Steelers' Payton Wilson Was Seriously Hurt By The Absence Of 1 Key Player

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense came up short across the board in 2025. Though the unit was the highest-paid in the league, the number of chunk plays and miscommunication was a huge weakness. One of Pittsburgh's budding stars, Payton Wilson, was in line to have an incredible sophomore season after an impressive rookie campaign, but actually seemingly took a step back. The speedy coverage linebacker's numbers were down in his most key area, which was defending the pass. Under a new defensive staff and a new scheme, he should bounce back, but there are many factors that will play into that. 

Wilson racked up 126 combined tackles, including six for a loss last season. However, his role was much larger with the coaching staff gaining confidence in the former third-round pick. Wilson prides himself on being an elite coverage guy, but his numbers tell another story. In his rookie season, he was targeted 39 times and allowed a 79 rating against opposing quarterbacks. In 2025, he was only targeted six more times, but gave up a 104.7 rating and 351 yards when dropping back. These numbers need to get back to his rookie season.

This will only be his third year, and he'll have a clean slate in the new defense, but Wilson's bread and butter is locking down the middle of the field. The defense will need his services to get back on track. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter pointed to a big reason why Wilson's numbers were down in 2025. He explained this in detail on the Locked On Steelers podcast. 

"They had Minkah Fitzpatrick. He, you know, he wasn't a linebacker, but he commanded the middle of the field. I think without his presence out there, there was a bit of a lack as far as like, a coach on the field who could help put people in the right places, understand what they were supposed to do, and help them lock in," Carter said. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick's absence was felt on the defense as a whole. The three-time First Team All-Pro was traded to the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2025 season, and Pittsburgh's safety room felt the effects. Fitzpatrick is one of the best in the game, and his command over the top helped many players, as he was a literal safety valve. Not to mention, he was a tremendous leader who could read defenses easily. 

The star safety was one of the cornerstones of the Steelers' most dominant defenses over the last few years, and he created a ton of turnovers that kept the team in games. He picked up a lot of the slack of other players, and not having his presence out there possibly hurt Wilson's numbers. Wilson will have to be in the lab throughout this offseason to tinker and refine his game. That should challenge him to become a leader of his own, especially in an inside linebacker room that isn't necessarily deep. 

Wilson's production will have a lot to do with how well the Steelers can cover the middle of the field, with two safeties who are most effective towards the line of scrimmage. He has the speed and the instinct, but now he must be able to separate himself as one of the league's best in his niche. 

Wilson's Production Will Dictate A Lot For The Steelers' Defense

The former North Carolina State product is extremely athletically gifted, and the improved Black and Gold offense should give him a good opportunity to practice against better competition in the upcoming training camp. The inside linebacker room's production will rest on his ability to be the capable coverage guy he is known for being, but also taking the next step and being a complete player and improving in the run game, too. 

The young linebacker has a lot to prove, as does the entire defense, and this should be a big year for Wilson. 

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