The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2026 offseason with a ton of unanswered questions. Naturally, this was largely because their longtime head coach of 19 seasons, Mike Tomlin, elected to step down after the 2025 campaign. His departure left a huge void in the organization, and fans were left wondering what the future would hold for a team that had long been a model of consistency under his leadership. Now, Mike McCarthy is at the helm, hungry to return the Steelers to postseason glory. McCarthy is a coach who thrives on building offenses and putting his players in positions to succeed, and he knows that reviving Pittsburgh’s championship aspirations will require bold, decisive moves.
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Steelers Team President and Owner Art Rooney II with Head Coach Mike McCarthy at his introductory press conference in 2026.
To that end, the Steelers entered the 2026 free agency period with a clear plan: upgrade the offense, bolster the defense, and surround the potential quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the pieces necessary to make a deep playoff run. The team lost running back Kenneth Gainwell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving a glaring hole in the backfield. Omar Khan, the Steelers’ general manager, moved quickly, bringing in Rico Dowdle, a bruising runner capable of shouldering a heavy workload. The offense received another jolt with a trade for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., a true No. 2 target who can stretch the field and open up the passing game opposite DK Metcalf.
CBS Sports analyst John Breech, who has covered the NFL since 2011, has been impressed with Khan’s offseason work. Breech pointed out that many people around the league are undervaluing this Steelers roster. Breech noted that the team addressed critical needs while also improving depth in the secondary, giving Pittsburgh the balance necessary to compete in a tough AFC.
"It feels like people are sleeping on them," Breech said Tuesday during his time speaking on CBS Sports HQ. "This team just won the AFC North, and it feels like they went into free agency thinking, 'How can we improve the offense so we can convince Aaron Rodgers to come back?' That's the one thing they're waiting on."
No one truly knows what Rodgers is going to do. Khan made it clear that the organization doesn’t expect him to take as long as he did in the 2025 offseason, when Pittsburgh was trying to figure out if he wanted to play for them. Rodgers initially joined the Steelers for just the 2025 season, but rumors have been growing steadily about him returning for another year in Pittsburgh in 2026, especially now that his former head coach is back in town.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks down at his play sheet while he watches practice in street clothes as the team works out during 2025 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Either way, Breech believes the Steelers’ roster certainly got much better this offseason.
"They lost Kenneth Gainwell to the Buccaneers, so you need some running back help," Breech said. "Rico Dowdle is that guy. The man is a human steamroller. This team also went out and made a trade for Michael Pittman [Jr.]. They absolutely needed a No. 2 receiver. Also love what they did in the secondary... This roster looks a lot better."
Steelers Enter 2026 Season As A Huge Sleeper Team
With McCarthy implementing his system, Rodgers possibly coming back under center, and a front office making all the right moves, the Steelers could be the most underrated team in the NFL heading into 2026. If they can stay healthy and execute, fans might soon be talking about Pittsburgh as a serious playoff contender rather than an offseason afterthought.
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Mike McCarthy coaching on the sidelines as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Of course, Rodgers’ decision will largely determine the course of the season. If Rodgers is indeed the Steelers’ quarterback, he will be 43 years old during the 2026 season. Still, it may be the Steelers’ best chance, and if Rodgers stays healthy, Breech believes they enter 2026 as a sleeper team.
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