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Ben Roethlisberger Says Steelers Found Their Next Great Center in Zach Frazier
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- Ben Roethlisberger Says Steelers Found Their Next Great Center in Zach Frazier
One of the Pittsburgh Steelers' rising young players is center Zach Frazier . The third-year pro out of West Virginia has given Pittsburgh the stability at center it sought for nearly half a decade. Frazier followed in the footsteps of Steelers legend Maurkice Pouncey . After Pouncey retired following the 2020 season, the Steelers cycled through multiple centers, including a failed third-round pick, to find his replacement.
Frazier stepped in as a rookie and gave the Steelers their best play at the position in years. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave him an endorsement that shouldn't be taken lightly, comparing Frazier to all-time Steelers greats Pouncey and Dermontti Dawson.
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"He reminds me of Pouncey. He reminds me of the tough, the, 'I don't really need anything. I'm just gonna go out and do my job' … It's the Dawsons, the Pounceys. At some point, he needs to start getting his Pro Bowl nods… Then, that turns into the All-Pro nods. He's that guy," Roethlisberger said on his podcast.
Frazier Next in Line of Great Steelers Centers
Sep 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) is introduced for a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Frazier is currently the top-graded center in the NFL , according to PFF. It's easy to see why. Frazier has been one of the NFL's most efficient centers, both as a blocker and as a leader. Since he took over the role in 2024, the young talent around him has elevated its play.
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Young players like Mason McCormick , Troy Fautanu and Max Iheanachor have rallied around their future All-Pro center. Suddenly, an offensive line that looked beyond repair five years ago has four of its five starting spots nearly solidified. Frazier's emergence has been a big part of that, as general manager Omar Khan built the line from the inside out.
Aug 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) makes a call against the Green Bay Packers during the firsthalf at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Through 2½ seasons, Frazier has posted a 98.9% blocking efficiency rate across 2,638 snaps . He has allowed two sacks in his career and none in 2026. On film, he has been exceptional in the run game, as he and McCormick have helped carve out a strong ground attack for Pittsburgh.
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Frazier should get Pro Bowl votes and will deserve All-Pro consideration as well. Could he even enter the conversation for the NFL's Protector of the Year award? Based on his early play, he should. With an early resume like that, it's easy to see why Roethlisberger puts Frazier in the legendary tier of Steelers centers.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
