The Pittsburgh Steelers will begin their 2026 preseason with a matchup against the Green Bay Packers. This matchup is notable as head coach Mike McCarthy and the recently re-signed Aaron Rodgers both are considered legends in Green Bay, where they won Super Bowl XLV (against Pittsburgh).
Matt Becker / Packers.com
Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers go over plays in an NFL game in their time in Green Bay.
With McCarthy and Rodgers in tow, the Steelers are looking to repeat as AFC North Champions, and many fans can use Bonus Radar to bet on where they will stand by season’s end. The Steelers have not been back to the Super Bowl since they lost to McCarthy and Rodgers, and the hope is that the duo can lead them back to prominence.
Of course, there is a long way to go until that point of the year, and Pittsburgh will be looking for some answers to specific questions, questions that their pre-season game against Green Bay will help start to answer.
Who will be the Steelers backup quarterback?
Veteran Mason Rudolph is currently second on the Steelers quarterback depth chart behind Rodgers. However, they have 2025 sixth round pick Will Howard and 2026 third round pick Drew Allar on their roster.
McCarthy has, in the past, carried three quarterbacks on his rosters, but the point remains that at least one of these quarterbacks likely will not be in Pittsburgh come Week One of the regular season. The way these backups compete against the Packers in their pre-season matchup will help the team decide who will backup Rodgers in 2026 and be the future at the position when the future Hall of Famer finally does hang up his cleats.
What will the Steelers' wide receiver depth look like?
Having Rodgers back for 2026 gives Pittsburgh a huge shot in the arm at the quarterback position. Even though he is 42 years old and turns 43 later this year, he gives them the best chance to win right now.
What is not as well known is whether or not Pittsburgh has the wide receiver depth necessary to field a competitive offense. DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman are established NFL pass catchers, but the depth behind them is a mystery. Germie Bernard, their second round pick out of Alabama, is already considered their third-best player at the position.
Alysa Rubin / Steelers.com
Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard participates in team rookie minicamp at Steelers facilities in May of 2026.
How the roster shakes out at the wide receiver position will certainly determine how far the Steelers are able to go this year, and Bernard will get his first professional game snaps in their pre-season opener against the Packers.
A new Pittsburgh offense against a new Green Bay defense
Preseason games, of course, do not count for very much. They are opportunities for players to make their case for a roster spot on respective teams and for young rookies to get much-needed reps early in their careers.
But what is fascinating about the Pittsburgh-Green Bay matchup is that it will pit McCarthy’s offense for the Steelers against Jonathan Gannon’s new defense for the Packers. It will be fans’ first game action glimpse of the strategic changes (albeit, just a few of them) that the new coaches will bring to their respective teams.