Steelers' McCormick Earns Praise for Jersey No. 66

Former linebacker Vince Williams said guard Mason McCormick is carrying on a tradition of standout Steelers linemen who wore No. 66.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football

Steelers' McCormick Earns Praise for Jersey No. 66

Former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams praised guard Mason McCormick for wearing No. 66 on the Steelers Blitz podcast on a Monday. The comments followed McCormick blocking Browns defensive end Jared Verse on a Steelers extra-point attempt last Sunday.

Why it matters

The praise places McCormick among a line of Steelers linemen who wore the number, including Alan Faneca and David DeCastro. Coach-level praise from teammates and former players signals McCormick's growing role on the offensive line.

Pro Football Focus ranks McCormick 11th among guards in run blocking and 14th overall this season. Former No. 66 wearer David DeCastro made six Pro Bowls, but the source does not say how McCormick's grades compare to other Steelers guards in prior seasons.

The players

Mason McCormick

Mason McCormick is a Steelers offensive guard and a former fourth-round pick out of South Dakota State.

Vince Williams

Vince Williams is a former Steelers linebacker who now appears on the Steelers Blitz podcast.

Jared Verse

Jared Verse is a Cleveland Browns defensive end who was dumped to the ground by McCormick during the extra-point attempt.

Cam Heyward

Cam Heyward is a longtime Steelers defensive lineman who compared the current offensive line to the 2010s units.

The details

Williams made the comments on the Steelers Blitz podcast, noting that Faneca and DeCastro wore the number before McCormick. Coach Cam Heyward compared the current line to the Steelers offensive line of the 2010s and named McCormick and center Zach Frazier as tone setters. McCormick's block on the extra-point attempt came after Verse jumped to try to block the kick, and McCormick dumped him to the ground.

Week 4: Steelers and Browns matchup where Verse made comments
Last Sunday: Steelers played Browns, and McCormick blocked Verse on the extra point
Monday: Williams praised McCormick on the Steelers Blitz podcast

Season Trajectory

The praise ties McCormick to the franchise's 2010s offensive line era, when Faneca and DeCastro wore No. 66. Heyward's comparison suggests the current group is being measured against that standard.

McCormick's role as a starter could shape fantasy and roster decisions for fans tracking Steelers offensive line play. His grades from Pro Football Focus provide a measurable reference for how his blocking is being evaluated this season.

The takeaway

McCormick's emergence shows how a fourth-round pick can earn a larger role on a team with a long line tradition. Watching how he is used in run blocking will show whether his early season grades hold.