Steelers Have A Legendary MVP Candidate Lurking On Their 2026 Roster

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 season is shaping up to bring plenty of drama, excitement, and new storylines to a franchise looking for a fresh start. For the first time in a long time, there is genuine optimism surrounding the Steelers’ offense and what new head coach Mike McCarthy can bring to a revamped organization. After years of playoff frustrations under Mike Tomlin, McCarthy now faces the challenge of ending a postseason drought that has stretched back to the Steelers’ last playoff victory in the 2016 season. Steelers fans are eager for deeper playoff runs, and McCarthy will be looking to deliver that in 2026.

While the offense enters a new era, the Steelers’ defense remains the backbone of the team. Pittsburgh has invested heavily in its defense for years, building a unit filled with elite talent like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and several other impact players across every level. However, despite the star power, the defense has struggled to consistently live up to expectations and carry the team deep into January.

That is why the arrival of new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has created another wave of optimism around Pittsburgh. With a fresh defensive approach and a roster full of veteran playmakers, there is a belief that one of the Steelers’ established stars could have a career-defining season in 2026.

According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, while speaking on the Steelers Collective on Tuesday, one legendary defensive veteran not named Watt could emerge as the team’s surprise MVP candidate. That player is 31-year-old Jalen Ramsey.

"I'm going to go out on a limb. Team MVP, if all goes well, would be none other than Jalen Ramsey," Kaboly said. "I think he has a real opportunity to do something special this year. I think he would be my leader in the clubhouse. I just don't think offensively they will have that one guy who shines so much that they give it to an offensive player. Plus, historically, it always goes to a defensive player. I'm going Jalen Ramsey."

The idea may sound surprising, but Pittsburgh saw a similar situation unfold in 2025 when running back Kenneth Gainwell became one of the team’s most valuable players despite being valued at only $1.79 million for the season. 

With that in mind, Kaboly believes Ramsey could be poised to turn heads and become the Steelers’ next unlikely team MVP. However, the fact that Gainwell won the Team MVP Award directly contradicted what Kaboly stated about the honor. 

Steelers' Team MVP History Paints A Clear Picture For Fans

After digging deeper into the Steelers’ team MVP history, the trend paints an even clearer picture. According to Steelers.com’s historical records, defensive players have taken home the team MVP award roughly 54% of the time, while offensive players have accounted for about 46% of the selections. That slight edge shows that Pittsburgh’s defensive stars have historically played a major role when it comes to earning the franchise’s top individual honor.

However, that does not mean the Steelers automatically hand the award to a defensive player every season. The split is much closer than many fans would probably expect, showing that offensive players have had just as much of an opportunity to earn the honor throughout franchise history.

That being said, Kaboly’s prediction still makes plenty of sense. Ramsey brings the leadership, experience, and versatility that could make a major impact on Pittsburgh’s defense in 2026. His presence helped elevate the Steelers’ defense during the 2025 season, and under new leadership with Graham bringing in a fresh defensive system, Ramsey could be deployed in creative ways that maximize his skill set.

If everything comes together, Ramsey has a legitimate opportunity to become one of the most important pieces of this Steelers defense.

Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X (@anthonyghalkias) and consider following for more Steelers-related content and discussion. 

#SteelerNation