The Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line has been under construction ever since general manager Omar Khan took over in 2022. It became apparent early on that Khan and his partner-in-crime Andy Weidl believed winning meaningful football games deep into the winter starts with dominating the trenches. The Steelers have drafted and invested heavily in their offensive line over the last few seasons, and now, with Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach James Campen in town, there is a real sense that the 2026 season could be a special one for the group.
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Steelers' coaches James Campen and Mike McCarthy talk during their time working in Green Bay.
Pittsburgh added Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and continued to bolster the offensive line by selecting Gennings Dunker in the third round. Naturally, adding two more rookies to an already young and promising unit creates plenty of intrigue, especially under a new regime led by Campen.
The veteran offensive line coach is known for developing strong collectives throughout his career and previously worked alongside McCarthy during their time with the Green Bay Packers. Together, they will look to ensure the offensive line is capable of protecting Aaron Rodgers throughout the 2026 campaign.
That will be pivotal if the Steelers hope to end their playoff drought in McCarthy's first year leading the team. On Monday, Steeler Nation heard something eye-opening when Nick Shook told Bucky Brooks of the NFL's official website and the Move The Sticks Podcast that he is placing legitimate stock in Pittsburgh's offensive line. He even went as far as calling it the second-best offensive line in the NFL.
"At number two, I've got the Steelers," Shook said Monday during his time chatting on the Move The Sticks podcast. "I've got to give a tip of the cap to general manager Omar Khan because, three or four years ago, this was a bad group across the board, and they invested repeatedly through the draft in their offensive line."
Shook's praise reflects just how quickly Pittsburgh has transformed one of its biggest weaknesses into one of its greatest strengths. Khan and Weidl made rebuilding the trenches a top priority after taking control of the front office, and the results are beginning to show.
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Steelers center Zach Frazier (54) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
With young players continuing to develop and additional talent arriving through the draft, there is growing belief that the Steelers could possess one of the league's premier offensive lines entering the 2026 season.
"It all starts with center Zach Frazier, who I think has become one of the better centers in the NFL and a guy that a lot of people probably overlooked a little bit when he was coming out of college... Mason McCormick has been solid," Shook said. "Troy Fautanu took a huge step in development from year one to year two... I love that they have options. That's why they're my number two group."
The Steelers are certainly hoping Shook's evaluation proves to be accurate. Pittsburgh has spent years investing premium draft capital into the offensive line, and now the organization is beginning to see the payoff as those young players continue to develop into foundational pieces.
Steelers' Offensive Line Is The Most Important Group In 2026
With Rodgers under center and a new coaching staff in place, the offensive line will be one of the most important position groups to watch throughout training camp and the regular season. If the unit can live up to the expectations being placed on it, the Steelers offense could take a major step forward in 2026.
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Steelers' offensive lineman Troy Fautanu stands on the playing surface as the team warms up on the field prior to a 2025 training camp practice being held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
For now, national recognition like this serves as validation for the work Khan and Weidl have done rebuilding the trenches. The Steelers believed they were building one of the NFL's best offensive lines, and according to Shook, they have already arrived near the top of the league. However, none of that matters if they don't produce on the football field. If they do, than Steelers fans can rest a little bit better knowing they have a strong foundation in place.
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