The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 season will be one of the more interesting ones in recent memory, especially given that they have a new head coach for the first time in almost 20 years. Mike McCarthy and the team are currently off enjoying some summer activities ahead of their late-July start to 2026 training camp in Latrobe, PA, but as things gear up ahead of his first season coaching the Black and Gold, there are many questions that will have answers as the season unfolds. One question was just recently answered about one returning player who has been mentioned a lot lately for a contract extension.
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Steelers' Mike McCarthy looks on during voluntary veteran minicamp during the 2026 offseason.
One area of improvement the team is looking for is on the defensive side of the football. They finished 26th in the league in 2025, allowing 356.9 yards per game. For a franchise well-known for historically good defenses, new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will need to orchestrate a turnaround on that side of the football in the Steel City in 2026. He did have success with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, as he led them to a ninth overall finish in scoring defense despite having limited talent outside of star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Now he will have more talent to work with in Pittsburgh, including with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. He has been a big focus this offseason in terms of a potential extension by the franchise after coming off a breakout 2025 campaign.
Team insider Mark Kaboly has recently provided a potential timeline on that extension after appearing on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.
“I don’t think there’s much wiggle room, man,” Kaboly said. “I think it’s going to be anywhere from next week until a week or so, two weeks into camp. I don’t think it’s going to go September 12th. I don’t think it’s going to be the Friday before the Falcons game. I just don’t think there’s enough there for him to try to negotiate more out of it.”
The former Penn State product was taken in the second round, 32nd overall, by the franchise in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he finished tied for fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. picks off Lamar Jackson in the end zone during the 2023 season.
In his breakout season last year, Porter had one interception, with 52 total tackles, and his first career NFL sack. However, there are some deeper metrics that really paint the picture for the fourth-year NFL veteran.
Steelers' Porter Has Provided Consistent Value
The one thing that stands out even more in Porter's game is how impactful he is on the field. While the stat sheet may not get stuffed by the former Nittany Lion, he did have 14 passes defended in 2025 which was a career-high. He also started in 14 games last year while avoiding the one weak spot in his game, taking penalties.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, OH.
While a new deal remains to be signed, it was stated by former NFL cornerback Patrick Peterson last week that he is unsure if a contract will get done between Porter and the franchise. However, Kaboly's latest insight appears to be some exciting news for the organization as they look to solidify their secondary for a team that allowed a lot of yards in 2025. Porter will also receive some help from guys like cornerback Jamel Dean and his former college teammate at safety Jaquan Brisker, who the organization signed to bring in and help the defense this offseason.
What do you think about Kaboly's update on Porter? Do you think the team will get a new deal done soon? Be sure to follow us for more Steelers news!
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