TJ Watt, Ben Roethlisberger weigh in on Steelers playing ‘Renegade’

Sometimes, fans and players don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to in-stadium traditions. One of the more unique regularities in the NFL is when the Pittsburgh Steelers blast the song Renegade by Styx to indicate a big moment in the game. Fans love it. But do current and former players enjoy it as much? Linebacker T.J. Watt and former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had some interesting perspective.

Watt joined Roethlisberger on his Footbahlin with Big Ben podcast, talking about a number of different things. So, naturally, the former quarterback brought up the topic of Renegade.

“It’s a mixed bag out there when Renegade comes on,” Roethlisberger said. “Do you love it? Does it get you going?”

Watt, placed in a tough spot based on Roethlisberger’s question, answered as best he could.

“I like Renegade. The fans love Renegade,” Watt said. “But the problem is, there was a stretch there where Renegade was being played and we were not backing it up. And that is the worst feeling.”

While the linebacker said he liked the song, he didn’t express those feelings with much conviction. But, when the song is such a fan favorite, what are you supposed to say?

He said that, for the most part, he really hates when the song comes on and the defense doesn’t do its job on the field.

“There are those stretches where it’s like, ‘Damn, we need to back this up.’ It’s never like, ‘I hate this song,’ because it means it’s a huge moment,” Watt said.

Watt did admit that it provides the Steelers with some advantage when the song comes on. It’s a great way to get fans rowdy and create problems for the opposing team at Acrisure Stadium.

“If it gets the fans loud and creates havoc for the offense, I’m all for it.”

Roethlisberger said that he knows that some teams would try to prepare for that moment during the game.

“It’s always funny when the Ravens — they tried, I know (John Harbaugh) tried to do it in practice,” Roethlisbeger said. “And he would like, play it in practice and tell the guys to get hyped during it.”

So, what has become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh isn’t necessarily received the same way by the players. But don’t worry, Steelers fans, we’re pretty sure the song isn’t going anywhere.

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