The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering unknown territory in 2026 as there are tons of questions throughout the roster and the coaching staff. Many fans wanted former head coach Mike Tomlin gone for quite some time as his teams kept getting embarrassed in the playoffs. He kept the team somewhat competitive, but it was clear he was never going to get this version of the Steelers over the hump. It has been nearly a decade since the franchise has won a postseason game and fans are hoping that will eventually happen under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
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Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) embraces new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy (right) prior to Super Bowl XLV.
McCarthy has a ton of experience in the NFL as a head coach, and hiring him bucked a ton of trends that the organization typically follows. That should be considered a good sign as the franchise is beginning to move in the right direction with the rest of the NFL. It is now an offensive-based league, and that is an area that Pittsburgh has struggled in for far too long. McCarthy's offensive background will hopefully help, but there are definitely some people that are skeptical about the Steelers heading into 2026.
Mike Sando of The Athletic recently spoke to anonymous NFL executives to get an idea of where teams might finish at the end of the season. The Steelers were voted to finish 10th in the AFC, and an anonymous executive warned fans that the grass is not always greener on the other side.
"Pittsburgh has been sick of Tomlin, hating the one-and-dones, but be careful what you wish for, because on paper, they have sub-.500 written all over them," the anonymous executive said. "A shaky O-line with an aging quarterback is not a good combo."
This is something a lot of the national media doesn't seem to understand about fans in Pittsburgh. If the team isn't competing for a Super Bowl, it is simply not good enough. That has been the case in the last seven seasons or so, and a sub-.500 season might be exactly what this franchise needs. The group can certainly stay above .500 in 2026 and clinch a spot in the postseason, but there is a world where things go wrong fast. Just because Tomlin is gone, it does not mean things will turn around immediately. In fact, the opposite might happen.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The biggest issue to monitor in 2026 is going to be quarterback Aaron Rodgers and how he is holding up behind a shaky offensive line. He is 42 years old and he showed in 2025 that he can barely move at times, which is not good considering the shakeup that has been seen up front in Pittsburgh. The only position staying the same from the 2025 season is Zach Frazier at center. Troy Fautanu and Mason McCormick are both switching to the left side, and the starting spots on the right side are still up for grabs.
This team has the talent to compete and clinch a spot in the playoffs, but the group is going to have to get extremely hot to have any chance of sneaking into contention for a Super Bowl.
Steelers Fans Need To Have Some Grace With A New Coaching Staff
The Steelers as an organization have always said they are in "win now" mode, and while they might think that, it shouldn't be the truth. There are too many holes on the roster for the franchise to be in that state, and it is difficult for an organization to be in "win now" mode with a near-completely new coaching staff.
Pittsburgh is also going to be taking on a first place schedule after winning the AFC North in 2025, which isn't going to make things easy. The second half of the season is a rock fight, and there is a world where the Steelers are wrapping up the 2026 regular season well-below .500.
What do you think of these comments from anonymous executive? Where do you expect the Steelers to finish in 2026? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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