Sometimes, you’ve got to bluff your way to the top.
On a recent episode of his teammate’s podcast, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Beanie Bishop shared a surprising story about how he stretched the truth to catch the team’s attention.
Bishop, who went undrafted after playing at West Virginia, knew his chances of making it to the NFL were slim. After a brief stint with the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh was the only team to bring him in for a formal top-30 visit. Anticipating that he might not be drafted or would go in the late rounds, Bishop decided to enhance his appeal with a little creative storytelling.
“I told them, ‘I’ve got the Ravens lined up, I’ve got the Browns lined up [for visits],'” Bishop revealed to Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz on the podcast. “But honestly, I had nothing lined up. I was lying, man. Sometimes you’ve got to sell yourself.”
He didn’t stop there. When asked about other teams he’d been in contact with, Bishop doubled down. “I told them, ‘Every team in your division! I talked to all of them, and you’re the last one I’m speaking to!’” he said with a laugh.
Though the Steelers likely didn’t know about Bishop’s bold move at the time, it paid off. The rookie signed with Pittsburgh as a priority free agent shortly after the 2024 draft. So far, his performance has validated their decision—he’s recorded 44 tackles, three interceptions, half a sack, and six passes defended this season.
“You’ve got to finesse your way in sometimes,” Bishop reflected. “It’s about selling yourself.”
A cheeky but relatable lesson for us all: sometimes, a little confidence and creativity can go a long way.
