If Zach Frazier’s early trajectory holds, the Pittsburgh Steelers may be extending an unmatched streak of excellence. From Ray Mansfield to Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Jeff Hartings and Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh has an almost unbroken string of high-level center play dating back to the 60s. Hartings, often overlooked despite his Super Bowl XL ring, sees familiar traits in Frazier through his first two seasons.

“I think he’s really solid. He’s doing a great job…He reminds me of — not from the position that he’s playing but from the mentality — of Alan Faneca,” Hartings said on FOX Sports 970 AM with Tim Benz. “And what I mean by that, in a game, the effort that he gives on a play and then getting back to the huddle in between quarters. I mean, he’s the first guy down the field sprinting down there to get ready…He’s a leader, and that’s what a center has to do.”

Faneca was of course a guard. He’s immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one of the best to ever play his position. To be mentioned in the same sentence as him in any aspect is a lofty comparison, yet that’s what Hartings chose to do. He would know, having played with Faneca for six seasons during his stretch of consecutive Pro Bowl and All-Pro seasons.

Omar Khan said the Steelers owed it to themselves to find the next great center prior to the 2024 NFL Draft, and they did just that with Frazier. He hasn’t made his first Pro Bowl yet, but it’s only a matter of time with remarkably consistent play for a young offensive line that is on the rise.

Aaron Rodgers was effusive in his praise of Frazier throughout their 2025 season together. From handling Rodgers’ cadence, to communicating to the offensive line, the future Hall of Famer called him a star and advocated for the Steelers to lock him up on a long-term deal as soon as possible.

“If we can lock him down for 10 years, it’d be great to put his picture up on the wall in the complex,” Hartings said.

Centers rarely become household names, but that’s not the case in Pittsburgh. If the rebuilt offensive line reaches its potential, Zach Frazier’s profile will rise with it — pushing him into the same national conversation long reserved for the Steelers’ best at the position.