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The Case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are embarking on a new era. However, here we’re leaning into our annual tradition of “The case for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026.”

This is a continuation of the series started by the late, great Ivan Cole, a Steelers scribe who was taken from us far too soon. This series gives us a chance to celebrate his memory. As a writer it presents me the challenge of not only following his form but to also try to find the voice of my departed friend.

With that in mind, let’s lean into Ivan’s own words to explain exactly what “The Case for the Pittsburgh Steelers” series is about:

If you’re looking for yet another set of predictions in what is the season of predictions you will be sorely disappointed here. I don’t do predictions, don’t believe in them.

What I attempt to bring to the table are some observations as to how to think about what factors might be key to a positive outcome for the Steelers this season…  make it to the playoffs and have a shot at the world championship.

Let’s dive in

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers at St. Vincents

Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers at St. Vincents. Photo Credit: Matt Freed, Post Gazette

New Coach + New Era = New Hope

For the first time in 19 years someone other than Mike Tomlin wears the title of “Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.” That alone provides reason for hope.

  • Sound strange from someone who remained an unapologetic Tomlin supporter till the end?

It should not.

I have zero interest in re-litigating the Tomlin Wars. Those wanting a no punches-pulled, end-to-end look at Mike Tomlin’s legacy and/or a deep dive on what went wrong in the second half of the Tomlin era can click on the links just highlighted.

Instead I’ll simply submit that Mike Tomlin, like all great leaders, knew when it was time to step away. And, more importantly, he handed Mike McCarthy a team that is turning the corner on talent.

  • As Dan Rooney reminded us, “You have to have the players.”

And since Omar Khan and Andy Weidl took over the scouting department, the Steelers drafts have improved. Even if you control for Broderick Jones’ disappointment, the Steelers 2023 Draft is easily better than any of the five preceding drafts.

Nick Herbig, Steelers vs Bengals

Nick Herbig strip sacks Joe Burrow. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The choice of Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy may not have inspired us when it was announced. I admit, you can count me among the skeptics.

But let’s be objective: McCarthy boasts 174 regular season wins, and an 11-11 playoff record with his most recent win coming in 2022, and of course he owns a Super Bowl ring.

  • Those numbers mean little to us without the present-day context.

McCarthy’s track record suggests that he can help heal what has ailed the Pittsburgh Steelers of late. It is no secret that Mike Tomlin’s Achilles Heel was his inability to hire quality assistant coaches.

McCarthy has employed multiple assistant coaches who have gone on to be head coaches. Some have had more success than others, some are still writing their stories, but McCarthy clearly has a better eye for coaching talent than his predecessor.

Along the same lines, McCarthy is an offensive-minded head coach and a quarterback whisperer. Truth be told, if Linda Carter had wrapped her magic lasso around me, I’d have admitted that my preference would have been for Art Rooney II to hire a defensive coach such as Brian Flores or Chris Shula.

But that same magic lasso would have also forced me to admit that the Steelers offenses of late can be described with two caustic words: Junior Varsity.

Jalen Tolbert, DeShon Elliott, Steelers vs Cowboys,

Jalen Tolbert scores the game winner. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

In that light, McCarthy’s last visit to Acrisure Stadium in the fall of 2024 proves to be instructive: McCarthy’s Cowboys carried the day because their offense did what the Steelers offense could not: Set up manageable third downs and convert them with regularity.

Even if we keep in mind that preseason can deceive us, if the efficiency we saw on display in the exhibition win over the Packers is any indication of what McCarthy’s system is capable of producing, we can expect to see a Steelers offense which is both different and better this fall.

Quarterback: Can Aaron Rodgers End His Final Ride with a Bang?

To understand why bringing back Aaron Rodgers was a wise decision, let me propose a little thought exercise.

  • The 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers lost their final 4 games, plus the playoffs.
  • The 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers won 4 of 5 final games, then lost in the playoffs.

