The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Thursday training session at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe descended into chaos after several heated altercations between key players, casting doubts over team harmony ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Two of the most notable incidents involved new signings tight end Jonnu Smith and safety Juan Thornhill, who engaged in a physical scuffle following a play in which Smith caught a pass and then fired the ball at Thornhill. The defender ripped off Smith’s helmet and shoved him before Jalen Ramsey intervened to break it up.
Shortly after, wide receiver DK Metcalf and safety Chuck Clark exchanged words during another high-intensity drill. Reports indicate that Clark threw punches at Metcalf, although the situation didn’t escalate as violently as the earlier clash between Smith and Thornhill.
Head coach Mike Tomlin and several team members have downplayed the incidents, suggesting that these kinds of preseason confrontations are typical and can even be productive, provided they don’t carry over into game day behavior.
Meanwhile, veteran guard Isaac Seumalo returned to full practice after recovering from an injury, offering a boost to an offensive line that now has all starters available.
Will this affect Steelers chemistry during the regular season?
So far, the fights appear to be a product of intense preseason competition rather than deep-rooted issues within the locker room. Smith stated that such situations help players “blow off steam” before the real games begin, and both Tomlin and team leaders have made it clear they won’t let emotions spill into the season. While the incidents raise questions, there’s no clear indication they pose a serious threat to team cohesion.
