The Pittsburgh Steelers are steadily improving each game and now sit 5-2, tied for first in the AFC North. After their most recent 16-10 win over the New Orleans Saints, the run defense dominated. For most of the season, the Steelers have been solid against the run, but in Paris, France, they took it to another level, allowing just 18 rushing yards total. Pittsburgh has been without starting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, a huge part of their run defense, but they've still shut down Jonathan Taylor, Bucky Irving, and Alvin Kamara in consecutive weeks.
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Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon during a regular season game against the Browns in October of 2026.
The Steelers still being able to stop the run without Harmon is shocking, given the difference in numbers in 2025 when he's on the field versus when he's not. One area that has improved significantly over the past few games is the inside linebackers, who both arguably played their best game of the season against the Saints. Payton Wilson and Patrick Queen have been tackling much better than at the start of the season and are helping limit big plays on the ground.
Pittsburgh's front office bolstered the defensive line in the offseason, bringing in Sebastian Joseph-Day and drafting Gabriel Rubio in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. While Rubio was more of an insurance policy in case of injury, Joseph-Day was meant to be a versatile run stuffer, but he's now on injured reserve (IR). Even without the veteran free agent signing, the Steelers' defensive line is dominating.
Recently, Cam Heyward spoke to the media and gave a detailed response on why the trenches have improved so much. Rather than pointing to Keeanu Benton, who's improved tremendously against the run, Heyward pointed to Yahya Black, who's been starting at nose tackle since the Harmon injury. The veteran claims Black is moving much better this season and has improved greatly since his rookie season.
"Yahya's a big part of that. I think he's moving a lot better this year, playing with great hands, getting off blocks, and you just feel his energy as he enters the game and, you know, it's sustainable," Heyward said.
Black was a fifth-round pick in 2025 and played a ton as a rookie. He's played primarily defensive end since being drafted, but he's recently been playing more nose tackle (which is where he's listed as the starter on the current depth chart). While Black stands at 6'6", which takes away any potential natural leverage, he's been controlling the offensive line at the line of scrimmage and eating up double teams to free the inside linebackers.
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Steelers DL Yahya Black leaves the field after a win against the Saints in Paris.
Black has been moving much better between the tackles, as Heyward mentioned, despite weighing 370 pounds. The second-year man's emergence has made Harmon's loss a much easier burden to bear and could allow him to return close to 100%. Even though the former Iowa standout is getting some media praise, it's been a valiant group effort up front, and one man deserves credit.
Steelers Hit A Home Run With Domata Peko Hire
One of the more shocking moves Mike McCarthy made in building his coaching staff was not retaining longtime defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, but bringing in Domata Peko instead. Dunbar helped Heyward become one of the NFL's elite defensive tackles and helped him evade Father Time. Rather than playing it safe, McCarthy went with Peko, who coached under him with the Dallas Cowboys, and after seven games, the move is paying off.
The defensive line has looked stout against the run and has been consistent. Benton has been a quality run stuffer this season, Black is becoming a huge part of the defensive line, and before his injury, Harmon was starting to develop a pass-rush repertoire. All of these improvements have been to the credit of Peko, who played as recently as 2021.
The young bucks on the Steelers' defensive line are starting to grow up and are becoming pivotal pieces to the unit. With Peko as their coach, they have a man they can relate to, which is proving to go a long way.
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