Jerome Bettis Gives Steelers Blunt Truth About The 2026 Roster: "They Need More"

The Pittsburgh Steelers' roster isn't the only thing that is going to look a lot different in 2026. Mike Tomlin made the decision to step down as the team's head coach in January, which eventually led to the hiring of Mike McCarthy. New schemes will be put into place and the veteran returning players will have to get used to listening to a different voice in the locker room. After winning the AFC North in 2025, the collective will face off against a first-place schedule, and that will make it extremely difficult to repeat as the champions of the division. Not to mention, the organization still hasn't had a postseason win since 2016.

There have been, on paper, upgrades at most of the positions on the roster. The wide receivers' room has received a couple of boosts, and key defenders were brought in to help in the secondary and on the defensive line. Then, the final domino finally fell when Aaron Rodgers reported to sign another one-year contract with the Steelers that will give him the reins in the huddle for another year.

The stars seem to be aligning for a storybook ending for Rodgers, as he is reuniting with McCarthy; however, not everyone fully believes in the 2026 version of the roster just yet. While there have been some significant moves made and the front office has expressed a desire to win now, there could be some small holes remaining that are providing some concern externally.

Jerome Bettis is a legend in the Steel City who experienced a final season that was truly special after winning Super Bowl XL. He recently was interviewed by Mike Babchik and commended the team for making some good moves so far in the offseason. With that said, the Hall of Fame running back isn't sold on the group just yet with June on the horizon.

"They've got a chance," Bettis said. "I think they've upgraded the football team in terms of talent. When you look at the team [in 2025], they were not very good from a talent perspective. They've got better talent, so I think they've got a better chance, but I still believe they need more. They don't have quite enough."

The retired running back did say, though, that there is someone who can lead the Steelers efficiently. Rodgers is a 42-year-old veteran who has what it takes to make up for some shortcomings on the roster.

"Rodgers has been know to be the great eraser, so if he can play great, I think he can overshadow some of the deficiencies because he's still a special football player," Bettis stated.

While the quarterback is not the player he once was, he still has his mind and arm. The legs might not be up to par, but that might not matter if he can continue to outsmart the opposition. On top of that, there is more talent on the offensive side of the ball in 2026 compared to 2025, even if Bettis believes the Steelers need more.

Not everything is expected to go perfectly for the Steelers immediately in 2026, but Rodgers reporting for Organized Team Activities (OTAs) was a good start so he can build some rapport with the newer faces in the room.

Additionally, Bettis seemed to imply that Pittsburgh could benefit from making another move or two. General Manager Omar Khan can always be looked at as someone who is unpredictable, so the the advice from Bettis could end up being more relevant if a trade or another free-agent signing occurs.

Steelers Certainly Did Upgrade Roster Throughout The 2026 Offseason

Pittsburgh's decision-makers have been very adamant about refusing to take part in any kind of tank. This commitment has proven to be true, especially after the organization was involved in several high-profile moves dating back to March. Time will tell how everything plays out, but this Steelers team could be preparing to surprise a lot of people throughout the NFL landscape.

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