Overview
- In the 30-6 wild-card loss to Houston, the tight end wasn't targeted until the fourth quarter and finished with one catch for 18 yards on three targets as Pittsburgh went 2-for-14 on third downs.
- Across 2025, he logged career lows with 54 targets, 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns while playing 51% of offensive snaps, frequently behind Jonnu Smith.
- Mike Tomlin attributed limited involvement to third-down failures, whereas Aaron Rodgers said he had no answer for why Freiermuth was not used more.
- Reporting criticized Arthur Smith's deployment of personnel, highlighting Jonnu Smith's poor efficiency metrics and noting a brief late-season shift after Darnell Washington's Week 17 broken arm.
- Commentators have speculated he could seek a trade in 2026, though Freiermuth said he wants to stay in Pittsburgh as expected staff and quarterback changes could alter his role.