Steelers' Free Agent Gets Honest About Pittsburgh Not Wanting Him Back In 2026

Now that Super Bowl LX has wrapped up, the Pittsburgh Steelers and other 31 NFL franchises will focus on the 2026 offseason. Roster construction will begin and fans are awaiting the legal tampering period and free agency, which will commence in March. Championships can be won during any given offseason, and that is why it is so important to re-sign the right players, while also bringing in new faces that can help a team win. General Manager Omar Khan will have some decisions to make in the Steel City, alongside new head coach, Mike McCarthy.

It's no secret that the Steelers have some serious work to do on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback questions remain, while the team needs more weapons in the receiving game. It won't come as a shock if the front office invests in the position early in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the free agency and trade markets could also come into play.

In a recent radio interview on 92.9 FM ESPN, Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III talked a little bit about what his future may look like. Drafted by Pittsburgh back in 2022, he has showed flashes of being a deep-ball threat. However, he never truly broke out into a star, which could make him expendable once free agency rolls around. During his recent appearance on the J&J Show, he acknowledged the organization may not want him back.

"Pittsburgh, just being real, they may not want me, or they may have a different vision," Austin said. "That's why I say, at the end of the day, it's a straight business decision."

Austin would already know if his camp had communicated with the Steelers' front office regarding an extension. The fact that he said that Pittsburgh may not want him speaks volumes about what is to come. It's becoming increasingly more likely that he finds a new home and ends up playing in a different colored jersey moving forward. He acknowledged that 2026 is going to be a fresh start for him regardless of where he is playing.

"Obviously, Coach [Mike Tomlin] did step down. Whether I stay or leave, it's gonna be a new situation regardless," Austin noted.

There has been a lot of change going on in the Steel City. Austin could be on his way out too, and he won't be the only familiar face to move on. Pittsburgh has plenty of free agents, and it's not going to be possible to re-sign them all, which could lead to a fascinating new league year in March.

Despite no clear interest from the Steelers when it comes to bringing Austin back, the wideout confirmed that he has truly enjoyed his time playing in Pittsburgh. It takes two to tango, but Austin would love to sign a new contract and remain playing in the black and gold.

"One thing is for sure, I love Pittsburgh, the fans, the people, the city. I truly love it," Austin said. "So, I would definitely want to continue to make that home."

This will all come down to the front office’s plans for the wide receiver position. There needs to be several changes in that area, which is why it makes sense to assume that Austin won’t be even offered a fresh deal to continue his playing career with the team that drafted him.

Steelers Likely To Draft Wide Receiver Very High In NFL Draft

Pittsburgh does need a quarterback plan, but the class coming out of college is not very inspiring. This could lead to the first-round selection being a skill player. Not only could the team take a pass-catcher in round one, but fans should not be surprised if another is taken at some point as well. The organization needs more threats in the passing game, and it is starting to seem like Austin is not in its future plans.

Do you think the Steelers are going to try and re-sign Austin? Let us know in the comments below!

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