Michael Pittman, Jr. plays in the NFL. But one young flag football player in Pittsburg had a move he did not see coming. During a Toyota NFL FLAG clinic at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD), the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver found himself on the wrong end of a pretty impressive move.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was dominating them, but there was one kid that got me,” Pittman joked afterward.
The student apparently had the moves to back it up, beating Pittman with a quick change of direction on the way to scoring. Not bad for a Tuesday afternoon.
And that was just one of the highlights of a day that brought nearly 90 Deaf and Hard of Hearing students together with an NFL player for football, fun, and a few unforgettable moments.
Game On in Pittsburgh
On October 6, 2026, Toyota, NFL FLAG, Pittsburgh FLAG Football League, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and LOVE SIGN® teamed up to bring an NFL FLAG clinic to WPSD's home field.
With Pittman leading drills and working alongside students, the afternoon was all about getting in the game.
Students practiced football skills, ran through drills, and had the opportunity to learn directly from a professional athlete. But the learning went both ways.
Pittman picked up a few American Sign Language (ASL) signs from the students, including “flag football,” “good job,” and “love.”
And while the students were excited to meet an NFL player, Pittman seemed just as happy to be back on the field playing the game he grew up loving.
“It really takes me back to when I was about 8 years old,” he said, reflecting on the experience.
For the students, the afternoon offered something equally memorable: the chance to see themselves as part of the football world.
“Maybe that means one of us will have a future as a flag football player. It could be me,” said 12-year-old WPSD student Roddy Mihoerck.
That's the kind of confidence you love to see on a football field.
More Than an NFL Appearance
The energy extended well beyond Pittman's drills.
LOVE SIGN team including Alexis Kashar and JamiLee Hoglind brought Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Fan of the Year Hayden Shock into the mix, along with WPSD staff and volunteers who joined the day's activities.
WPSD Athletic Director Kallie Mendenhall worked closely with the LOVE SIGN team to bring the clinic to life on the school's home turf with school staff, Pittsburgh Flag Football coaches and ASL interpreters split up into different drills. And the students weren't limited to showing off their skills on the field.
Some stepped into the role of sports reporters, taking part in two LOVE SIGN short-form video productions featuring Pittman. One minute they were learning from an NFL wide receiver. The next, they were the ones asking the questions.
https://youtube.com/shorts/R8_bGr6HYGk?feature=share
Not a bad way to spend a school day.
Big-League Partnership. Local Impact.
The Pittsburgh clinic was part of Toyota's broader commitment to growing youth flag football. The national level support tell one part of the story.
What happened in Pittsburgh tells another.
For LOVE SIGN, the clinic brought together two worlds we've been part of for years: professional sports and the Deaf community.
We've brought ASL and Deaf culture to some of football's biggest stages, including the Super Bowl. This time, we brought that same commitment to a school football field, where the next generation had its chance to shine.
And for Pittman, the afternoon carried a personal connection. Speaking about his childhood stutter and the confidence he developed through sports, he shared:
“I used to stutter and honestly, without sports, I probably wouldn’t be standing up here.”
It was a reminder of how much a game can mean beyond the scoreboard.
Different Field. Same Mission.
One of the students, 15-year-old Bella Weber, summed up the experience:
“I felt like it was a big step forward for the deaf community.”
From an NFL player learning ASL to students testing their skills against a professional athlete, the afternoon was full of moments that went beyond the usual football clinic. For LOVE SIGN, those moments are what make sports so powerful. We know what it looks like when sign language takes center stage at the Super Bowl. But we also know that some of the most meaningful sports moments happen far from the national spotlight.
Sometimes, they happen on a school field in Pittsburgh, where a kid can beat an NFL player on a flag football play and walk away imagining a future in the game.
Different field. Same mission. Deaf kids belong in every sport.
About LOVE SIGN®
LOVE SIGN® is a sports, entertainment and merchandise company designing and producing sign language-led creative experiences across events, broadcast and consumer products. Through original content, live activations, strategic partnerships, and creative consulting, LOVE SIGN® helps organizations move beyond accommodation to authentic cultural inclusion.
Website: www.lovesignproduction.com
Instagram: @lovesign.asl
TikTok: @lovesign.shop
LinkedIn: /thelovesign
For media inquiries, please contact JamiLee Hoglind, Head of Brand & Creative Strategy, LOVE SIGN® at jamileehoglind@lovesignproduction.com.