Steelers' Brian Angelichio Teases Exciting New Roles For Pat Freiermuth And Darnell Washington

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an entirely new look to them heading into the 2026 season. The good news, however, is that Aaron Rodgers is going to be back for the 2026 campaign. Well, that is good news depending on how each fan views it. Some are thrilled to have a future Hall of Fame quarterback leading the offense for another year, while others were ready for the team to turn the page and focus on building for the future with Drew Allar and Will Howard. Either way, the Rodgers drama has finally come to a close this offseason, and now the expectations for the 2026 season can become much clearer.

With the quarterback situation settled, one of the biggest lingering questions for Mike McCarthy on offense remains the tight end room. Pat Freiermuth was expected to have a much larger role in 2025 than what ultimately played out, leaving many fans wondering if his full potential in this system has yet to be unlocked. His reliability as a pass catcher and ability to move the chains still make him a valuable piece, but the Steelers will need to find more creative ways to get him involved if they want to maximize the offense.

At the same time, Darnell Washington exceeded expectations and quickly developed into a legitimate rising star. His blocking ability made an immediate impact, but what stood out even more was what he could do after the catch. At his size, Washington is a nightmare for defenders, forcing them to think twice before trying to bring him down in open space. New offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio has already teased exciting plans for both tight ends when he spoke with the media on Tuesday, which could signal a much more dynamic and versatile role for the position group in 2026.

"We are excited to push the envelope with Darnell and Pat Freiermuth," Angelichio said.

Once it became known that Rodgers was on board to play for the Black and Gold during the 2025 season, it was immediately assumed that Freiermuth would be the biggest beneficiary of the move. In an offense where reliable pass catchers were few and far between, it made perfect sense for Freiermuth to emerge as one of Rodgers’ favorite targets and truly lead the way. However, that never fully came to life the way many expected.

During the 2025 season, Freiermuth finished with 41 receptions on 54 targets for 486 receiving yards and four touchdowns. While those numbers are far from disappointing, they also were not the type of breakout production many envisioned from the Steelers’ budding star tight end. There were flashes of what he can be in this offense, but overall it felt like there was still another level left untapped.

Steelers' Offense Trending In Positive Direction

Now, with Rodgers returning in 2026 and both Freiermuth and Washington leading the tight end room, expectations are through the roof under this new regime. Washington was unlocked in a major way throughout 2025, showcasing his rare blend of blocking dominance and playmaking ability after the catch. 

Now, Steeler Nation is eager to see how he builds on that momentum while also hoping this offense can finally unlock the full potential of Freiermuth. Based on Angelichio’s early comments, it sounds like the tight ends and the offense as a whole are trending in a very promising direction.

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