What differentiated those two Decembers? I submit to you it was the play of Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Aaron Rodgers flicks it as Minkah Fitzpatrick can only watch. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Rodgers raised his level of play in a way that Russell Wilson tried and failed to do. Anyone looking strictly at his stats should instead re-watch his play in the 4th quarter of the Ravens game at Acrisure:

  • Rodgers did what all great ones do, he made it look easy.

Those fretting about keeping 4 quarterbacks should stop. There’s ample franchise precedent for doing so, and we know that Aaron Rodgers is actively mentoring Will Howard and Drew Allar, something which can only help their long-term development.

  • But wait a minute? Didn’t Aaron Rodgers reveal flaws in his game last season?

Yes, he certainly did. But we also have reason to hope that Rodgers will have a stronger supporting cast this fall.

Investment in Offensive Line Must Pay Dividends

Let’s begin the discussion of the rest of the offense by acknowledging the elephant in the room: The entire theory of the case of bringing Aaron Rodgers back was predicated on the offensive line improving.

Clearly, the playoff loss to the Texans proved that this unit still needed to mature. To that end, the front office continued to add talent while the coaching staff aggressively shuffled existing players into new positions.

  • Clearly, what we saw from the Steelers offensive line in the preseason left a lot to be desired.

Clearly, this post-preseason quote from the head coach: “I like this group of guys, but we’re nowhere near where we need to be,” lands right smack in the middle of the bulls eye.

  • Always trust a Pittsburgh native to tell it like it is.

What? You don’t remember seeing the clip of Mike McCarthy saying that recycled over-and-over again on social media?

Good for you, because you should not. Because Bill Cowher made that comment about his passing game at the conclusion of preseason in August 2005. He was right. The passing attack really had been substandard all summer.

And then Ben Roethlisberger then went out and began the season posting passer ratings of 158.3 and 139.8 in his first two games. And you probably remember how 2005 ended.

Does that mean we’re about to see a repeat of the same type of turnaround on offensive line 20 years later? Of course not. But it does remind us that such turnarounds are possible.

And we do have reason to hope that this season the Steelers offensive line will make that next step forward. Although 4 of the 5 guys are playing in different places, they’re all familiar faces.

James Campen is well-regarded throughout the league, and we should be optimistic that under his tutelage the line should make that next step forward.

Stop Suffering Over the Skill Positions

With the two-week gap between the end of preseason and the beginning of the regular season, it’s become somewhat vogue for prevailing narratives to shift in response to the void.

  • Such is the case with the Steelers.

Word is that, with the roster set, the Steelers are set to struggle at the skill position.

Al Saunders has brought up a lot of good points along those lines, but allow me to be contrarian here: Objectively speaking, the Steelers are stronger today at the skill positions than they were a year ago.

The addition of Michael Pittman Jr. alone gives the Steelers two legit NFL starting wide receivers – something we haven’t enjoyed on opening day in 2 years – if not longer.

The talk from St. Vincents is that we’ve seen a new Roman Wilson. That Wilson was largely absent in preseason but, unlike last year, we don’t need to count on Wilson developing WR No. 2 because we already have one. And should Wilson falter, we also have Germie Bernard.

Darnell Washington, Barrett Carter, Steelers vs Bengals

Darnell Washington dumps Barrett Carter. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

At tight end we have Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, the latter of which continues to have “upside” and has shown he is one of the few offensive players who can intimidate opposing defenders.

We have also added Robert Tonyan to the room who figures to simultaneously play less and provide an upgrade from Jonnu Smith.

Losing Kenneth Gainwell at running back certainly hurt, but Jaylen Warren has proven he is a gamer. As for Rico Dowdle? If you want to know why McCarthy’s offense so efficiently moved the ball the Sunday Night loss to Dallas, it’s because Dowdle consistently “won” on 1st and 2nd down carries.

Finally, the Steelers also have Eli Heidenreich who is listed as “Slash” wide receiver and running back and showed in preseason that he can be more than just a hometown feel good story.

