of the end of his Steelers career the following week. 

Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24. 

Go to section

First Published: March 10, 2019, 11:30 a.m.

RELATED
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown leaps for the end zone as he scores touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Gerry Dulac
Analysis: Antonio Brown deal shows Steelers prioritized getting rid of distractions
Antonio Brown pulls in a pass in front of Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, at Heinz Field.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Is the Antonio Brown deal as one-sided as it seems?
Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon throws during workouts Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Pirate City in Bradenton.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Who are Pittsburgh's star athletes of the future?
Antonio Brown appears to be headed to Oakland.
Gerry Dulac
Steelers agree to trade Antonio Brown to Oakland Raiders
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Penguins hall of fame broadcaster Mike Lange works the play-by-play during the Alumni game at Heinz Field on Dec. 31, 2010.
1
sports
Mike Lange, longtime Penguins broadcaster, dies at 76
Mike Lange be­gan an­nounc­ing for the Penguns in 1974.
2
sports
How the hockey world is reacting to the death of Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange
Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange during a press conference at Consol Energy Center.
3
sports
Jason Mackey: What Mike Lange meant to me, and why we must carry on his incredible legacy
Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah helped writers of "The Pitt" with her perspective working in emergency medicine.
4
a&e
'It's very real,' says the Pittsburgh ER doctor who consulted on 'The Pitt' TV show
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, GM Kevin Colbert and president Art Rooney II watch afternoon practice Friday, July 27, 2018, at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
5
sports
Brian Batko’s Steelers mailbag: Should there have been a better long-term plan at quarterback?
Antonio Brown had plenty of electrifying moments during his time with the Steelers.  (Andrew Stein/Post-Gazette)
Andrew Stein/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story