Steelers Rookie Payton Wilson Earns Unique Praise From His Coach: 'I've Never Had One Like Him'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have employed some of the best linebackers in NFL history. Jack Ham, Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, James Harrison, and TJ Watt are just some of the great outside linebackers who have worn the Black and Gold. Jack Lambert, Levon Kirkland, James Farrior, and Ryan Shazier are just a few who occupied the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. Since Shazier's career was tragically cut short, Pittsburgh has struggled to find a long-term replacement to shore up the middle of the defense. 

Omar Khan decided to expedite matters in 2024 and went outside of the organization and signed Patrick Queen to the biggest free agent contract in the organization's history. Queen spent the last four seasons in the middle of the Baltimore Ravens defense and, at just 24 years of age, made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 and was selected as a Second Team All-Pro. On Friday night, Khan selected North Carolina State inside linebacker Payton Wilson, who coincidentally is also 24 years old, to join him in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. 

Wilson was projected as a first-round talent during the draft process, but concerns about his health pushed him down on the draft board. North Carolina State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson made an appearance on The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller on Monday and not only dismissed any concerns over Wilson's health, but called the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player Of The Year Award winner the most unique player he has ever coached. 

"Linebacker position, I've never had one like him," Gibson said. "In 30 years of doing this, coaching at Michigan, Arizona, Pitt, West Virginia, I've never had a guy like him, ever. The size and, the speed, and the athletic ability. He's a smooth mover, never a wasted movement out on the football field. I never had one like him; I describe him as a unicorn. The kid loves to practice and loves to compete. He loves to play the game."

The First Team All-American spent six seasons with North Carolina State. A devastating knee injury in high school cost him spring practices his freshman season, and he reinjured the knee in 2018. Gibson arrived in 2019, and Wilson has been a terror on the football field throughout his tenure. He led the team in tackles in 2019 and in 2020, finished fourth in the country in tackles, and was selected First Team All-ACC. He lost a second season to a shoulder injury in 2021, but returned in 2022  to earn an honorable mention All-ACC nod.