As the NFL Draft quickly approaches, highly regarded prospects Ty Simpson and Jordyn Tyson are balancing workouts, interviews and community events, getting a firsthand feel of the city of Pittsburgh — a city in which their lives will change when they hear their names called.
Michael Pittman Jr., a former Colt and current Steelers wide receiver who was drafted in 2020, joined Tyson and Simpson Wednesday as they ran the Toyota Flag Football Event at Ellis School.
The three ran drills at the flag football event, which featured 50 high school girls, alongside U.S. Women’s team players Vanita Krouch and Isabella Geraci.
“Those guys are great,” Pittman said of Simpson and Tyson. “It’s just great to see the youth because now I’m kind of like that old guy. It’s been seven years, so just seeing those guys bounce around and everything they’re doing, they should have a great night (Thursday).”
Simpson, a quarterback from Alabama, threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdown passes. He said declaring for the NFL Draft despite having one more year of college eligibility was an easy decision for him. He said all the challenges that came his way last season proved he was ready.
“All the adversity I faced, from the first game to the last, with people counting us out and putting us in a corner, and then us digging back out, being down 17-0 to Oklahoma and coming back at their place to win, it’s something where, if I was going to play, I was going to be on the field with my guys,” Simpson said. “Fighting through all that, even though people may have blown it out of proportion, is why I value the game so much.”
Simpson, a native of Martin, Tenn., could very well be on Pittsburgh’s radar. So far, he’s enjoyed every minute in the city, saying its passionate fanbase reminds him of the pride he has for the places he represents.
“I think I would fit in great here,” Simpson said. “I feel like this city takes pride in being Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh community, just like I take pride in being from the Martin community. The grit that people have here, it’s a football town. If I got to play here, I feel like I would fit right in.”
He also knows the passion of the fanbase and would enjoy playing for a fanbase similar to his fanbase in Alabama. Simpson would love an opportunity, if drafted and with a special return, to learn from Aaron Rodgers.
“It would be a blessing with how talented he is, how good of a person he is,” he said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about Aaron. Especially being able to pick his mind about how he got to learn from not only (Brett) Favre, but just things he’s learned in general from being a two-time MVP, a Super Bowl champion, one of the guys who honestly changed the game with quarterback play.”
Simpson is ready to hear his name called.
“I think the first thing that will go through my mind is really just all the emotions, from my parents at a young age, to how much I love the game, how much my teammates mean to me, how much my new team, my new city and those coaches are going to mean to me,” Simpson said.
“It’s going to be a whirlwind of emotions, but I’m going to make sure I take in as much as I can.”
Simpson said he plans on turkey hunting with his family to celebrate when he returns home.
Tyson, a wide receiver from Arizona State who tallied over 2,000 receiving yards and a trip to the College Football playoff during his career, is learning a lot from the black and gold as Steelers legend and two-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Hines Ward mentored him.
“I learned everything over his 14-year career,” Tyson said. “That’s what he was trying to do for me — trying to be that mentor, trying to keep me from making some of the wrong decisions he made. But he’s an amazing receiver coach. I can’t thank him enough.”
Tyson is loving the community in Pittsburgh and the turnout of the girls flag football event, along with the passionate fanbase.
In his short time in Pittsburgh so far, Tyson is already taking pointers from Pittman.
“He’s really cool,” Tyson said. “I watched him for a long time. His time with the Colts was nice. He will get to do some good things here with the Steelers. Great player, plays really big, and he is really fast. It makes him look short, but he’s a great receiver.”
Tyson is grateful for any opportunity. He talked fondly about playing for the Giants and Jaxson Dart, along with his former teammate Cam Skattebo. He thinks he and Malik Nabers would make a great duo and he also talked about a potential career in Philadelphia.
However, he’s grateful to be in Pittsburgh for the NFL Draft and credits his faith for getting this far. Although he will be grateful for whatever team drafts him, the Steelers left a good impression as they allowed him a lot of freedom to express himself.
“I think that was really cool by the Steelers, because that was the most I talked about in an interview,” Tyson said. “They kind of just give you the floor, kind of just want to see who you are.”
Pittman said he believes Tyson would look good in a Steelers uniform.
“I think that he’d fit in great here,” he said. “I told him to embrace it and cherish the moment. It may not go exactly how he planned but it’ll all work out.”
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