Steelers’ Dylan Cook Delivers a Statement Performance in First NFL Start
PITTSBURGH - In a season where the Pittsburgh Steelers have been forced to dig deep into their depth chart, left tackle Dylan Cook stepped into the spotlight and didn’t just hold his own - he dominated.
Making his first career NFL start on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins, Cook, the 6-foot-6, 305-pound former Montana walk-on, delivered a performance that turned heads across the league. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned the third-highest grade on the team and was the only Steelers offensive lineman who didn’t allow a single pressure in pass protection. That’s not just solid - that’s elite, especially under the bright lights of Monday Night Football.
Aaron Rodgers, who’s no stranger to elite offensive line play, was quick to praise the young tackle.
“I thought he played really well,” Rodgers said. “He’s a real calm guy in the huddle, and I like his demeanor.
We wanted to make sure he felt comfortable, so we gave him some chips early in the game and some slides. But I think he handled his own really well, and I think every rep for him is confidence.
I’m really proud of the way Dylan played.”
That’s high praise from a quarterback who knows what it takes to win in this league. And it wasn’t just Rodgers taking notice.
Head coach Mike Tomlin, who’s long preached the “next man up” mentality, pointed to Cook as a textbook example of someone stepping up when the team needed it most.
“He’s another example of a guy upholding the standard,” Tomlin said. “We’ve absorbed some attrition, to say the least, at that position.
He was part of a winning effort. He’s deserving of congratulations for that.”
And Tomlin isn’t exaggerating about the attrition. Cook began the season buried on the depth chart as the team’s fourth option at left tackle. But with Broderick Jones and Calvin Anderson both on injured reserve, Cook got his shot - and made the absolute most of it.
Despite the standout showing, Cook isn’t getting ahead of himself. He knows one good game doesn’t make a career, and his mindset reflects a player who’s hungry to keep building.
“It was good, but there’s always work to be done, always things to improve on,” Cook said. “I’ll just keep working this week to be better next week.”
Part of what helped Cook settle in so quickly was the presence of veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo, who helped guide the young tackle through the game.
“It definitely slowed down a little bit,” Cook said. “It helped out that I had Isaac next to me, lined me up pretty well. I definitely had the advantage with the snap count being home, so I took advantage of it.”
That kind of humility and awareness speaks volumes. Cook understands that this league is about consistency, not just one-off flashes. But if his debut is any indication, the Steelers might have found something special.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger certainly thinks so. Known for his detailed film breakdowns, Baldinger didn’t hold back in his praise.
“It was a flawless virtuoso performance,” Baldinger said in his breakdown. “Not one bad snap in 66 snaps.
No penalties. Very clean game.
All I saw was stellar play.”
Baldinger went on to highlight Cook’s unique path - from high school quarterback and long snapper in Montana to walk-on lineman in college, to now protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blind side in the NFL.
“They’ve been looking for a left tackle … forever,” Baldinger said. “They drafted one in the first round.
This is the cleanest Aaron Rodgers has been protected on the back side all year. And there was a lot of good rushers.
… Maybe this is the answer. … Dylan Cook was awesome, spectacular - maybe the future.”
That’s a big leap - but after a performance like that, it’s not hard to see why some are starting to believe.
Cook’s journey is far from over, and the challenges will only get tougher. But for one night, under the national spotlight, he looked like a seasoned pro.
The Steelers needed someone to step up. Dylan Cook answered the call - and then some.