Kuntz riding high into Steelers training camp
Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Christian Kuntz points his young chargers in the right direction during his first youth football camp.
An enthusiastic camper follows the directions giving by Christian Kuntz.
Campers practice their blocking techniques while Chartiers Valley players hold the bags and alum Christian Kuntz watches during his first youth football camp
Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz and Chartiers Valley High School football coach Aaron Fitzpatrick discuss strategy during a break at a youth football camp. Fitzpatrick and Kuntz both played football at Duquesne University.
Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz signs the arm of one of the players attending his youth football camp.
Christian Kuntz enters his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers enthused as ever about prospects and life.
Days before he reported to training camp at Latrobe, the 6-1, 235-pound long snapper from Scott Township darted from station to station encouraging kids to run faster and try harder during his first youth football camp held at his alma mater, Chartiers Valley High School.
At the end of each two-hour session, he gathered the students, as young as second graders and as old as eighth, into a circle. He dispensed words of wisdom and awarded signed Terrible Towels to those who correctly answered one of a slew of trivia questions about himself and the NFL’s most-beloved franchise.
“I think it went unbelievable well,” Kuntz commented about the event that attracted 220 boys and girls. “We wanted to get the younger kids going, teaching them the right techniques on offense and defense and provide a little more competition and skill development for the older group.
“Everyone had fun,” he reiterated. “The parents appreciated it and I think the kids are going to be tired.”
Kuntz, however, showed no signs of wilting after spending more than six hours in the sweltering heat. He was thrilled to be entertaining on his home turf.
“I remember going to camps, not specifically Steelers camps, but youth camps and how much I enjoyed it,” he said. “I figured there would be no better place than here at Chartiers Valley. I wanted to give back, get all these kids out and rock my logo for a good cause.”
The monogram, Kuntz4Ki6s, features the numbers on his Steelers jersey and represents his newly formed non-profit organization. Through his foundation, Kuntz hopes to raise money and donate proceeds to charities and organizations that help kids, such as the Chartiers Valley youth athletic programs. He plans to continue and grow his football camps.
“It’s all about giving back and helping youth at the same time. With the camps, I want to be able to educate kids on the different aspects of the game that made me fall in love with it.”
Kuntz’s passion provided a path to the NFL.
The rocky road began at Chartiers Valley High School. He was a two-sport standout for the Colts despite suffering catastrophic injuries such as ruptured spleen in football and back injury in basketball. Kuntz played alongside current Indianapolis Pacers guard T.J. McConnell. The pair helped the Colts to a WPIAL title and a PIAA state runner-up finish in 2010.
Kuntz’s painful path traversed Duquesne University. Despite tearing his ACL his sophomore season, Kuntz helped the Dukes win three conference championships. He ranked second nationally in sacks and tackles for loss as a senior and tied the NEC all-time sacks record and became the league’s all-time sacks leader.
Though he was a two-time Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and an All-America linebacker, Kuntz made a critical change that altered his career tract. He learned the techniques of long-snapping.
Undrafted in 2017, he bounced around at training camps in Tampa Bay, New England and Green Bay. He spent a spring in Denver and wound up on the practice squad for a few weeks in Jacksonville. Eventually he landed in the XFL with the Dallas Renegades. When the XFL filed for bankruptcy in 2020, the Steelers signed Kuntz to the practice squad but he was released for the second time. The third time was the charm. Kurtz made the Steelers roster last year.
Kuntz said his story is an example of persistence and he advised the young players at his camp to pursue their dreams but expect bumps in the road. Hard work, determination and perseverance are the keys to success.
“I was cut nine times,” he said. “People are going to tell you no. They will tell you that you are not strong, big or fast enough.
“It doesn’t matter,” he emphasized. “Anything you can put your mind to, you can do. At this level, learn the fundamentals, trust the people who are teaching them to you and believe in yourself.”
Chartiers Valley head football coach Aaron Fitzpatrick was pleased with the message. It’s one youth need to hear.
“Knowing Christian as an athlete, no is not an answer for him,” Fitzpatrick said.
“I know the work ethic he has instilled in himself and he encourages it with these young athletes. He’s just a hard-nosed guy. He knows what’s right. Teaching these kids, not to quit, not to give up and focus on what matters in life,” he added. “It’s the best message that he delivers.”
Even at age 29, Kuntz is still learning. His experience last season with the Steelers even was enlightening.
“When you get to this level, you are part of that one percent. That is special but it also taught me something and engraved in my mind on how you have to work. You have to work like the one percent if you want to be that one percent.
“In this professional world, it is a job. It’s high pressure. It’s critical situations. It’s about staying calm and staying level-headed through it all. So trust in your technique and trust in everything that you trained for so you will be ready for that one moment.”
In the words of Coach Mike Tomlin, Kuntz says he wants to stay solid when he’s snapping the ball to punter Presley Harvin III and placekicker Chris Boswell.
Regarding his goals and expectations for the 2023-24 season, Kuntz said, “I just want to do my job to the best of my abilities. Put Presley in position to hit his best punts and Bos in position to make field goals. I just want to help the team win.”