Steelers shocked by unexpected visitor: Snake found in Northwest stadium locker room

In their Week 10 showdown against the Washington Commanders, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced an unexpected twist before even stepping onto the field. While game-day nerves are common, the Steelers found themselves dealing with a surprising visitor—an unwelcome snake that had slithered into their locker room. The unexpected incident was revealed by Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward on his Not Just Football podcast, where he recounted the team’s bizarre encounter with the slippery intruder.

Snake sighting in Steelers' locker room

According to Heyward, the team's warm-up routine was interrupted as players returned to find their locker room in a minor frenzy. "Before the game, I got out, warm up, I come back in… Everybody was a little bit shocked when I came in,” Heyward shared, describing the moment he discovered the snake emerging from quarterback Russell Wilson’s locker. This sight left players both startled and amused, with Heyward noting the team’s failed attempts to catch the elusive snake, which ultimately slithered back into hiding before anyone could capture it.

“I was like; ‘what’s going on?’ There was a snake in our locker room, a snake!

"A snake. And it was coming from the bottom of Russell's {Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson] locker. Everybody was like thrown for a loop. A snake in our locker room!"


The worst part? Heyward says the team was unable to remove the serpent from the premises before it slithered away.

"Nobody got it," Heyward said with a laugh. "Nobody got it. It slithered right back under."

Despite the initial shock, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin quickly refocused the team. Tomlin reportedly brushed off the incident, reminding his players that they could either “worry about the snake” or focus on their objective: securing a victory. Heyward explained how the incident played into the team’s resilient mindset. “Mike T was like, ‘We can make a big deal about a small locker room … There being a snake. But it doesn't matter. We still got to win.’” Tomlin’s no-nonsense approach reinforced the Steelers’ determination to handle adversity, no matter how unusual.

The snake incident at Washington’s home field, Northwest Stadium (formerly known as FedEx Field), adds to the venue's history of odd and troublesome events. In recent seasons, the stadium has faced everything from structural issues—like collapsing barriers narrowly missing Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts—to malfunctions in the hot water system, which left the showers unusable for both the Commanders and New York Giants last year.

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Ultimately, the Steelers brushed off the unexpected disruption and emerged victorious, edging past Washington with a 28-27 win. The incident exemplified the team’s “road warrior” mindset, highlighting their ability to overcome distractions, even of the slithering variety, on their way to success.