The Pittsburgh Steelers may finally get a new, modern offense in the near future with whoever they decide to hire to be the next head coach of the team. The future is very uncertain, but that unknown is exciting for a team that has dealt with so much mediocrity in recent years. The idea of getting a young head coach that can either run the offense well or hire a young offensive coordinator is making a lot of people salivate as the new-age team could be here sooner rather than later.
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Los Angeles Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase throws the ball before an NFL preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif.
While hosting his show, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave his ideas of how to truly boost this offense for the near future, even if the Steelers can't find a capable quarterback in the offseason.
"I would love to find a great lineman that you know -- probably interior lineman -- someone that is not a flier, is not a, 'Oh, I think he can do this, I think he can play tackle.' No, someone that you know just has it. You're not taking a chance. No disrespect to Broderick Jones, but we all kind of saw what happened with that. Give me a guy that we know is not just a, 'Wow, he looks great.' No, I want to see it on film that he played great."
To Roethlisberger's point, you can never have enough offensive linemen. That is what makes the engine run, and a true bona fide star in the trenches can do so much for a unit that struggles to get off the ground constantly. Left guard Isaac Seumalo may leave in free agency, and there is a lot of uncertainty at the future of the left tackle position, so some extra help may not be the worst idea there.
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Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The problem that Roethlisberger had with Broderick Jones was that he was a risky pick for offensive line, as he was a raw product that had not shown consistently that he could be great. He was very bad in his second season, but his 2025 campaign seemed to be a step in the right direction until he suffered a neck injury. With something like that, there is no telling how he will come back, if he ever does at all.
For a first-round pick that the Steelers traded up to get, Jones has not come close to giving the team a positive return on investment. Who knows how he would have looked if his season was not cut short, as he was looking better with each passing week, but Roethlisberger doesn't want to take a chance on a guy like that again. If there's a certified stud lineman in the first round, take him. If he's a long-term project, pass on him.
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Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones walks on the field as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
At this point, the Steelers have not even begun their draft process yet, so there's no telling if there's one guy in particular that the Steelers can get at 21 or reasonably trade up for that is a high-floor / high-ceiling type of player, but when you have a lot of questions at the quarterback position, an elite offensive line can help mask some of those problems.
Steelers May Keep Focusing On Trenches In 2026 Draft
The only quarterback that is currently seen as a guy that can be a quality NFL starter is all but a lock to be drafted with the first overall pick. The free agency class also looks barren in that regard. The Steelers may have to keep building up the team, and this staff led by Omar Khan and Andy Weidl are known for prioritizing linemen. That will likely be the case again.
What do you think about Roethlisberger wanting more offensive linemen while using Jones as an example of what not to do? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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