UNITY TWP., Pa. —Wide receiver Ben Skowronek has been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for a little while now. He joined the team last August, nearly 11 months ago, and appeared in 10 games for the team last season.
But because Skowronek started the season with the Houston Texans last year, this is his first training camp at St. Vincent College.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronekc before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
That is — this is his first training camp as a member of the team. Skowronek might an Indiana kid who went to high school in Fort Wayne and college at Northwestern and Notre Dame, but he has some serious Western Pennsylvania roots.
Those roots include a childhood trip to the hills surrounding Chuck Noll Field to watch Steelers practice.
"I actually came out here, it was when The Bus was still playing, so it was a long time ago," Skowronek said. "I was a little kid. I hardly remember it. I came out here with my grandpa, so that's one of the memories I have with him, sitting on that hill, watching practice."
Skowronek's father Davis is a native of Connellsville, Pa., which is just about 30 miles southwest of Latrobe, along the same Chestnut Ridge the dominates the skyline at St. Vincent.
St. Vincent College on July 23, 2025 before Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
"It's God's country," Skowronek said. "It's beautiful out here, not too far from where my pops is from. … It's great. It's football, away from distractions. I miss my wife a little bit. She won't be coming out here. But I'll have family — aunts, uncles, cousins — the whole Skowronek side will probably be out at Latrobe at some point."
Skowronek is distantly related to Connesllville legend and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack, so he has real Western Pa. bonafides in terms of football heritage, but he said there's something about this part of the country that just innately connects with him that goes beyond relations.
"It's in my DNA," he said. "The blue collar, steelworkers as relatives … I feel like I just fit this city being a gritty player."
Skowronek's blocking, toughness and do-it-all mindset as a wide receiver will certainly serve him well in terms of endearing him to the Steelers faithful. That is — the ones that he isn't related to.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers WR Ben Skowronek Connecting with Western Pa. Roots at Training Camp
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