Finally, the fact that Riley Nowakowski has arrived, giving the Steelers offense its first true fullback is a sign that Mike McCarthy is willing to go old school when it is warranted.

And if you don’t take heart at that, then perhaps your blood doesn’t run Black and Gold after all.

In Defense of the Defense

Another narrative that has gained steam over the last several years is that the Steelers highest-paid defense has under-performed.

Let’s concede that there has been some truth to that at times.

Anyone who saw the Ridiculing the Ravens administered in playoffs just two Januarys ago knows that.

But I am here today to suggest that maybe the Steelers defense has turned a corner. First, think back to some of last year’s losses. Certainly the defense earned their share of the responsibility in several of those.

But in several others, most notably the loss to Chargers and then to the Bears, the defense acquitted itself well and to be frank, a tremendous effort of theirs was wasted in Chicago.

  • Much the same can be said for the loss to the Texans in the playoffs.

The Steelers offense did precisely nothing following D.K. Metcalf’s drop early in the game, yet here the Steelers were within one point early in the 4th quarter until two Texan defensive scores broke open the game.

Asaunte Samuel Jr., Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey celebrate after the Steelers December 2025 win over the Detroit Lions.

Asante Samuel Jr., Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey celebrate after beating the Lions. Photo Credit: Ryan Sun, AP via the Times-Observer

What should give us excitement are the steps the Steelers have taken to address weakness that were exposed in their defense last season. Run defense was suspect several times last year, including the playoff loss, and the Steelers responded by signing Sebastian Joseph-Day and drafting Gabriel Rubio.

Add to that another year of maturation of Yahya Black, and I think we have reason to expect an improved run defense.

Secondary was also a weakness last year, to say the least. Again, the Steelers acted swiftly in free agency, bringing in veterans Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker and Rayshawn Jenkins while adding rookies Robert Spears-Jennings and Daylen Everette.

It may take time for this unit to gel, but I don’t think there’s any reasonable scenario that sees the Steelers performing the type of in-season reconstruction of their secondary that they had to execute last year.

  • And mind you, they still did that and managed to win the AFC North.

So yes, I see the arrow pointing on defense as well.

The Intangibles Test

This is the final element in play, and one that hasn’t got a lot of discussion. However, over on Steel City Insider, my friend Stratton Nash dove into the issue head-on.

  • I strongly encourage those who have access to the piece to make time to read it.

For those who don’t I’ll summarize here succinctly: With Mike McCarthy and his staff the Steelers organization is likely to see an improvement in coaching tangibles – better assistant coaches, better strategy and all that comes with it.

  • But what the organization loses is Mike Tomlin’s mastery of the intangibles.

Just think back to the brutal months of October and November. The Steelers suffered three head shots in rapid succession with the worst one coming last, at Acrisure Stadium no less at the hands of the Bills.

Many, if not most, other NFL coaches would have lost their locker rooms, and then some. Mike Tomlin? Not even close. He rallied the team like no other could. And we saw him do it time and time again in his 19 years in Pittsburgh.

  • How will Mike McCarthy fare when he faces similar tests, which are certain to come in any NFL season?

We don’t know. While the end of his time in Green Bay opens the door for worry, I remain optimistic, if for no other reason because of the organization he’s coming into.

The Pittsburgh Steelers unrelentingly support its head coach and give him every chance to win. That should bring out the best in Mike McCarthy and, more importantly, position McCarthy to get the best out of the men he leads.

So let’s bring on the 2026 season and let the Mike McCarthy era begin!

Editors Note: Ivan Cole was a writer for Behind the Steel Curtain from 2010 to 2015 and then on Going Deep with the Steelers from 2015 until his untimely death in 2020. 

 

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Aaron Rodgers Returns: Straight Talk on The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

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The “wait” is over. Aaron Rodgers will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season. The 21-year NFL veteran and 4-time league MVP is in Pittsburgh and is expected to sign a one-year deal with a base salary in the neighborhood of 22 million dollars.

  • Steelers OTAs begin this week and he is expected to participate.

The move has been expected since shortly after Mike McCarthy was hired to replace Mike Tomlin, although the sound and fury generated on social media could have led you to conclude otherwise.

Now that Rodgers is under contract, its time for some straight talk on the situation, taking a look at the good, bad and the ugly behind his return.

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers vs Ravens

Aaron Rodgers Runs it In. Photo Credit: Jared Wickerham, Steelers.com

The Good: Rodgers Steelers Best QB Since Roethlisberger

The Aaron Rodgers we saw suit up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 certainly wasn’t the same man that beat them in Super Bowl XLV.

But you know what?

That 41-year old Aaron Rodgers provided the best quarterbacking the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen since Ben Roethlisberger during the 2018 season.

Doubt that? Then take yourselves through “The Tale of Two Decembers in Pittsburgh.”

The Steelers had created a strong tailwind for themselves entering December 2024. They ended up losing 4 straight games to the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs and Bengals before getting Ridiculed by the Ravens in the playoffs.

In contrast, the Steelers entered December 2025 fighting a terrible a headwind they created for themselves in October and November.

They won 4 games out of 5, beating the Baltimore Ravens twice, snuffing out the the Miami Dolphins’ mini late-season surge, and beating the Detroit Lions on the road.

Calvin Austin catches to go ahead touchdown pass during the 2025 Steelers regular season finale win over the Ravens.

Calvin Austin catches the go ahead touchdown. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.come

The difference? Aaron Rodgers succeeded in 2025 in doing what Russell Wilson tried and failed to do in 2024 – he elevated his play and lifted the entire team.

The Bad: Steelers STILL Lack Long Term QB

Of course there’s also the reality that Aaron Rodgers was just as unsuccessful, and arguably worse, than Russell Wilson was in the playoffs for the Steelers. And there’s no sugar coating one simple  reality: Aaron Rodgers struggled against elite defenses in 2025.

Worse yet, one of the main sources of his struggles was his lack of mobility, and anyone over 40 can assure you that this kind of thing does not get better with age.

Aaron Rodgers safety, Khalil Mack, Aaron Rodgers, Steelers vs Chargers, Steelers vs Chargers SNF,

Khalil Mack sacks Aaron Rodgers for a safety. Photo Credit: IMAGN Images, via Tribune-Review

By bringing Aaron Rodgers back, the Steelers have secured a signal caller who, if he remains healthy can keep them competitive and win them games. But can he really take them on a serious playoff run, let alone a Super Bowl run?

The smart money says no.

And that means the Steelers will likely start off the 2027 off season the way they have for the last decade – lacking both a long-term answer at quarterback and the means to secure one.

The Ugly: Click Baiters Content Stream Cut Off

The “ugly” of Aaron Rodgers signing now at the beginning of OTAs as opposed to say, before minicamp in June is that it deprives a legion of commentators, bloggers and social media “experts” of what has been a primary source of content and clicks this off season.

Since February at least, hardly a day has passed without some “Insider” assuring us that the Steelers “Are Losing Patience,” or a headline screaming “Rodgers Seen Wearing Jets Gear,” or “Steelers Legend Declares ‘Enough is Enough,’ Calls on Franchise to Issue Rodgers an Ultimatum” or “Washington Federals Emerge as Yet Another Potential Rodgers suitor….”

  • That doesn’t mean that their arguments are wrong or that their critiques lack merit.

But most if not all of these these “insiders” or “experts” and/or “Steelers legends” based their claims on speculation, rather than sources.

Yet, each claim got magnified and amplified on social media ad nauseam. With each sunrise, the cycle renewed itself.

  • Alas, now they’ll be forced to find something else to fret about.

For them, that’s ugly. For those who aren’t fans of clickbait, its kinda pretty.

Straight Talk on Aaron Rodgers’ Return to the Steelers

Fact: The Steelers lack a long-term answer at quarterback, and Aaron Rodgers return does nothing to change that.
Fact: Aaron Rodgers was the best option the Steelers had to start at quarterback in 2026.
Opinion: Trying to win with Rodgers is better than playing for draft position

It is possible, as The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo suggests, that instead of serving as a “bridge quarterback”  Aaron Rodgers could end up being a road block to finding the next long term signal caller.

Fair enough. But Art Rooney II is right on the money when he commits to trying to compete each year. The idea of “ripping off the Band Aid” facilitating a “bottoming out” looks good on paper. And is probably a viable strategy Fantasy Football owers use reguarly.

  • But how effectively have Cleveland Browns used that strategy since 1999?

It is true that the Steelers 6-10 2003 season opened the door to Pittsburgh’s second Super Bowl era by allowing them to draft Ben Roethlisberger.

But the franchise didn’t go into 2003 planning to tank. The 2002 Steelers were a bogus roughing the kicker penalty away from playing in the AFC Championship.

Dan Rooney was on record saying he expected the 2003 team to contend for a title.

  • Contend for a title they did in 2004.

There are a lot of reasons for that: Roethlisberger’s arrival, Dick LeBeau’s return, better injury luck, Ken Whisenhunt re-establishing the run, etc….

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers vs Ravens, Chad Williams

Chad Williams sacks Ben Roethlisberger in his first NFL game. Photo Credit: Nick Wass, Getty Images, via SteelersWire.

But what allowed Bill Cowher and the 2004 Steelers to bring those elements together was the commitment to winning forged as the ’03 Steelers fought for every blade of grass, right through to final gun in overtime in their season-ending loss to the Ravens.

  • Playing to win pays long-term dividends. Period.

And that’s why Rooney, Khan and McCarthy are right to bring back Rodgers in 2026.

Aaron Rodgers, welcome back to Pittsburgh.

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Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Tight End: Time to Tighten Up Depth

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Tight end was supposed to be a position of strength in the Steelers 2025 offense.

Instead it was a source of frustration, for the most part. Two of the four tight ends from the Steelers 2025 roster are gone – Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington remain while Connor Heyward left in free agency and Jonnu Smith got his walking papers.

So Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy will have to add someone, but how urgent of a need is tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers going into the 2026 NFL Draft?

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward during the Steelers 2025 win over the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium.

Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward celebrate a touchdown. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images via A to Z Sports.

The Steelers Tight End Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters

We will not remember Kevin Colbert’s final drafts fondly. But he clearly made the right pick when he drafted Pat Freiermuth in the 2nd round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Pat Freiermuth won the starting job as a rookie and has appeared in all but five games since then. Far more importantly, Pat Freiermuth has been the most consistent player on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during that entire span.

When Ben Roethlisberger, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers have absolutely needed to complete a pass, they’ve looked Pat Freiermuth’s way. Hence, the frustration in 2025 when Arthur Smith gave playing time to Jonnu Smith at Freiermuth’s expense.

One player who the Steelers did look to involve whenever possible was Darnell Washington. You can see for yourself:

The Steelers drafted Darnell Washington in the 4th round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the prospect of a 6’7” 264 pound (that’s his weight listed in Pro Football Reference. Yeah, right) tight end captivated the imagination of Steelers Nation.

Washington’s overall numbers as a pass catcher are not terribly impressive, but his role has grown on the offense every year, and he continues to improve. More importantly, as the clip above reveals, Washington has potential as a weapon in the passing game that goes well beyond what’s stats measure.

Oh, and Washington enough of an asset as a blocker that veteran Steelers scribe Jim Wexell thinks he may one day follow in Larry Brown’s footsteps and transition to tackle.

Larry Brown, Super Bowl IX

Larry Brown catches a touchdown in Super Bowl XI. Photo Credit, Twitter, Vintage Steelers

Pat Freiermuth already has 5 years of experience under his belt and is just 28 years and remains under contract through the 2028 season.

Darnell Washington is 24, and although he’s only got one year remaining on his rookie contract, the Steelers have already indicated that re-upping him is one of this summer’s priorities.

The Steelers Tight End Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backup

If the Steelers have two solid starters at tight end, the cupboard behind them is pretty bare. The only other tight end they have is JJ Galbreath. JJ Galbreath played at South Dakota was part of the Steelers 2025 undrafted rookie free agent class.

At the time, Steel City Insider’s Roy Coutryman described him this way:

He possesses an enticing build (6-3, 231) with solid length (32 arms) that needs more bulk to withstand the rigors of the next level. However, his athletic testing speaks for itself with a 4.67 40, 38 inch vertical, and agility times (4.20 short shuttle and 6.82 3-cone) that put him on par with some of the best in the league.

Galbreath is an ideal candidate to squirrel away on the practice squad for a year while he adds the necessary strength and bulk to contribute in the run game. His athleticism and prowess as a pass-catcher alone make him enough of a talent that deserves monitoring during training camp.

The Steelers did cut him at the end of the summer and put him on the practice squad, but his stint there was short, as they released him on mid-September, but did sign him to a futures contract in January.

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Tight End

And the Steelers resigned Connor Heyward their draft need at tight end would be Fair and possibly trending towards Low.

But they let Heyward walk, and the only other tight end they have on their roster was a guy who they didn’t deem worthy of a practice squad spot beyond week 2.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs scale

They’re set at starter with Freiermuth and Washington as their starters. And, assuming they can sign Washington and both enjoy good health the Steelers shouldn’t have toe worry about finding starter-capable or future starting tight end for at least a season or two.

By they must add depth behind Freiermuth and Washington, so the Steelers need at tight end going into the 2026 NFL Draft must be considered as Moderate.

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Steelers Free Agency: Should Pittsburgh Re-Sign Connor Heyward?

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“Bloodlines are important to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.”

We heard it when they drafted Terrell Edmunds. A year later we heard it again when Kevin Colbert traded up to get Devin Bush Jr.. The words were ringing in our ears when they signed Derek Watt in free agency yet another year later.

By the time they drafted Connor Heyward in 2022, the phrase had almost become passé.

Yet neither Terrell Edmunds, nor Devin Bush, nor Derek Watt stuck around long-term in Pittsburgh. As Connor Heyward reaches free agency, will he be the exception?

Connor Heyward, Connor Heyward 1st touchdown, Steelers vs Falcons

Connor Heyward scores his first touchdown. Photo Credit: Post-Gazette.com

Capsule Profile of Connor Heyward’s Career with the Pittsburgh Steelers

Kevin Colbert drafted Connor Heyward in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Heyward was a roster-bubble baby to begin with, but made the team officially as a reserve tight end, with the understanding that his role would be as a hybrid tight end/full back.

After seeing spot duty early in the season, Connor Heyward made his first highlight-worthy play when he caught a field-flipping 45 yard pass from Mitch Trubisky at set up Chase Claypool’s touchdown in the Steelers upset of Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Six weeks later he scored his first touchdown, on a 17-yard strike from Kenny Pickett, giving the Steelers their only touchdown in a 19-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

In 2023 Heyward’s role grew in the offense, as his nearly doubled his catch and target total from the previous year. He only made 45 catches over his first two years, but 14 of those converted first downs and Heyward appeared to be building a niche for himself in the Steelers’ offense….

….And then Arthur Smith arrived.

At first glance Smith’s hire seemed like it might be a boon for Connor Heyward, as his offense feature tight ends. Indeed, they do. So much that Smith had a hand in bringing MyCole Pruitt and Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh.

  • And both players got playing time at Connor Heyward’s expense.

Heyward got 12 targets and 9 catches in 2024 and 2025, combined – or fewer than his rookie season. During 2024 Connor Heyward did earn role as the ball carrier on the Steel City Shove.

Connor Heyward scores a touchdown during the 2025 Steelers win over the Ravens at Acrisure.

Connor Heyward ties the game on the Steel City Shove. Photo Credit: Taylor Ollason, Steelers.com

He rushed the ball 15 times for 45 yards, 11 first downs and 2 touchdowns, including the Steelers first in Mike Tomlin’s final career win.

The Case for the Steelers Re-Signing Connor Heyward

Connor Heyward has delivered excellent value as a 6th round pick. He’s proven to be versatile, both as a blocker, receiver and rusher. Connor Heyward is never going to be the kind of player that opposing defensive coordinators lose sleep game planning against, nor is he ever going to give defenders 2nd thoughts about tackling him the way Darnell Washington will.

But in four years, Connor Heyward has shown he is the kind of player who you delivers when you call his number.

He’s the kind of player who makes plays that help win football games that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.

The Case Against the Steelers Re-Signing Connor Heyward

In four years has Connor Heyward done anything that an undrafted rookie free agent couldn’t do? Sure, Arthur Smith favored his former players at Heyward’s expense, but contrast Connor Heyward’s contributions with Derek Watt’s, a niche player who did deliver a difference.

Derek Watt, Steelers vs Eagles

Derek Watt catches a touchdown. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

The Steelers were 7-1 when Derek Watt got a carry. Can anyone look at the last two years and argue:

You know, what the missing link for Steelers offense has been? They never let Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers let it rip to Connor Heyward.

Yeah, right.

Having Connor Heyward as Cam Heyward’s little brother in Pittsburgh has given the franchise a feel good story. But he’s had four years to prove he can be a difference maker and four years later, the Steelers offense is still struggling.

It is unduly harsh to charge Connor Heyward with being part of the problem, but he’s done scant little to suggest he’s earned the right to be part of the solution.

The Curtain’s Call on Connor Heyward and Steelers

Connor Heyward is the type of player you want to have on your team. He’s always going to be one of the guys on the roster bubble, but one of the tricks to making a championship run is to get roster bubble guys who give you a little something extra.

The Steelers have two solid tight ends in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Connor Heyward gives them a versatile 3rd option who can line up in the backfield in a pinch. Mike McCarthy once went into a regular season carrying 5 tight ends on his roster.

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The Pros and Cons of the Steelers Re-signing Aaron Rodgers in 2026

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Aaron Rodgers has yet to decide if he wants to play in 2026, but if are Mike McCarthy, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II right to welcome him back?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have no long-term answer at quarterback and haven’t since Ben Roethlisberger threw out his arm in 2019.

  • That’s not for lack of trying.

They’ve attempted quarterback-reclamation projects, signing not one but three former first-round picks. Two flamed out and Dwayne Haskins, God rest his soul, passed way. They’ve tried investing a first-round pick and, if nothing else, proved Pittsburgh can embrace the “fail fast principle” when warranted.

They’ve also tried what Jim Wexell termed as the Bobby Layne approach, signing an aging franchise QB. Twice. Results have been a bit better, but neither veteran has improved the Steelers post-season prospects.

With that backstory in mind, we look at the Pros and Cons of resigning Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Aaron Rodgers flicks it as Minkah Fitzpatrick can only watch. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Capsule Profile of Aaron Rodgers’ Career with the Steelers

IF Pittsburgh Magazine did a “Person of the Year” award for the city of Pittsburgh then Aaron Rodgers would have won hands down. He dominated Steelers storylines for months – even before he made his covert stop at the South Side in April.

When he signed in June, the narrative on the off season shifted from “the franchise is in intentional tank” mode to “We’re All In!”

Neither proved to be true, but Rodgers did mesh well with the team, and proceeded to start 16 of 17 games for the Steelers in the regular season. His record was 10-6, he threw498 passes for 327 completions on 498 attempts, for 3322 yards with 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

He was 0-1 in the playoffs, where he barely completed 50% of his passes and had 2 defensive scores.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026

The case for the Steelers resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026 proceeds from the speicifc to the general.

