The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering what will be an interesting season in 2026. The franchise is under new leadership on the coaching staff for the first time in nearly two decades while there is a ton of young talent on the roster trying to make an impact. Pittsburgh is trying to contend now while also preparing for the future, and only time will tell if that strategy is going to work. Pittsburgh will be playing a first-place schedule in 2026 after winning the AFC North in 2025, so the 2026 season is going to be more of a test for the franchise.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands on the field and looks off into the distance as he watches players take part in rookie minicamp during a workout in Pittsburgh, PA.
It is difficult to come up with a prediction of how the Steelers might perform in 2026. The team should be pretty volatile. The young talent on the roster is rather unpredictable, the new coaching staff is a question mark, and Aaron Rodgers is entering the final season of his career at 42-years-old. There is a lot that could go wrong for the Steelers in 2026, and it seems like the first season under a new regime is more likely to be a disappointment. There is reason for optimism as it is a talented roster, but things could certainly go south.
Beat writer Mark Kaboly spoke about the upcoming season during an appearance on his show Steelers Collective, and he believes the Steelers could look a lot different if the 2026 season does not go as planned.
"If they have a 6-11 season, I can see them moving on from a whole heck of a lot of people," Kaboly said. "Cam [Heyward] can be one of them. Maybe, you know, [DeShon] Elliott, [Patrick] Queen, [Jalen] Ramsey. They do gotta pay for some of these offensive linemen."
If the season does not go as planned in 2026, Kaboly sees some guys playing elsewhere in 2027. This includes Patrick Queen, Jalen Ramsey, DeShon Elliott, and even Cam Heyward. Part of that would be an attempt to get younger, but it would also be to clear some money off the books a bit so the franchise could pay its offensive line.
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Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen celebrates during a game in 2025 against the Minnesota Vikings which took place at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
It seems like the writing is on the wall for Queen as he is entering the final year of his current deal, and there hasn't seemed to be much interest from either side when it comes to a potential extension. The 2026 season will probably be his last in Pittsburgh regardless. The same can be true for Ramsey. He really showed his age at times in 2025 and he is signed through the 2028 season. His cap hit will only increase in 2027 and 2028, so parting ways after the 2026 season is probably a certainty.
Moving on from key defensive pieces like this signals a youth movement, and it also shows that the organization might want to allocate some more of its resources to the offensive side of the ball. This would address a ton of fans' complaints, but it would also hopefully fix any issues that are seen throughout the 2026 season.
Steelers Moving On From Cam Heyward Might Not Make Much Sense
Heyward signed a one-year extension near the start of the 2026 offseason, so he is currently signed through 2027. Kaboly's comments make sense in the fact that the Steelers could save roughly $16 million in 2027 by parting ways with Heyward, but he has been far too productive to justify a move like that.
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Steelers' Cam Heyward gets ready for a play against the Cincinnati Bengals at home during the 2025 season.
Only time will tell if he can keep playing at the level he has in recent years, but he has not shown many signs of slowing down. If he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, he should be able to for as long as he wants.
What do you think about this prediction from Kaboly? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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