Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz doesn't often get enough credit for his long-standing role on the field. We often only hear a long snapper's name mentioned when something goes wrong. But Kuntz is now getting the attention where it matters most: in his remarkable service to the community.
The 32-year-old veteran has officially been named Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP for donating $10,000 to help open a new resource room at Pittsburgh Morrow, which will support more than 200 students and 70 families each month.
Kuntz has been with the Steelers' organization since 2019, when he was waived before final roster cutdowns. He returned to Pittsburgh in 2020, spent time on the practice squad, and briefly played with the XFL's Dallas Renegades before earning the full-time long snapper role for the Steelers in 2021-a role he's held onto for six straight years now.
Each week, the NFLPA names one player as the NFLPA Community MVP for their work in the city they play in. Kuntz earned the honor in Week 9 as the Pittsburgh Steelers enter their bye week.
Kuntz and his wife, Heather, were involved in initially stocking the new resource room at Pittsburgh Morrow. This resource room will provide free shoes, uniforms, winter jackets, hygiene products, and more than 10,000 pounds of food, directly benefiting a student population in which 83 percent of students are economically disadvantaged.
Christian Kuntz opening the Pittsburgh Morrow Mustangs' Resource Room | Image provided by the NFLPA
The Kuntz 4 Ki6s foundation has raised $230,000 to support thousands of local families and students, according to the NFLPA. In addition to raising over a quarter of a million dollars for charity over the past three years, Christian and Heather recently hosted a Halloween Bash, which welcomed 80 kids for candy, pumpkin decorating, food, and a chance to pick out a free costume.
Kuntz 4 Ki6s is a play on Christian's No. 46 Steelers jersey, which he has worn for six consecutive seasons. A Pittsburgh native, Kuntz uses his NFL platform to mentor, support youth leadership, and aid underserved communities across the region.
In addition to funding the Morrow resource room and hosting a Halloween party for kids, the Kuntz 4 Ki6s foundation regularly partners with the Homeless Children's Education Fund for back-to-school shopping sprees, which take students with unstable housing on shopping trips to ensure they have all the essentials for school.
Christian Kuntz at the Kuntz 4 Ki6s Halloween Bash | Image provided by the NFLPA
Kuntz has also been involved in fundraising events and youth camps through flagship charity events, such as his annual youth football camp and the Jack & Jill Golf Outing.
Kuntz has done incredible work within the Pittsburgh community over the years, and despite a busy Steelers season with playoff aspirations yet again, it's incredible to see the work he's done to improve the lives of those around him.
It's one thing to serve in a thankless and underappreciated role on the football field, but it's something else entirely to devote time, energy, and resources to improving the community.
And everyone can applaud him for that.
If you'd like to support the Kuntz 4 Ki6s foundation, you can click here to learn more and donate. As their website states, "With a charitable donation, you are enabling us to work with children across a vast range of causes. These include serving the underprivileged youth, making frequent hospital visits and being a pillar for mental health awareness."
This article was originally published on www.stillcurtain.com as Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz named Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP .
