The Pittsburgh Steelers have been focused on revamping the roster ahead of the 2026 season for new head coach Mike McCarthy. The organization plugged several holes on both sides of the ball in free agency to try setting themselves up for success for the upcoming year. The offensive production in 2025 was near the bottom of the league and definitely needed to be revamped with new faces for McCarthy and his new coaching staff to work with to turn that around. On Tuesday, one of the newest members of the team received a sensational observation of his game.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy smiles as he addresses the media during his introductory press conference that took place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
With the 47th overall selection in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they selected wide receiver Germie Bernard out of the University of Alabama. On Tuesday's episode of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast, NFL analyst Greg Cosell mentioned some things about him that make him a perfect fit in the Black and Gold. He played in different areas on the field while at Alabama, including a bit of an increased look at running back during the 2025 season.
"He's not a burner, but he has a little more than you think," Cosell said. "He's a polished, refined wide receiver. You can line him up anywhere in your formation. And he's just tough and competitive. Because of that, he's got a run-after-catch element to his game. When people think of Pittsburgh and the Steelers and the history and the toughness, he fits all of that."
The rookie wide receiver recently mentioned what the new coaching staff would like him to focus on ahead of his first year in the NFL. McCarthy is known as an offensive-minded head coach, but in order to succeed, you need weapons on offense. General Manager Omar Khan took many steps in the right direction to add weapons to the current roster for him ahead of 2026. Bernard is the type of wide receiver with a humble attitude and one that appears to be focused on putting his head down and going to work.
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Steelers new wide receiver Germie Bernard scores a touchdown as he basically walks into the end zone during the SEC Championship Game with Alabama against Georgia in 2025.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf definitely needed some help alongside him for the 2026 season, as 2025 was one to forget for him from a production standpoint. Khan did that by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts and followed it up by selecting the Alabama standout wide receiver. Bernard is a bit smaller than the aforementioned wide receivers, but his play-making ability gives him the chance to be an excellent complement in the wide receiver room.
Steelers Fans Can Already See A Massive Offensive Turnaround
For an offense that ranked 25th in total offense in 2025, the Steelers look a lot better on paper at the wide receiver position than they did heading into 2025. To give some insight on his play-making ability, Bernard had 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior year in college. The number that truly showcases his play-making ability was his 13.5 yards per reception during his final season in Tuscaloosa.
Joining a duo of veterans in Pittman and Metcalf should allow the pressure to ease up on Bernard in his first year in the NFL playing alongside them. They are also a little bit taller than the rookie wide receiver, so his play-making ability should keep defenses honest underneath while allowing the veterans to get downfield for potential splash plays in 2026. This would be a welcomed sight for an offense that looked extremely stale in 2025.
Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images
Steelers' Germie Bernard plays in a home game during his time at Alabama.
Easing the pressure on a rookie can only help the growth and development of them in their first NFL season. The two veterans Bernard will be running alongside also have a combined 13 years of NFL experience, so that can only add to that development for him in the Black and Gold. For a team that struggled to find production at the wide receiver position in 2025 outside of Metcalf, Bernard already seems to fit the mold of exactly what the organization needed to have an improved offense in 2026.
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