The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new era for the first time in almost two decades. When legendary head coach Mike Tomlin made the decision to step away from his post, a lot of pressure was immediately put on everyone from the roster that would be returning in 2026. Then, instead, of risking a rebuild type of season with a young and up-and-coming coordinator, the organization hired Mike McCarthy. The dominos continued to fall and Aaron Rodgers would later feel comfortable enough to commit to playing one more year with someone who he won a Super Bowl with back in the 2010 campaign.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers stands next to and speaks with head coach Mike McCarthy as the two work something out during a 2026 training camp practice being held a Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The wealth of knowledge and experience from just McCarthy and Rodgers alone will be great for the locker room as a whole. While the collective is already relatively old, there are several young guys — including 11 rookies — on the 53-man roster. This is why it will be critical for everyone to be on the same page and get the season started off on the right foot.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, there were plenty of players who did not participate in the majority of training camp and/or the preseason. This could prove to be an issue right off the bat in Week 1. While the Atlanta Falcons are coming to town as an underdog, both franchises are facing several questions with the meaningful football contests getting set to kick off.
Because there are new faces and some interesting storylines surrounding Pittsburgh, the rapport the team has altogether might not be exactly what fans normally expect in September. It could take a little bit of time in competitive action for the key contributors to all get on the same page, and that could possibly lead to a slow start.
Rodgers has never been one to hold anything back, and he hinted at the fact that everything is far from perfect right now with the Steelers. While appearing on an episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, he detailed his concerns.
"We haven't played together with Joey [Porter Jr.] and Jalen [Ramsey's] been out for a lot of camp, and [Michael] Pittman's been out for a lot of camp," Rodgers said. "Who else has been hurt that's coming back? DK [Metcalf] was hurt; we got DK back. We got [Brandin] Echols who was hurt a lot of camp, came back. [Jaquan] Brisker's been hurt. I mean, look at our — the guys that are expecting to play, how many snaps [have]— I'll tell you it's zero; Brisker, Jalen, and Joey played together?"
It's a very important point that Rodgers is trying to make. It's hard to have everyone operating at the same speed and in the same mindset when there haven't been a lot of snaps being played together by the most important guys. Rodgers warned it could take some time before everything is clicking.
"We've only had a few with Pittman and DK playing together. So, I think we're gonna be a work in progress to some extent," Rodgers noted. "I think the talent is there. I think schematically we're good on both sides of the ball."
No one should be surprised if the Steelers come out of the gate slow in Week 1. The defense is especially concerning, but the connection between Rodgers and Michael Pittman Jr. will also be something to pay attention to.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) stands on the field and looks off into the distance while the team works out during a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Rodgers is 42 years old and has gone through it all throughout his Hall of Fame career. He was very careful with his words about the state of the team; however, it's clear that he is expecting some hiccups early. The hope is that the veterans in the room can resolve any issues quickly, so that none of the speed bumps carry over into October and beyond.
Steelers Have The Right Guy For The Job At Quarterback
If there's anyone who could make an inconsistent training camp not derail a season early on, it's Rodgers. The four-time MVP is older than some of the coaches in the NFL, which is not something to scoff at. He might be the one under center, but he also is a wealth of knowledge who can be relied on by the entire locker room. The Steelers have the right man for the job, and it should be a fascinating 2026 campaign.
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