The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new chapter across the organization now that Mike Tomlin is no longer the man leading the team. In comes Mike McCarthy, a Super Bowl-winning head coach looking to bring Pittsburgh back to winning meaningful football games. That journey starts with making noise in the postseason, and with Aaron Rodgers galvanizing the locker room around what could be his final NFL season, the 2026 Steelers have a real opportunity to become something special.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrates after throwing a touchdown to tight end Pat Freiermuth during a professional football game in 2025.
When tight end Pat Freiermuth was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Penn State product immediately stepped into a historic quarterback room. Freiermuth had the opportunity to catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger, the player many consider to be the greatest quarterback in Steelers history. However, after Roethlisberger’s retirement, Freiermuth quickly experienced the challenges of life in the NFL with Kenny Pickett, veteran stopgaps, and eventually Rodgers under center.
Many expected the 2025 season to be a breakout year for Freiermuth as he entered his prime and prepared to become a bigger part of Pittsburgh’s offensive attack. Unfortunately, things did not unfold the way many hoped, leaving questions about what his role and production could look like moving forward. Now, with a new coaching staff and a completely different offensive philosophy, Freiermuth appears excited about what is ahead.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Freiermuth hinted that Steeler Nation may finally be getting the offensive transformation it has been waiting for. The veteran tight end explained how different things feel with McCarthy leading the offense and Rodgers running the show, suggesting Pittsburgh could finally move beyond being viewed as one of the league’s weakest offensive teams and become a legitimate strength on that side of the ball.
"It's fun [with Mike McCarthy leading this team]. He and Aaron are just always on the same page and seeing eye to eye," Freiermuth said while speaking on The Pat McAfee Show. "It’s definitely a lot different of an offense than Pittsburgh has seen in the past, so it’s gonna be great. It’s exciting, since [Ben Roethlisberger] was here, honestly."
This is in no way a knock on Tomlin. What he accomplished in Pittsburgh will forever be remembered, and even though his legacy is complicated by the fact that the Steelers went over a decade without a playoff win, his regular-season accomplishments cannot be ignored. Never having a losing season as an NFL head coach is an incredible achievement and a testament to the consistency he brought to the organization.
The more important takeaway is that Steelers fans have been waiting to see Freiermuth become more involved in the offense. Many were surprised when that did not happen in 2025, especially with expectations that he would take another step forward as one of Pittsburgh’s most important offensive weapons. Now entering 2026, there is renewed belief that things could look very different.
Steelers' Pat Freiermuth Is The Perfect TE For McCarthy
Freiermuth is not only getting a new quarterback in Rodgers, but he is also gaining continuity with a veteran signal-caller who understands how to maximize his playmakers. On top of that, he is entering a system under McCarthy that could highlight the exact strengths that made Pittsburgh draft him in the second round.
Jordan Perez / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth works out at training camp in August of 2026.
That is why Freiermuth’s recent comments should genuinely create optimism throughout the Steel City. This is not simply about adding a new quarterback or changing coaches. It is about putting key players in positions to succeed, and for the first time in years, there is a feeling that Freiermuth could finally become the offensive weapon many expected him to be.
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