Exclusive with Steelers Wide Receiver Cody Chrest

First off, what was the process like getting to the Steelers?

It’s started of great. I got my physical in and passed that, did the drug test and bloodwork….checked off all those boxes.

It was all quite a process. I started off after the draft as an undrafted free agent with the Colts. It was a good opportunity and I thought I had a good rookie mini-camp, but they released me. They told me they had concerns about my shoulder. I had surgery on it last April and they thought I could be a risk, medically. I never had a problem with it though so that was a shock to me.

So that happened then?

Well I met with the Steelers orthopedic doctor they said it all looked good, so I was happy with that.

As for how the Steelers signed me. I was training after being released by the Colts and had no idea then what the future held for me, but I knew I’d be ready if I got a call and kept the faith. The thing is, I never took any of this lightly. This all came at a high cost – there was a lot of emotion and uncertainty for me going into this.

I was working out with my younger brother when I got a call from the Steelers. They told me they had a flight ready and I needed to get on it that day to get there for practice the next day. I got into Pittsburgh at 12:30 am, showed up at the facility that morning, got my equipment and signed my contract 15 minutes before practice started.

Any idea how the Steelers learned about you and got interested in you?

It’s funny because I had a good performance at my pro day. That and my Relative Athletic Score (RAS) caused a number of teams to have interest in me. I had a number of teams show interest, but the Steelers were never one of them. It was a call I never expected.

I got a call from a Michigan number and thought it was the Lions. They had shown interest in me earlier. But when I talked to them it was the Steelers  I had a number of friends who were die-hard Steelers fans growing up – I was a fan through assimilation. So I was very excited to get the call from them.

What did you learn from transferring in college from Harvard to Sam Houston State – how did that help you?

As a student athlete at Harvard – that was beneficial to my transition to the NFL. I had to commit to an unwavering lifestyle of growth and non-stop grind academically. It was an elite institution so you had to compete at a high level with all of the brilliant people that were there.

I think that translates well to the NFL. In the NFL the competition is also great – it’s just football related. But it’s a similar culture and lifestyle of continuous growth and work ethic to compete. I’m not stranger to any of that – it’s in my blood now.

You ran a 4.38 40 and your change-of-direction numbers (short shuttle time of 4.12 and three-cone drill of 6.77) were among the top draft receivers. Why do you think you went undrafted?

I think my age was a factor. I turned 25 which is older for a rookie, though not as old for this rookie class due to it being a Covid year with Covid holdouts. So it is an older rookie class.

But that and the fact that they just didn’t have enough film on me versus bigger schools. I had one big school money game versus Texas A&M, but my numbers weren’t impressive in that game. We had a new quarterback, offensive coordinator and offense that game – we barely crossed the 50 yard line. They let the offensive coordinator go midseason. So, there were some external factors that influenced those numbers.

Have you spoken to Sam Houston teammate Toby Ndukwe who was also just signed by the Steelers – or any Sam Houston alum like Zion McCollum?

I spoke to Zion as soon as I signed with the Colts. After the draft he hit me up. We’re good friends and he told me to call him with any questions and he helped me. That’s the kind of guy he is. He had some great insight on what to expect – he gave me a rundown of what a camp schedule is like, the daily expectations of NFL life….that was a huge help, just knowing what to expect. He also gave me some advice on special teams and nuances on how to stand out and the right things to do.

Toby – when I signed with the Colts he was there in camp too as an invite We experienced the pain of him not making the team and me being let go together. We were both sent home on the same flight together. When he signed with the Steelers I sent him a text congratulating him.

When I signed with the Steelers I saw him in the locker room and slapped him on the back from behind. He was shocked to see me – he didn’t know I had signed with the team. He’s a great guy – he was so surprised and excited to see me. It’s great to be on the same tam with him now.

There is a Steelers Sam Houston State receiver alum in Johnnie Dirden who played – were you aware of him?

That’s surprising that I didn’t know that -no!

Have you looked at the depth chart at all to see where you fit best?

Of course, yeah! Everyone has been super welcoming to me – they were all shocked that I knew who each of them was. I looked through the depth chart to get familar with each of them.

How do you approach a room and situation like that and establish yourself – what are you looking to learn most from those guys?

There’s a lot of great talent here – it should be a great competition. I think there’s a good opportunity for me here.

I think I can contribute here. I think my athletic skills and bringing in a level of understanding and intelligence to the game helps slow the game down for me and gives me the versatility to play inside and outside and on special teams.

I mean, when I got here I really just ran straight to practice. I didn’t know the drills or the structure of camp at all, but I think I did a good job showing that I can learn quickly.

Gunner Olszewski was one of the first guys to welcome me. He and Kenny Pickett too. Kenny came up to me when I got there and told me that someone started a rumor that I was Cody Paul – that Pop Warner football kid who’s football video went viral years ago, if you remember him. Kenny was laughing and told me “The guy who started the rumor – that might have been me!” He was laughing, but guys were coming up to me asking if I was Cody Paul all day! I would have loved to say yes, but I couldn’t pull that off! But it was a nice way to be welcomed to the team.

You mentioned special teams before – is that a key way for you to make the 53?

The most important thing for me is to take advantage of any opportunity I get. It doesn’t matter in what capacity. It can be on special teams as a kick returner or punt returner – that’s definitely something I have done and can take advantage of doing. But I can also be effective as a gunner. With my 40 speed and quickness I can be effective beating blockers and breaking through vices. I think my speed and quickness can earn myself an opportunity there too.

As a receiver my 40 speed, quickness and intelligence – I think those can help me both in the slot and as a deep threat. I have a large catch radius and and good at making contested catches. I separate well at the top of routes and can see things pre-snap that help me settle into zones. So I think both on special teams and as a receiver I can make the team.

Who has mentored you and who do you model your game after?

I always identify a player’s strengths to see how it separates them from others then try to apply that to my game. Teams have told me my game most closely resembles Cooper Kupp’s and Hunter Renfrow’s. So I have been watching film of them, trying to apply what I see to my game.

What area of your game do you think you need to improve on most?

That’s a good question. When teams were talking to me, they told me that sometimes when they watched me they didn’t feel like I was playing up to my 40 speed. I want to make my speed more evident and consistent to them.

Last season I was still recovering from shoulder surgery – I was not able to practice for four and-a-half months. I had no Summer training. I am the healthiest now that I have ever been. I’m like a brand new and evolved player. I’m faster, stronger and more elastic than ever. I want to make that evident. I appreciated that feedback – that helps me understand what I need to do better.

Lastly, what should we know about you that has nothing to do with football?

I’m really just completely committed to a lifestyle of unwavering growth. I want to achieve something every day – I am never a lesser person than the day before. That’s a lifestyle I’ve committed to.

That helps me separate from others. Some people are naturally great but may not have the work ethic I have. I’m always trying to get better. I don’t play video games. I read books and listen to science podcasts like Huberman Lab, David Sinclair or ones from Peter Attiah. Everything I do is applicable to my growth.

Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades.  To order, just click on the book: