He’s embarking on his seventh NFL season closer to 30 years old than he is to 25.
Because of a career that has included two Pro Bowl berths and a second-team All-Pro designation, DK Metcalf already commands plenty of respect among his teammates.
Strange, then, that it Metcalf — among the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most accomplished offensive players — is the one who is calling everyone else, “sir.”
“I was teasing him the first conversation we had,” 21-year veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers said earlier this week, “(because) he said, ‘Yes, sir,’ like 10 times. I said, ‘Is that because I’m 41?’ He said, ‘No, that’s just how I talk.’ ”
The media found that out firsthand the following day when, on more than a dozen occasions during his first availability of the spring, Metcalf used the phrases, “Yes sir,” or, ‘No sir,” when addressing a reporter.
“The thing that really excites me the most is his character,” Rodgers said. “I think he’s a high-character guy.
“I like his whole personality and his approach and the way he is on the field, his professionalism.”
The Steelers agreed to pay Metcalf $150 million over the next five seasons and gave up a second-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire him for those intangibles, sure. But also because he is 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, has run the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds and has shown himself a playmaker.
It’s only been three on-field full-squad workouts — Metcalf was not present for Phase 3 of voluntary organized team activities — but Metcalf’s freakish abilities impressed his new teammates during the three-day mandatory minicamp that wrapped up Thursday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
“I mean, just look at the guy. He’s a specimen, you know?” rookie quarterback Will Howard said. “He’s something else, just the way that he covers ground with his strides.
“But it’s also the way he works. It’s rare to see somebody (of that stature) who is willing to catch for a rookie quarterback on any route that he needs. … He is super-hard-working, respectful and he goes about his business. A great dude.”
Though Metcalf arrives in Pittsburgh as, effectively, the replacement for a player who shares a similar skill set — George Pickens — Metcalf’s career low for touchdown receptions in a season (five, last season) matches Pickens’ career high (five, 2023).
And when Metcalf had a potential future Hall of Fame quarterback throwing to him — Russell Wilson from 2019-21 — he averaged 9.7 touchdowns per season. Now, he’s working with a four-time NFL MVP in Rodgers.
“This was a first look here in a team setting with Aaron,” Metcalf said this week, “so just to see what type of teammate he is, just excited with everything that he brings to the table.
“Just how cerebral he is and how he views the game. I like the way he views the game from a receiver standpoint, but also from a quarterback standpoint. I think I can gain a lot of knowledge just from being around him because he’s seen a lot of football. Just trying to soak up as much information as I can.”
Funny, because that’s the way the Steelers’ younger receivers — Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson — seem to look at Metcalf.
“I mean, those are two special players that have a unique skill set. I can only help as much as they want me to,” Metcalf said, again displaying his respectfulness. “But once they come to me asking for questions, I’m an open book to them.
“Once they make the decision to come ask me questions, then I’ll try to pour as much knowledge as I can into them. But they’re great players in their own right, so I’m going to be asking them questions, as well, about how they see the game, just piggybacking off of what they do and just bouncing ideas off of each other.”
The interpersonal relationship that is, arguably, most important to the success of the 2025 Steelers just might be the chemistry that Metcalf builds with Rodgers.
The two were off to a good start, meeting up for a throwing-and-catching session on the West Coast long before Rodgers even signed with the Steelers.
“He’s just a fun person to be around,” Rodgers said. “He’s going to test me cerebrally, in my opinion. So just looking forward to the continued conversations, the continued workouts, and, hopefully, we can put a product on the field that can last a lifetime.”
