Exclusive 1-on-1 interview with Payton Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers

with the 98th pick in the 2024 NFL draft the Pittsburgh Steelers select Payton Wilson linebacker NC State there's pton Wilson just shutting the door oh what a tackle by pton Wilson he's over double digits from a tackle standpoint for the fifth time this season Club Micks P intercepted pton Wilson diving for the End Zone touchdown Inc state welcome to Pittsburgh and congratulations I know you talked about Bill Cower after you were drafted did you have a chance to catch up with him at all yeah he sent me a few texts uh we text back and forth just you know congratulating me and you know I was just thanking him for all his you know wisdom and kind words and encouragement over the last few years uh got to knowing him pretty well over the last few years you know with NC State connection and now you know Pittsburgh Steeler connection what's the best advice he gave you you know just to continue to stay focused and continue to you know be the hard worker that I am you know every day just come in and be the same person don't change no matter how well or how bad it goes just continue to work hard and keep your head down and try to be the best that you can be 5 10 years from now when you think about the day you were drafted what's the one snapshot that's always going to be in the back of your mind uh just the people I was celebrating it with you know I'm not the flashiest person in the world to just having my parents um my mom my dad and then my girlfriend there the people that mean you know the most to me in the world just you know that memory will always be in my head and you know talking to coach Tomlin on the phone it was I mean it's a childhood dream so I mean it's a moment that I never forget you know it's not a lightning strike man you are type of guy you know we're glad it worked out man we're just excited about getting you up here you're familiar with Pittsburgh because of your brother when he played for the Pirates um what do you know about the city and is there anything that really stood out just the times you've had a chance to visit here I mean the only thing that really stood out to me was I mean it's a super clean City um my brother stayed in the Strip District so know that over there really well I think there's like a breakfast diner called kellos that we really enjoyed but you know just super excited to be back here and you know get to explore it myself Patrick Queen seems pretty excited when the Steelers drafted you have you touch base with him or any of the other defensive guys yeah he shot me a text you know just congratulating me and I hit him back you know just can't wait to get to work with him and learn from one of the best in the game you know TJ watt texted me uh Cameron Hayward texted me so just a few guys reached out and you know I'm just excited to get here and get to work with those guys during your interactions with the Steelers through the entire pre-draft process uh what did you learn about them and why you would be a good fit playing here I me I think when you just turn on my tape you see a guy playing with his hair on fire um playing every snap like it's my last just cuz you know that's how I was raised and that's how I want to play the game and I think that fits this brand of football um you know growing up watching the Steelers just I mean some of the biggest meanest baddest defenses you've ever seen in your life so just I mean I think the fittest perfect and I can't thank everybody enough that was part of their decision you mentioned the injuries the adversity how did that change you or did it not change you as a person and a player yeah I mean I think as a person it just helped my faith grow um you know I'm super religious family uh Jesus Christ is everything to me so just you know continuing to understand that he has a plan for me and no matter what it is that I'm going to be okay with it so and then you know on the field I really learned that I was taking everything for granted you know just you know the opportunity to play football you never really know until it gets taken away from you and you watch people do what you love to do and you're not able to so just you know continuing to play every single snap like it's my last does it almost let you play more free where you're just you're not really overreacting or thinking too much yeah I mean just every every play you love you know you don't oh I got to go do this I got to go do this now I get to do this you know I get to go work out I get to go train I get to you know eat five times a day to try to be as big as I possibly can but it's just a blessing and you know you don't really understand everything that goes into it until it's taken away you said that you were religious about your maintenance programs and nutrition what what does that look like to play at the highest level you can yeah well I mean in college for me I mean it was Monday and Thursdays I was maintenance on the knees and Tuesdays and Wednesdays I was you know hitting my shoulders but it's just I'm going to get in here and I'm going to meet with athletic trainers and try to just lay down a plan that's going to between uh maintenance programs and nutrition to help me have a long sustainable career you played a ton of sports growing up how did you stick with football and why linebacker uh I mean I played a lot of sports but football was always the main one played wrestling uh played lacrosse but football was always the one that I loved the most and you know in high school I played a ton of positions but just thought I was the best at linebacker just love defense love hunting people down and trying to you know get the ball back is there something Steelers fans don't know about you that you want them to know uh no I'm pretty simple guy um just faith family and football is everything to me you're going to get everything that I can possibly give for as long as I'm here and you know as long as I play this game

Channel: Pittsburgh Steelers

Views: 30,972

Keywords: steelers, nfl, american football, afc north, steelers news, pittsburgh steelers news, pittsburgh, pittsburgh steelers, Pittsburgh Steelers, PIT, Steelers, 2024 NFL, 2024 Steelers, 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers, pittsburgh steelers 2024, 2024 nfl, steelers 2024, Steelers Draft, steelers draft, 2024 steelers, nfl draft, 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Draft, Draft, steelers pick, Steelers rookie, draft press conference, 1 on 1, interview, 1-on-1, exclusive, exclusive interview, Payton Wilson

Id: Ye3MD7ShW24

Length: 5min 5sec (305 seconds)

Published: Fri May 10 2024