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‘JuJu Was One Of The Best Leaders I’ve Been Around:’ Claypool Discusses Friendship With Smith-Schuster

For the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers, the entire team will be devoid of perhaps one of the greatest leaders in the team’s history, as two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hung up his cleats for good following the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card game this past January. However, the team would also be losing another emotional leader in the form of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned from an IR stint due to shoulder surgery earlier in the season to play in the team’s playoff loss.

Smith-Schuster, a 2019 Pro Bowler who flirted with free agency last offseason before taking less money to return, decided to exit the team along with Roethlisberger, signing on to play with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on a one-year deal.