Following a season where his antics off the field garnered more attention than on Sundays, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s departure from Pittsburgh seemed imminent.

Cueing my best Lee Corso impression, let me start by saying “not so fast.”

According to Adam Schefter, Smith-Schuster and the Steelers have mutually agreed on a one-year, $8M deal that will keep him in the black and yellow for at least 2021. Surprisingly, Smith-Schuster took a pay cut to stay in the Steel City with reportedly two other higher offers from Kansas City and Baltimore.

https://twitter.com/taylorbisciotti/status/1372961970907869187?s=21

The easy choice from an outsider’s view would be to sign with the Chiefs, right? The opportunity to work with Patrick Mahomes in a high-flying offense desperate for an intermediate pass-catching threat at just 24 years old seems like the ideal fit, but Smith-Schuster has decided otherwise, and it could have an after-effect for his future in the NFL.

Following a breakout sophomore campaign where the former USC Trojan totaled 1,426 receiving yards highlighted with 111 receptions—sixth-most in the league—2019 and 2020 weren’t as fruitful for the former second-round selection. With the emergence of Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, Smith-Schuster was relegated as the primary possession receiver in head coach Mike Tomlin’s offense. Despite hauling in a career-high nine touchdowns last fall, Smith-Schuster dealt with nagging injuries throughout the season that resulted in him missing four games. He’ll now look to 2021 as a year of resurgence following his much-criticized social media antics that led to his regression as a weapon in Pittsburgh’s offense.

However, social media aside, Smith-Schuster can play ball—he’s proven that.

A former fan favorite for his daily bike rides to the Steelers facility, Smith-Schuster will now look to earn back much more than just the Pittsburgh faithful’s approval on a one-year “prove it” deal; his future within Tomlin’s offense and career as a pro could depend on it.