In 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a roster full of inconsistencies, with neither side of the ball being able to complement the other consistently. The offense and the defense were at a schematic disadvantage most of the time, but with Mike McCarthy and his new staff, that should no longer be the case. Now it will be up to the players to find that level of consistency needed to take the next step. One position group in particular will face a big challenge as some new faces enter the starting lineup.
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Steelers offensive linemen Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook look to pass block during Pittsburgh's 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
The offensive line in 2025 faced significant adversity, dealing with injuries in key positions. Despite this, the unit improved week after week and became the backbone of the offense. Now, going into 2026, the group will look a lot different. They lost veteran leader Isaac Seumalo after he signed with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason. With him gone and Broderick Jones likely being unavailable to start the season due to injury, the offensive line had to do some shuffling.
Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick have switched from the right to the left side, now protecting Aaron Rodgers' blindside. Neither player has played on the left side since college, but their transition shouldn't be too troublesome. The new right side will be the question mark, with Spencer Anderson or Brock Hoffman at right guard and Dylan Cook likely being the right tackle.
With players playing on different sides and new faces in the lineup, one former Steelers Super Bowl champion believes the big men up front will determine the offense's overall success this season. Willie Colon recently appeared on Good Morning Football, where he discussed the Steelers' offensive line needing to rekindle their chemistry.
"It starts up front, and this offensive line, from a chemistry standpoint, I thought they grew up last year," Colon stated. "But this is going to be a new five in the mix. And could that affect the offense going into the season?"
Three of the starting five offensive linemen were in their second season as pros, with Jones in his third. Seumalo was the only true veteran, needing to be a coach on the field. Frazier, Fautanu, and McCormick are forced to grow up early, now being the veterans in the trenches. The offensive line faces a lot of pressure heading into the season and needs to rekindle its chemistry quickly.
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Steelers' Zach Frazier snaps the football during Week 4 against the Colts.
Not only will the right side be brand new, but it could eventually feature two rookies. 2026 first-round pick Max Iheanachor and third-round pick Gennings Dunker now lurk on the depth chart. Neither will likely be Week 1 starters, but Iheanachor has the opportunity to take the same path Jones did in 2023. Dunker, on the other hand, has much more beef to cut through to make the starting five, but he very well could also find his way into the starting lineup as a rookie.
Steelers' Offensive Line Must Pick Up Where They Left Off
The Steelers' offensive line left the 2025 season as one of the best pass-blocking units in the NFL. With Frazier as the only man to return to his usual spot this season, they will have to quickly overcome the growing pains of playing together as a new unit. With Rodgers turning 43-years-old this season, he will need to be well protected and kept on his feet for the offense to have a chance at improvement.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers goes through a drill during minicamp on June 2, 2026.
With all the investment in the trenches, the Steelers' offense needs to rely on its big men to get the job done. General Manager Omar Khan has taken a massive gamble with his draft picks and investing so much into one position group. They will need to prove him right by overcoming the new adversity once again.
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