Steelers Have A Legitimate Reason Why They Can't Tank In 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the 2026 offseason awaiting a key decision from their 2025 starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, on whether or not he wants to continue playing. The front office has been aggressive of late, adding contributors to position groups that were lacking in 2025. While they don't necessarily officially have a starter under center yet, the speculation is for Rodgers to come back to the Steel City for one more go at it. However, if that doesn't happen, then Pittsburgh would have to go another direction at quarterback. This presents an issue because the Steelers brass, including Art Rooney II, have stated that they want the team to stay competitive in 2026. 

The Steelers seem to plan on going with Rodgers should he want to play again. However, a scenario where he doesn't play would mean the Steelers would have to go with one of the quarterbacks on their roster. These include 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard and veteran Mason Rudolph, as most starting-caliber veteran quarterbacks have already been signed. This could present a huge problem for Pittsburgh if they want to stay competitive, as neither of these signal-callers has ever been a full-time starter. Rudolph has the most experience, but has never been the main guy as a team's #1 quarterback. Howard has never had an official NFL snap in his career.

If the Steelers wanted to lose games this season in order to improve their quarterback room for the future, it seems like they wouldn't be able to anyway. The team has a handful of veteran players who have a huge presence in the locker room that could prevent them from this. Rich Eisen explained this on a recent episode of his show

"You're saying let's go 3-14, have the best case scenario for a new quarterback. Are you the one to tell that to TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward? That's where the Steelers are," Eisen said. 

Pittsburgh has a lot invested in its veteran core, both monetarily and emotionally. These two players specifically in Cameron Heyward and TJ Watt have been cornerstones of the Steelers' defense for years, and they both want to win and compete. If the organization were open to "tanking," it would not bode well with their vets. While it could be a huge positive for the team's success long-term, the team has so much respect for its future legends. Adding around them seems to be the path that the Steelers are going with as of now, and they'll take their chances at being a potential contender in 2026, rather than looking for a high draft pick in 2027. 

The Steelers are cementing themselves in a cycle of 10-7ish seasons by doing this, but the team's mantra is that they need to be good all the time, or at least try to be. They don't want to upset their star players, which is commendable, but in the long run, it could be a reason why they miss out on a franchise-changing QB. The front office will go for a round two with Rodgers in hopes of an improved season after the significant offseason acquisitions they made. 

Steelers Can't Settle For Mediocrity In 2026

The Steelers cannot afford to have another end to their season as they did in 2025. The Black and Gold won the AFC North division title and hosted a home playoff game, where they were embarrassed. This forced them to suffer another playoff defeat in a row, and the team has been winless in the postseason since 2017. This loss put them at the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and no playoff win to show for their efforts. This cycle of mediocrity has plagued the team, and they need to either lose for a higher pick, or plant themselves as true contenders. 

This season will be a true sign of where the team's future will stand going forward. Will they be a Super Bowl contender or go another year without a playoff win? 

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