ORLANDO, Fla. — Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo is 31 years old, he's played nine seasons, won a Super Bowl and played in another. That's a solid NFL career for anyone, but the first-time Pro Bowler said he hasn't yet thought about the end of the road.
Seumalo said he hasn't considered how much longer he'd like to keep playing, but still feels a passion for putting in the work each and every day.
"I still have a love for the game and passion and preparation," Seumalo said before AFC Pro Bowl practice on Sunday. "So, you know, I haven't really thought about it too much."
He said he also hasn't given much consideration to his contract status. Seumalo is entering the final season of the three-year deal he signed with the Steelers in 2023 , but said he's not sweating what happens after 2025 at this moment.
"Nah, not really, man," he said. "I just, you know, try to show up on game day and be as prepared as I can be."
Pittsburgh Steelers left guard Isaac Seumalo during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 8, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
While playing in the NFL is old hat for Seumalo at this point, he has come into a bit of a different role for the Steelers at this point in his career.
After an injury to James Daniels early in the 2024 season, the Steelers played the rest of the season with three offensive linemen 24 years old or younger in Broderick Jones , Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier . Next season, with left tackle Dan Moore Jr. apparently set to depart via free agency and injured rookie Troy Fautanu returning, it looks like it could be just Seumalo and four young guys.
But he's embraced his status as the elder statesman of the unit that includes a critical part of the team's future.
"It's definitely different from the spot I was in Philly, but it's been really cool trying to help young guys and seeing them get better as the season goes on and learn and grow," Seumalo said. "The best way to learn something is to teach it. So, it's helped me too."
Seumalo feels like some of his understudies might be in this spot sometime soon, particularly rookie center Zach Frazier.
"Zach balled out, man," Seumalo said. "I'm sure he's got a lot of of Pro Bowl trips in his career."
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