The Pittsburgh Steelers' roster lists Darnell Washington as 6-foot-7 and 262 pounds. He is closer to 300 pounds.

The tight end is so big that he has been dubbed "Mount Washington," in reference to the neighborhood that provides a scenic overlook of Pittsburgh.

Befitting a player his size, Washington was primarily a blocking tight end in his first two seasons after being drafted in the third round in 2023 from Georgia. However, the 24-year-old has added another dimension to his game this season. Washington has become a receiving threat.

Washington has 18 receptions for 219 and one touchdown for the AFC North-leading Steelers. He was targeted just 35 times in his first two seasons combined and had 26 catches for 261 yards and one TD.

Yet while Washington has plenty of brute force – as evidenced by running over three defenders on a 31-yard pass play--  in last Sunday's victory over the Cincinnati Bengals – he has also shown his athletic ability by hurdling over opponents.

After being in the shadows for two years, Washington is beginning to get noticed in 2025 for his highlight-reel plays.

"It's been cool," Washington said. "Even when it's not the highlights, hurdles, or run overs, there's still lots of learning to do. It's been fun working with these guys in the locker room."

Washington is so hard to tackle that it's easy to wonder if defenders might be hesitant to attempt to bring him down without some help.

"You know what's coming, the shoulder or the hurdle," Washington said. "I guess they have to go in with a plan. Truth be told, I just go out there and do it. I take what they give me. If they are smaller, it's the shoulder, maybe a hurdle. It depends on how I am feeling."

Not many people saw Washington's breakout season coming, and he had no receptions in the first three games. However, Washington is increasingly becoming a weapon in the Steelers' offense, and coach Mike Tomlin says he is not surprised.

"I don't know that he's physically gotten better. We might just be discovering him," Tomlin said. "Some of the freakish things that you see him do in stadiums I saw him do on Georgia tape. Some of the freakish things that I've seen him do this year, I saw him do last year. He's a special athlete. He has unique talents. He's certainly a tough guy to deal with in one-on-one tackle circumstances, and it makes him a force to be reckoned with."