3rd Annual “Yinzie” Awards: Best & worst moments in Pittsburgh Steelers social media in 2023

We honor the year’s highlights and low points…

It’s time to reflect on another Pittsburgh Steelers season. The year goes by so quickly, it’s easy to forget about some of the things that happened along the way. Let’s look back at the last 12 months and recognize the moments that made us turn to social media. Here are the nominees for the 3rd annual “Yinzie” Awards.

The JuJu Award (for best off-field moment)

The headlines aren’t always limited to what happens on the field or in the locker room.

• Pickett’s Levin furniture ad
• Pickett gets his car stolen
• DJ lambo fender bender
• Pickett chugs beer with Luke Combs
• Watt falls in his pool
• Ogunjobi buys parents home

The Yinzer Crazy Award (for bizarre fan moment)

Not all Steelers highlights come from the players…

• Fire Canada sign at Commanders game
• Fire Canada chants at Pens game
• Fan wears Swift Jersey to Taylor concert
• Steelers fans at Jags/Titans game

The Deebo Award (for best alumni moment)

Once a Steeler, always a Steeler…

• Mendenhall calls for race-based Pro Bowl
• Shazier’s book club
• AB threatens own Albany players
• Bradshaw mad at being called dumb
• Duck debuts with Lainey Wilson
• Bell apologizes & wants to retire a Steeler

The Vance Mac Posterizer Award (for best photo op)

If you could take one moment from the season, turn it into a poster and stick it on your wall.

• Warren angry run week 11
• Harris angry run vs Cincy
• Rudolph signs babies in Seattle
• Warren block vs Cincy
• Harris pile-moving TD vs Seattle
• Killebrew blocked punt vs Ravens
• Kendrick Green at FB
• Igwebuike’s kickoff catch

The Maskless Mason Award (for worst photo op)

This didn’t necessarily have an impact on the season, but it was definitely not a good look.

• Canada not cheering after TD
• Kenny pissed on sidelines
• Fire Canada chants
• Pickens not blocking
• DJ missing fumble
• Canada signs a toilet seat
• Olszewski’s special teams sideline catch

The Davenport Dirty Laundry Basket Award (for the low point of season)

It doesn’t get much crappier than Najeh Davenport on laundry day. Which was the crappiest moment of the 2023 season?

• Colts’ 13 straight runs
• Niners blowout (worst home loss since ‘06)
• Rudolph playoff INT
• Beat by Texans rookie QB & coach
• Death threats to Killebrew
• Trubisky goes deep to DJ on 4th & 2 vs Pats

The Cowher Power Award (for season’s defining moment)

If you could pick just one moment, how would you characterize the 2023 season? Is this the ‘Fire Canada’ season? Is this the Mason season? Is it just another early playoff exit season?

• Matt Canada Fired
• Pickett to Pickens vs Baltimore
• Rudolph playoff INT
• Rudolph to Pickens vs Bengals
• Rudolph to DJ in Baltimore

Tony Toe-Tap Award (for offensive moment of the year)

• Pickett to Pickens vs Ravens
• Rudolph to Pickens vs Bengals
• Warren 74 yd TD vs Browns
• Rudolph to DJ in Baltimore

Polamalu Award (for defensive moment of the year)

• Herbig strip sack vs Seattle
• Highsmith INT vs Cleveland
• Porter interception vs Ravens
• Watt TD vs Cleveland
• Kwon Alexander INT vs Titans
• Kazee INT vs Packers
• Rowe forced fumble in Baltimore

Multiverse of Madness Award (if you could have one play back)

Could one single play change the course of an entire season? Maybe if it was one of these plays.

• Christian Kuntz false start vs Pats
• Pickett goal line injury vs Cards
• Rudolph playoff INT
• Harris 4th & goal from 1 vs Cards
• 2nd & 10 on Cleveland 40
• Trubisky 4th & 2 vs Pats

Under the Radar Award (for most underreported or under-tweeted story)

These stories didn’t get the attention they deserved.

• Chris Boswell has more 50 yd FGs than all other Steelers combined
• Defense excels, especially in the 4th quarter, to finish top ten scoring.
• Tomlin surpasses Parcells, Shanahan, Coughlin, Paul Brown on all-time win list
• Offensive ranked below 20th for three years straight, a franchise first
• DJ passes Burress to become 9th all-time in Pittsburgh receiving yards
• Harris sets team record for rushing yards in 1st three seasons, 13th all-time passing Hoge
• Shazier’s DMs

Most Improved Steeler

These players were constantly on the rise.

Most Regressed Steeler

Evil Genius Award (for worst ‘insider’ moment)

Steelers media insiders are constantly working to feed our appetites for content… facts be damned.

• Madden: Pickett refused to be backup
• Jordan Schultz: Canada is moving to a more prominent role with Kenny
• Kaboly: Mason has no interest in returning to Steelers
• Filliponi tells Gio of “Boomer & Gio” that DJ punches Mitch
• Athletic & AllSteelers.com: James Daniels was on the trading block
• Brooke Pryor asks about Glazer/Schefter-inspired retirement reports

Happy Trails Award (for player whose Steelers journey is ending)

You’ll always be a member of the Black and Gold… just not in 2024.

Welcome to Steelers Nation Award (for best newcomer)

Some new faces came to Pittsburgh this year, and they’ve already cemented their Steelers’ cred.

Mike Tomlin Moment of the Year

• “We’re not urinating on the fire”
• “You need to continually be a guy on the rise”
• “Fat Sassy Spoiled”
• Barber’s HOF jacket presentation
• Walks off after playoff loss
• Damar Hamlin wants to jersey swap
• Pads on for midweek practice

Kyle Chrise is the host of the Steelers podcast What Yinz Talkin’ Bout. Listen to Thursday’s episode to find out their picks for “Best Take,” “Worst Take,” “Hater of the Year,” and “Fan of the Year.”