The Pittsburgh Steelers officially ended their 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College on Tuesday, closing an important phase of the transition into the Mike McCarthy era. The team produced several encouraging developments in Latrobe, but unpredictable weather and repeated interruptions prevented Pittsburgh from completing the amount of work it originally planned.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands on the field and looks on as he watches the team workout during a 2026 training camp practice taking place at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
That matters more than it normally would because McCarthy is installing a new offense, Patrick Graham is implementing a different defensive system and numerous players are competing for new roles. Every shortened session removed valuable opportunities for the coaching staff to teach, evaluate and build chemistry before the regular season.
Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly offered an alarming evaluation while speaking on Kaboly + Mack on Tuesday. Kaboly has covered many Pittsburgh training camps, but he could not remember another summer in which the organization appeared to accomplish so little during its time away from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
"One of the worst training camps ever," Kaboly said. "I don't know how, [with the rain and the access], I just don't know how they got enough accomplished over such a small portion of time."
Pittsburgh's original camp schedule included 13 practices between July 29 and August 17, plus its preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers. Some sessions were shortened, converted into walkthroughs or moved indoors because of the conditions.
Those adjustments allowed the Steelers to continue working, but they did not provide the same environment as a complete outdoor practice. Kaboly specifically questioned whether the available indoor space could support a 90-player NFL roster attempting to conduct meaningful team drills.
"I mean, they could not have had more than 12 or 13 practices," Kaboly said. "A couple of those were abbreviated. A couple of those were walkthroughs. Some of those were indoors, which, you know, great facility they have up there, whatever the he** they call it. It's good for a Division III or NAIA school, or whatever division they're in."
Kaboly then explained why the facility presented a logistical problem for a professional team.
"It's a 60-yard field," Kaboly said. "That doesn't do well for a pro team that has 90 players. It's just counterproductive [to go indoors]."
Kaboly's assessment sounds concerning, particularly because Pittsburgh is attempting to establish new standards under McCarthy. The starting units need repetition within unfamiliar schemes, while young players fighting for roster spots need enough live work to prove they belong.
The lost time could be especially costly for players near the bottom of the depth chart. Coaches can study film and lean on previous evaluations with established veterans, but inexperienced players need practice snaps to separate themselves. Weather cancellations and abbreviated sessions reduced those opportunities.
However, this should not be treated as a crisis. Kaboly also acknowledged that the Steelers still have plenty of time before their regular-season opener. Pittsburgh will host the Atlanta Falcons on September 13, leaving nearly four weeks to correct mistakes and continue installing McCarthy's system. The Steelers also have two remaining preseason games. They will face the New York Jets before traveling to play the Buffalo Bills on August 27. Those contests provide McCarthy and his staff with additional opportunities to evaluate the roster under live conditions.
Steelers Still Have Time To Recover Before Week 1
Pittsburgh cannot regain the practices that were lost in Latrobe, but it can maximize every remaining rep. The coaching staff must identify which areas suffered most from the disrupted schedule and prioritize those weaknesses over the next several weeks. The first preseason victory over Green Bay already offered reasons for optimism. Pittsburgh overcame a sluggish opening half, avoided turnovers and pulled away for a 28-9 win. The operation was imperfect, but several young players performed well once the team settled into the game.
Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images
Steelers' Mike McCarthy speaks to the media during mandatory minicamp in 2026.
McCarthy's first training camp may have been one of the least productive Kaboly has witnessed, but it will not determine Pittsburgh's season. The Steelers have enough veteran leadership and remaining preparation time to recover before the results begin counting. The concern becomes meaningful only if Pittsburgh remains disorganized by its final preseason game. For now, this looks more like an inconvenient beginning than a sign that the McCarthy era is already in trouble. The final chapter of Aaron Rodgers' legendary career remains one of the NFL's biggest storylines to watch.
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