The Pittsburgh Steelers came away with a thrilling win Sunday — but not because of a game-winning touchdown or a last-second interception.
Instead, the biggest moment came from a kicker.
And not just any kick.
Chris Boswell stepped up in the final minute and drilled a 60-yard field goal, putting the Steelers ahead 34-32 with just over a minute to play against the New York Jets. The pressure was high. The stadium was loud. But Boswell made it look routine.
The moment was so intense — and Boswell’s reaction so calm — that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave him a nickname rarely heard in football.
“Our kicker is a serial killer,” Tomlin said after the game. “He’s got a low-pulse rate. He can’t wait to deliver.”
“I can’t say enough about [Boswell] — our kicker is a serial killer.” – Mike Tomlin
via @steelers pic.twitter.com/qJ0kSKrfo9
— NFL on CBS
(@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025
(@NFLonCBS) Tomlin wasn’t joking. However, some people were not thrilled with the analogy:
What a terrible comment! That is just a horrendous thing to say. Be better
— JB99 (@phillyb78347425) September 7, 2025
— MVP Authentics (@MVPAuthentics) September 7, 2025
— Right1972 (@Right1972) September 7, 2025
Boswell was perfect all game. He hit all four of his extra points, made a 56-yard field goal earlier in the second quarter, and sealed the game with a kick from 60 yards — the second-longest of his career.
Without his performance, the Steelers likely don’t win.
The game had been tight throughout. Both teams traded touchdowns and big plays. But when it came down to the final moments, Boswell took control.
He didn’t wait for permission.
“Bos always makes it from 60 in pregame,” Tomlin said. “Bos always wants to bang from deep. That one he made in the first half, I don’t even know if he even looked at me. It’s fourth down and he walked on the field.”
Boswell has always been a quiet leader. He doesn’t seek headlines. But on Sunday, he earned them.
The 33-year-old kicker joined the team in 2015 as an undrafted free agent. Since then, he’s become one of the most consistent kickers in the league.
In his rookie season, he made over 90% of his field goals — a rare feat for any kicker, especially one without much fanfare.
Last season, he earned his second Pro Bowl selection and his first All-Pro nod. He made 41 of 44 field goal attempts — the most makes in the entire league. Even more impressive, 13 of those were from 50 yards or beyond.
While the Steelers’ offseason was filled with talk about star players — names like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, and Jalen Ramsey coming up across the league — it was Boswell who delivered when it mattered most.
His kick didn’t just win the game.
It sent a message.
The Steelers may not always have flashy plays or viral moments, but they’ve got steady, trusted talent that shows up in the hardest moments.
With Week 1 in the books and a hard-earned victory behind them, Pittsburgh may have silenced some of the doubters.
At least for now.
But one thing is already clear — when the game’s on the line, they know who to trust.
And he wears number 9.
