The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 offseason has quieted down a bit, considering how it started in early March. The team is now working to prepare for the NFL Draft in late April, but the league's annual spring meeting is also currently being conducted in Arizona. Team Owner and President Art Rooney II recently spoke with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and commented on a potential rule change that was discussed there. The league is looking at a change in which penalties will be dictated differently than anything seen before, but Rooney is somewhat hesitant.
Alexandra Wimley / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Owner and Team President Art Rooney II talking to the media.
The league is looking to crack down on flagrant fouls. They would like to do so by allowing league replay personnel in New York to consult with on-field officials to penalize players for “non-football acts” that might have otherwise been missed.
"That’s kind of crossing a new line there, in terms of allowing New York to put a flag on the field," Rooney said. "You know, so far, we have not done that, and we've had discussions about not wanting to do that. So we're taking a step across a new line doing that. It could definitely impact some of these things we've done with the idea that it would improve pace of play."
It is not hard to see why Rooney would be hesitant about this change being implemented in the league. For starters, it is allowing personnel in the league that is not even live at the game to potentially influence whether or not a call should have been made on the field. The other issue Rooney eluded to, pace of play, is a clear concern, especially considering the NFL has taken several steps over the past couple seasons to speed up the pace of play. One of the most notable came last year, as they adopted the line-to-gain virtual technology similar to what other sports, especially tennis, have used.
Rooney's franchise has been involved in quite a busy offseason as mentioned, especially in free agency, while they look to round out their roster in hopes to change their postseason trend of the last nine years. While the team has added several solid new players, including wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., they also will continue to look to add talent in the upcoming draft. The Steelers have earned some high praise thus far for those offseason moves.
Eric Thayer / Associated Press
Steelers' newly acquired wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. catches a touchdown pass in an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams.
While every sport strives to improve their game, sometimes too much change can lead to bad things. The MLB has made several changes over the last few years, including a pitch clock, that speeds up the time allowed between each pitch a pitcher throws. While the NFL has made some good changes as games can feel like they drag on, Rooney also provides some compelling points as to why this proposal may not be the best idea for the league.
Steelers' Influence Across The NFL
The Steelers have a large impact across the NFL, especially considering their rich history of winning and success. Rooney's comments surely will be taken with merit, as he is the owner and president of one of the most storied franchises in the league, and even in sports as a whole. That is not to suggest that the league would turn down a rule change just because of comments Rooney makes, but they will definitely be considered given his standing around the NFL.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Owner Art Rooney II on the field at a team practices while having a discussion.
With Rooney and General Manager Omar Khan both at the meetings, there is plenty of business to discuss. Khan made some comments on Monday surrounding some circumstances with the 2026 team himself. Rooney's comments, however, definitely back up that this proposed rule change by the league has them headed down a slippery slope and could hold up the pace of play on the field.
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