There are positions in football that live in the spotlight. Quarterback. Edge rusher. Wide receiver.

And then there is long snapper.

On this episode of Off Set, Larry Richert and Jay Caufield sit down with Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz to pull back the curtain on one of the most precise, pressure packed jobs in the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Path

Christian’s story feels uniquely Pittsburgh.

A Duquesne product. A hometown kid. A player who grew up understanding what it means to wear black and gold. Larry shares the first time he saw Christian play as a freshman at Duquesne and knew he was special. That early promise eventually turned into a Duquesne Hall of Fame career.

But the road to the NFL was anything but smooth.

A ruptured spleen his senior year derailed scholarship momentum and forced him to rethink his path. Instead of folding, Christian leaned into opportunity. He walked on at Duquesne. He refined his game. He adapted.

That adaptability became the theme of his career.

The XFL Grind and a Career Pivot

Christian originally entered the Steelers organization as a linebacker. After being released, he found himself in the XFL. That is where a conversation changed everything.

Former Cowboys great Moose Johnston saw something in him. Not just toughness. Athleticism. A different lane.

If you can snap and stay this athletic, you will play a long time.

That advice stuck. Christian committed fully to long snapping. The XFL became the bridge back to Pittsburgh. The rest is now part of Steelers history.

The Reality of Long Snapping

Most fans only notice a long snapper when something goes wrong. Christian explains why that is exactly how it should be.

The goal is to be invisible.

He breaks down the mechanics in detail. A 15 yard snap delivered in roughly .75 seconds. Immediate block responsibility. Release downfield. Diagnose the return wall. Communicate coverage. Make the tackle.

It is not just snapping the ball. It is snapping, blocking, sprinting 40 plus yards, reading the field, and finishing the play.

And if there is a penalty? You do it all over again.

Christian also shares the mental edge required at a position with almost zero margin for error. Even with a three year contract, he approaches every snap like he is on a one play deal.

No comfort. No complacency.

Playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers

There is something different about running onto the field at Acrisure Stadium when you grew up here.

Christian talks about the goosebumps. The voice over the loudspeaker. The lights. The crowd. The weight of the names who played before him.

Division games feel different. Ravens week carries an edge. The atmosphere in big moments is something he does not take for granted.

He also reflects on the Steelers playing in Ireland at Croke Park. A legendary venue. A true home atmosphere overseas. Eighty thousand fans and black and gold pride in another country.

For a Pittsburgh kid, those moments hit differently.

A Specialist’s Offseason

The episode dives into the discipline behind longevity.

Christian takes time off to let his body recover. He rebuilds his mechanics from the ground up each offseason. Ten yard snaps before 15. Hands and wrist work before full speed reps. Footwork refinement. No unnecessary changes.

If it is not broken, do not fix it. Just build it.

That mindset is why he has lasted.

Pittsburgh Connections Run Deep

Like so many Off Set conversations, the episode circles back to Western Pennsylvania roots. Tim McConnell’s impact. The pride of local athletes. The belief that this region continues to produce elite competitors across sports.

From Duquesne to the NFL. From the XFL to a long term deal. From the strip district to the Steelers locker room.

Christian Kuntz represents the grind, resilience, and edge that define Pittsburgh football.

Listen to the full episode of Off Set with Larry Richert and Jay Caufield to hear the complete conversation.