Steelers Rookie Max Iheanachor Shares Secret Coaches Told Him About What Position He Will Play

The Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to select Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft naturally came with plenty of discussion because of how everything unfolded. Omar Khan and the Steelers were widely expected to target offensive help, but the drama kicked up when reports and draft-night footage appeared to show Pittsburgh heavily pursuing wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon. In fact, Khan was even caught on video seemingly telling Lemon that Pittsburgh planned to draft him, only for those plans to unravel when the Philadelphia Eagles traded up and selected him 20th overall. 

That sudden twist forced Pittsburgh to quickly pivot to Iheanachor at No. 21, instantly creating debate around whether the Steelers landed their preferred target or simply adjusted after seeing their original plan fall apart. Because of those optics, Iheanachor entered Pittsburgh under a brighter spotlight than most first-round offensive linemen typically face. 

Fair or not, some fans immediately questioned whether the Steelers were fully sold on the former Arizona State Sun Devils football standout or whether he was more of a contingency plan once Lemon was off the board. Still, Pittsburgh clearly values Iheanachor’s upside, physical traits, and long-term fit in an offensive line room the organization has been aggressively rebuilding over the last several seasons. 

With Mike McCarthy now leading the franchise and offensive line coach James Campen tasked with restoring a more dominant identity in the trenches, the rookie could quickly become an important part of that vision. Steelers fans are now focused less on how Iheanachor got to Pittsburgh and more on what his role will actually look like as a rookie. 

The talented lineman primarily played right tackle at ASU, but given Pittsburgh’s current roster makeup, along with the lingering uncertainty surrounding Broderick Jones and his health outlook, there has been plenty of speculation about where Iheanachor will line up in his rookie year. On Saturday, Iheanachor gave fans a notable update when speaking to Steelers media, revealing that the coaching staff has already made it clear what position they envision him playing in Pittsburgh.

"Max Iheanachor said coaches told him that he'll be playing on the right side," Nick Farabaugh revealed.

The Steelers also added a veteran presence in Brock Hoffman, who is expected to provide quality depth at guard and could even push for a starting role depending on how things shake out this summer. Zach Frazier remains locked in at center after an impressive 2024 and 2025 campaign and looks poised to continue developing into one of the foundational pieces of Pittsburgh’s offensive line heading into 2026. 

Meanwhile, the team still has to sort through Jones’ future, especially with the lingering questions surrounding his injury status and what that means for his role moving forward.

On the right side, Mason McCormick appears set to solidify one of the guard spots alongside Troy Fautanu at tackle, giving Pittsburgh some much needed continuity up front. However, if the coaching staff has already told Iheanachor that he will be playing on the right side, that immediately creates another interesting wrinkle. 

Steelers Could Be Considering Moving Fautanu To Left Tackle In 2026

Everything could suggest the Steelers are considering moving Fautanu to left tackle; or at the very least, experimenting with different combinations depending on how the rest of the line develops throughout camp.

Of course, a lot can still change between now and Week 1, but that is what makes this group so intriguing. Pittsburgh has assembled a young and talented offensive line core that suddenly looks much deeper than it did just a year ago. With Gennings Dunker joining Iheanachor as part of this rookie class, plus several recent draft investments already in place, Campen has plenty of pieces to work with as he looks to mold this unit into a long-term strength for the Steelers offense. 

Please feel free to share your Steelers takes and thoughts with me on X (@anthonyghalkias).

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