Seven former Northwestern Wildcats took the field during the NFL's slate of Week 1 games, but arguably none made a bigger play than wide receiver Ben Skowronek.
The Pittsburgh Steelers pass-catcher only played on 10 offensive snaps in the team's season-opener against the New York Jets, but Skowronek took advantage of his limited opportunity. On Pittsburgh's first drive of the game, Skowronek found himself wide open, hauled in a first-down grab and raced for the pylon.
Skowronek's 22-yard touchdown got the Steelers on the board in what became a thrilling 34-32 victory over the Jets. The score was also Aaron Rodgers' first passing touchdown since signing with Pittsburgh this offseason, but the 41-year-old veteran let his receiver keep the ball — Skowronek's second NFL touchdown and first as a Steeler.
"No, I've got plenty of those," Rodgers joked after the game. "He can have that one."
The touchdown ended up being Skowronek's lone catch of the day, but the former Wildcat made his presence felt all over the field. After a touchdown pulled the Steelers within two points of the Jets in the fourth quarter, Skowronek pounced on a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to set his team up with great field position. The fifth-year wideout looks to be impactful on both offense and special teams this season.
Skowronek spent four seasons in Evanston from 2016 to 2019, amassing 110 catches for 1,417 yards and eight touchdowns. However, a leg injury limited Skowronek to just three games during his senior season, allowing him to medically redshirt the year and enter the portal as a graduate transfer.
At Notre Dame in 2020, Skowronek totaled 29 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns while adding a rushing score as well. The Los Angeles Rams selected Skowronek in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the No. 249 overall pick, making him the fourth ex-Wildcat taken behind OL Rashawn Slater, DB Greg Newsome II and DL Earnest Brown IV.
Skowronek played in 45 games over three years with the Rams and made two grabs for 12 yards in Super Bowl LVI. The 2022 season was Skowronek's career-best year, when he started 11 games and had 39 catches for 376 receiving yards. The former 'Cat and Irishman scored his first NFL touchdown in 2023 on a 20-yard pass from Matthew Stafford.
After being traded to the Texans and waived before the 2024 season, Skowronek signed in Pittsburgh. He logged five catches for 69 yards and recovered two fumbles, earning him a second contract with the Steelers in 2025 free agency.
Skowronek is buried on the depth chart behind D.K. Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller, but Sunday's game showed that there is certainly a spot for the 28-year-old pass-catcher among a group trying to keep up with the Ravens' and Bengals' high-powered offenses.
Read More Northwestern Wildcats Coverage
MORE: Stone's Steadiness Leads Northwestern to First Win of 2025
MORE: Northwestern Bounces Back With 42-7 Win Over FCS Western Illinois
MORE: Gameday: How to Watch Northwestern vs. Western Illinois