BUTTE, Mont. — It’s always good to see Montana-born footballers make a splash on the big stage, especially when they’ve waited so long for their opportunity.

That’s exactly what happened with former Griz, MSU Northern, and Butte High product Dylan Cook this past season.

“It’s awesome, man–I mean, it was only a matter of time,” Cook said. “It’s all circumstance and opportunity, and mine finally came.”

Cook, an All-Big Sky offensive lineman when he played at Montana, went undrafted out of college in 2022. He briefly signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being cut.

He then got a second chance with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where, after biding his time on injured reserve and the practice squad, Cook got his big break on Dec. 7, 2025, stepping in for injured teammate Andrus Peat to make his NFL debut against the Ravens.

Cook made the most of his opportunity, remaining as the Steelers’ starting left tackle for the rest of the season. Across five games and 291 snaps played, Cook allowed just six pressures and one sack, while also being penalized just once.

“I’ve been preparing for it my whole life,” Cook said. “It was nothing to just get in there and do my part.”

Cook, who began his career as a quarterback at Butte and MSU Northern, has a similar story to Colt Anderson, a fellow Griz/Butte High alum who overcame his smaller size for a safety to become a routine special teams player in the NFL.

Anderson also went undrafted and spent his early NFL years on the Vikings’ practice squad, before playing on the active roster for eight total seasons with the Eagles, Colts, and Bills.

Cook appeared at Anderson’s Dream Big youth camp in Butte in late June, helping the children of the Mining City develop their own skills on the gridiron. Cook said that it was his fourth time helping lending a hand at Anderson’s camp.

“It’s good for the kids to see people with their same upbringing,” Cook said. “We all come from the same place, same streets, same schools, and all that. It’s good for them to see us in person and know that great things can happen.”

Cook will now get the opportunity to compete for a starting job on the Steelers’ offensive line this season. He looks forward to the chance to spend more time playing in-game NFL action.

“It’s cool being around the game and practicing and all that, but just playing the games [is special],” Cook said. “Playing with Aaron Rodgers, playing with my buddies on Sunday afternoons, Sunday nights, and Monday nights–it doesn’t get better. Primetime football.”