Zach Frazier Reveals Steelers’ True Intentions on Pivotal Play in Commanders Win

Getty Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier told reporters that Mike Tomlin and the team didn't plan on running a play on fourth-and-1 with about a minute left in regulation.

Head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers were coy with the media after beating the Washington Commanders. They might have to teach that skill to rookie center Zach Frazier.

The Steelers sealed their 28-27 victory by getting Commanders rookie defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton to jump offsides. The penalty gave the Steelers a first down on fourth-and-1 with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

With no Washington timeouts remaining, the Steelers took two kneel downs after the penalty to end the game.

Tomlin and Wilson both declined to tell the media whether or not the offense planned to run a play before Newton gave the Steelers a free first down. But Frazier spilled the beans, telling reporters the offense didn’t intend to go for the fourth-down try.

“All we were doing was breaking the huddle and then trying to sell, like we were going to sneak it. So broke the huddle,” Frazier told the media, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “Everyone just sprinted to the ball, kind of acted like we were going to sneak it. And [Wilson] got him with the hard count.”

Rookie Zach Frazier Spoils Mike Tomlin’s Fun

Just as Frazier did, Tomlin received a question about the potential fourth-down try just before Newton’s penalty. But Tomlin declined to answer it.

Instead, he gave the media a wry smile.

“We’ll never know, will we?” Tomlin said as the coach and reporters shared a laugh. “You know I’m a degenerate.”