The Pittsburgh Steelers regime under former head coach Mike Tomlin started off hot, but the last decade left fans wanting more. Tomlin arrived in 2007 and quickly restored Pittsburgh to Super Bowl heights, yet since the 2016 season, the Steelers have been unable to recapture that playoff success, failing to win a postseason game in that span. After the 2025 season ended, Tomlin watched his team blow a home playoff game losing by 24 points. He stepped down quickly after that loss.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
That drought ultimately weighed heavily on Tomlin and played a role in him stepping down after the 2025 season. Now Mike McCarthy takes over in the Steel City, hoping to reshape the narrative around this once dominant franchise. During the 2025 season, one of the biggest complaints centered around veteran tight end Pat Freiermuth and his lack of involvement in the passing attack.
Despite Pittsburgh’s clear need for a reliable target in the middle of the field, Freiermuth never consistently received the opportunities many felt he deserved. According to Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo, speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday, higher-ups within the organization were not pleased with Freiermuth’s limited role in the offense. While he did not directly place blame on Tomlin, the implication was clear, questions are being raised about how the tight end was utilized and who ultimately controlled his level of involvement.
"They invested in Pat two offseasons ago and I don't think the front office was happy with his playing time or his production from last year," Fittipaldo said. "I do think that Pat Freiermuth will get a bigger share of the snaps this year. I think he will get more opportunities than he did in the past."
The Steelers committed a lot of money to Darnell Washington in the 2026 offseason, but Fittipaldo does not want that to take away from the fact that Pittsburgh invested in Freiermuth two seasons ago.
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Steelers' Pat Freiermuth catches a pass during the 2026 offseason in Pittsburgh.
Because the front office wanted him involved more, it is fully expected that this new staff will try to please the important decision-makers who invested in Freiermuth’s talents.
"It's going to be close," Fittipaldo said. "And I don't think it matters who the starter is between Freiermuth and Washington is. I think both of those tight ends will be playing a lot."
In the 2025 offseason, a lot was made about the Steelers tight end room, which featured Freiermuth, Washington, Connor Heyward, and Jonnu Smith. In 2026, Smith and Heyward are now gone.
There were predictions that this group was going to be absolutely lethal together, though that did not really transpire. Smith was one of the worst tight ends in football by critical metrics, while Freiermuth did not get the chances he or many others had hoped for.
Steelers Are Expecting A Ton Out Of Washington And Freiermuth In 2026
The bright spot came from Washington, who showed that his rare blend of size and athleticism creates severe mismatches for opposing secondaries trying to defend him. Heading into 2026, based on everything Fittipaldo knows, he fully expects Washington to continue building on the elite momentum he established in 2025.
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Steelers' Darnell Washington runs through a drill during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in 2026.
He also expects Freiermuth to be more involved and to turn into the player many have been waiting to see season after season. Overall, the Steelers’ tight end room still has the talent to become a major offensive strength. Though it has yet to fully live up to the preseason expectations, leaving 2026 as a pivotal year for both Washington’s continued breakout and Freiermuth’s long-awaited expanded role.
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