The Pittsburgh Steelers will look entirely new from a coaching staff perspective in the 2026 season. New head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff are working with new faces as well as some familiar ones as they look to define roles on the roster. Organized Team Activities continue through the spring and summer in the Steel City and teammates are beginning to gel. For the franchise, having not won a playoff game now in nine years, they are clearly focused on winning immediately with the new staff. A rebuild appears to be out of the question as this team still has many veterans ready to make a deep postseason push.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers' new head coach Mike McCarthy smiles as he addresses the media during his introductory press conference that took place at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
With quarterback Aaron Rodgers officially running it back for another year in the black and gold and reuniting to play with his former head coach, they will look to work their magic together for the first time since they were a duo with the Green Bay Packers. Former legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger held his podcast, Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger on Tuesday, and weighed in on how the team looks ahead of the 2026 season. The thoughts from the former franchise quarterback came as very encouraging ones for the new-look team. All fans should get excited.
"As we sit right now, this is a legit playoff team," Roethlisberger said. "I think they're going. They have a legit chance to win games in the playoffs. I hate though, I hate to say like a Super Bowl contender. I think that is always a bold statement, but this is a team that has the potential to to get to the Super Bowl for sure."
While the former Pittsburgh signal-caller was hesitant to go as far as Super Bowl contender, it is clear the new additions made to the team give him enough reason for optimism the franchise can end their playoff win drought and then some. For McCarthy, who is offensive-minded, the organization had to bring in more weapons on offense than it had in the 2025 season, especially for Rodgers.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after a win in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 season.
One member of the team that should be encouraged just like Roethlisberger is wide receiver DK Metcalf. His production dipped last year and he was not his normal self compared to prior seasons throughout his NFL career. However, additions like the trade for Michael Pittman Jr. to help take attention off of him as well as an underneath threat and playmaker like Germie Bernard should help them be a more prolific offense in 2026.
Steelers' Offense Could Turn Heads In 2026
While Pittsburgh ranked 25th in total offense in 2025 with 305.6 yards per game, the recent additions have added great value to their offense from a play making standpoint. Metcalf's new running mate in Pittman offers another big and physical receiver on the field for the opposing team defense to keep their eyes on, which could free him up. Bernard joining the franchise following their selection of him in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft also should keep defenses honest underneath.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard catches a pass during day one of Organized Team Activities on May 18, 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA.
A new leaf will be turned over in 2026 with the first new head coach in almost 20 years for the Steelers. There is a chance for basically everyone to start with a clean slate in Pittsburgh this upcoming season. Roman Wilson is another guy who, at the wide receiver position, has a chance to start fresh for them in 2026 after a rough 2024 and 2025. He recently praised the new coaching staff and the selection of Bernard creates some healthy competition to hopefully motivate him to elevate his game as well.
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