Erie native James Conner puts up big performance for Cardinals in return to Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH ― When James Conner arrived at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, he knew it would be a special homecoming against the Steelers.
Before the game, he went around saying hello to fans, coaches and staff members from his time as a Pittsburgh Steeler.
When the game kicked off, Conner reminded the Steelers why they drafted him in 2017.
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He also reminded them why they shouldn't have let him go in free agency.
Conner, a McDowell graduate, ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries to help the Cardinals beat the Steelers 24-10. Head coach Jonathan Gannon rewarded him with the game ball in the locker room.
“It was truly special,” Conner said about his return to Pittsburgh. “The emotions were there when I took the field. It's all God. He had his vision with me coming home and I tried to play my best football and let God do the rest.”
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Patience paying off
The tough defensive line of the Steelers slowed down Conner for most of the first half as he had 17 yards on 10 carries. He wasn't discouraged, however, as Conner kept pounding the ball into one of the top defenses in the NFL.
After two weather delays and the offensive line finding new life, Conner started finding holes and dragging Steelers with him on runs.
In the third quarter, Arizona was hanging on to a 10-3 lead when the Steelers turned it over on a Mitch Trubisky fumble. Seven plays later, Conner was in the endzone on a one-yard touchdown run.
With the Steelers turning up the defensive intensity in the fourth, Conner capped a four-play drive with a nine-yard touchdown run. He had runs of four, four and nine to score on the drive. It was his first two-touchdown game since Week 10 of the 2022 season when he scored twice in a 27-17 win at the Rams.
“It's just staying consistent with it all game. Guys like TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and others are a handful to deal with,” Conner said. “I know how much pride they take in their defense. It's a phenomenal defense we knew would come ready but we had to stay consistent and try to rip off runs as they come.”
Taking it all in
The Cardinals are starting to build for next year as things haven't gone their way with a record of 3-10. The team knew Sunday would be big for Conner emotionally but they also needed him to perform as well.
“James was lights out. Honestly, that's a really good defense and I thought the offensive line played well,” said Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon. “Early on we took some chances to get it going a little bit, but boy, he closed out the game. That's how he always plays, though. It's special or him coming back here and I'm glad he had a big-time day.”
Conner not only put the game away with two second-half touchdowns, he helped bleed the clock to make sure the Steelers couldn't attempt a comeback.
“I had about 20 or so tickets for family and friends and had some other people buy tickets to move closer to the field,” Conner said. “It's all love in this city and this area.”
Conner, 28, enjoyed all of the memories that came back including his time at Pitt, including accidentally calling the stadium Heinz Field.
“Everything about this place is special,” Conner said while wearing a Pitt football shirt. “Coming to the University of Pittsburgh at 18 years old with a goal in mind to get to the NFL. I wasn't sure how to do it but it started here so there's a special energy here.”
With the Steelers playing Arizona once every four years and the next meeting being on the road, Sunday might be the only game Conner plays in Pittsburgh for the rest of his career if he sticks with the Cardinals.
With that in mind, he made sure to take it all in before he left Pittsburgh. He spent four seasons with the Steelers and ran for 2,302 yards and 22 touchdowns on 532 carries before leaving in free agency.
“Emotions were running high but I was taking it all in,” Conner said. “It's all love.”
Luketa continues to contribute
Former Mercyhurst Prep football star Jesse Luketa continues to find ways to make an impact on the Cardinals. Whether it's being a positive force in the locker room or as a steady backup ready to step in when needed, Luketa has solidified his spot on the Arizona roster. Luketa finished with one tackle on Sunday and played a role in keeping the team together during both weather delays.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: James Conner puts together big performance in return to Pittsburgh
