The Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to hire veteran head coach Mike McCarthy to run the show in 2026 following Mike Tomlin's resignation. While a lot of the discussion dating back to late January has surrounded that move, the most important newcomer on the staff might not be the Green Bay Packers legend. Bringing in Patrick Graham to run the defensive side of things could end up being the best or worst thing that the franchise decided to do. The unit remains extraordinarily talented; however, inconsistencies and failing to show up in postseason matchups have plagued it for many years now.
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Steelers' new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham works with defense as the team practices during an Organized Team Activities (OTAs) workout in Pittsburgh, PA.
One of the areas that will become the most important for the Steelers is inside linebacker. The group wasn't necessarily touched at all during the offseason, which could come off as a bit of a shock because of the uninspiring play from Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison in 2025. The unit could be set for a complete rebuild in 2027 unless someone really shows up to play in 2026.
An interesting name to keep an eye on is Harrison's. He could easily have been cut prior to free agency beginning, as it would have led to almost $5 million in cap savings. Instead, Pittsburgh was not at all aggressive when it came to the positional group, and that led to Harrison staying around. There is a window for one young contributor to step in and convince the new staff that Harrison might be better off somewhere else.
Steelers fans are currently looking at Carson Bruener as a blossoming special teams star. He was fantastic during his rookie campaign in 2025 and should continue to be a playmaker in that phase of the game. However, he is 25 years old and could provide some fresher legs on defense. Training camp and the preseason matchups will allow him to prove that he is ready for an expanded role. Some have already speculated that he could be in line for more reps once 2027 rolls around.
It wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for the Steelers to move on from Queen, Wilson or Holcomb at this juncture, but Harrison has a contract that is easy to shed. If Bruener shows that he is able to do more than just operate on special teams, it would make a ton of sense to allow him to be the fourth inside linebacker on the depth chart. Pittsburgh is in a little bit of cap trouble as it stands in mid-July, and every dollar matters.
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Steelers inside linebacker Malik Harrison stands on the field with the defense as the team goes through a workout during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
As always, injuries and other developments could force Harrison's way onto the 53-man roster, but it doesn't seem to be a guarantee. With a new coaching staff, there should be a lot less favoritism floating around. All Bruener really has to show is that he has the same motor on defense as he does on special teams, and Harrison could suddenly become a logical veteran cut candidate.
The Steelers are going to be looking for the best man possible at every single spot on the roster. Saving a little bit of money while inserting a younger and potentially more explosive linebacker in on the defensive side of the ball makes sense in the grand scheme of things. Harrison was able to survive the first wave of releases back in March; however, that does not mean he is out of the woods just yet, especially if Bruener feels as if he can contribute on more than just special teams.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers linebacker and special teams contributor Carson Bruener runs on the field as he goes through a drill while the team practices during 2026 minicamp in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers' McCarthy And Graham Have To Trust Bruener
Harrison is a veteran that can hold his own, even if he isn't making plays left and right. That kind of reliability won't go unnoticed. It will be Bruener who has to prove himself each day in camp and during every rep in the preseason. This is an underrated battle that fans should pay attention to once the Steelers report to Latrobe to prepare for the season.
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