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen (you forgot about him, didn’t you?), Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have all thrown passes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Everyone but Allen has started multiple games for the franchise.

Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Steelers 2022 quarterback competition

Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Photo Credit: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and The Athletic.)

Aaron Rodgers gave the Steelers their best quarterbacking they’ve enjoyed since Roethlisberger retired. And its not even close.

Yes, you can quibble as Joe Starkey did that Russell Wilson had a better passer rating by a hair. Yeah, and Walter Abercrombie had a better career rushing average then Jerome Bettis….

Seriously, the reason why the Steelers closed the season strong in 2025 while sputtering in 2024 was because Aaron Rodgers elevated his play and the team in ways that Wilson tried and failed to do.

Beyond that, there is also the inconvenient truth that, the Steelers long term answer at quarterback probably isn’t out there to be found in the 2026 off season. Even if he is out there in the draft or already on the roster in the form of Will Howard, Rodgers would serve as a mentor.

Then, there’s the question of cost. Assuming Rodgers is open to playing at the salary level he played at in 2025, the Steelers will never get that level of play at quarterback for that salary cap from another NFL veteran.

  • Finally, there’s the question of Aaron Rodgers and his relationship with Mike McCarthy.

The last time the Steelers had a new head coach, Twitter did not even exist and Facebook’s biggest competitor was probably “MySpace.” Mike Tomlin’s thumbprint is deeply engrained on the fabric of the franchise.

Mike McCarthy is going to do things differently. And even if those changes will be for the better, they’re bound to create tension. Having Aaron Rodgers in the locker room can ensure that that tension is directed constructively.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026

Going from general to specific, the case against the Steelers resigning Aaron Rodgers in 2026 starts with the fact that the team continues to kick the quarterback can down the road.

The Steelers have had at least three chances for a “clean” reset since Ben Roethlisberger’s injury in 2019, and each time they’ve focused on the here and now. How many more band aids can the franchise apply?

Aaron Rodgers safety, Khalil Mack, Aaron Rodgers, Steelers vs Chargers, Steelers vs Chargers SNF,

Khalil Mack sacks Aaron Rogers for a safety. Photo Credit: IMAGN Images, via Tribune-Review

And while Aaron Rodgers may have been a “good” quarterback and played “well” at times in 2025 there’s a harsh reality hiding behind some of those numbers: Rodgers struggled against defenses with elite pass rushes. Worse than struggling, he looked skittish, kinda like a 42 year old man who was rapidly tiring of getting hit by 250 to 300 pound 20 somethings.

Sure, the offensive line can mature and build on the improvements it showed during the course of 2025. But overall that’s not a tendency that will improve.

The Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers in 2026

The ball is in Aaron Rodgers’ court. Art Rooney, Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy all say that Aaron Rodgers wants back.

  • When he was in New York, Rodgers said he’d be open to playing for McCarthy again.

By all accounts Rodgers liked the team and the city. Assuming Rodgers is willing to play for the same type of salary he played at in 2026 there’s every reason why the Steelers should and will welcome him back.

Regardless, Rodgers has to make a choice and he must do it before free agency. Neal Coolong has suggested that Rodgers may wait to see if Minnesota is interested – that’s his prerogative, but the Steelers cannot wait.

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Mike Tomlin Steelers Legacy: 19 Years of Winning in Pittsburgh

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Mike Tomlin left the Pittsburgh Steelers the same way he arrived – unheralded and unanticipated.

When Bill Cowher called it a day after the Steelers 2006 season, everyone knew either Russ Grimm or Ken Whisenhunt would get the job. Art Rooney II admitted that he didn’t expect to hire yet Mike Tomlin when he walked in the door, but Tomlin knocked his and Dan Rooney’s socks off.

By the same token, Art Rooney wasn’t expecting Mike Tomlin to step away following the loss to the Texans. But step away he has. Here we review Mike Tomlin’s full legacy as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, balancing his accomplishments and shortcomings, all framed within their historical context.

Mike Tomlin, Mike Tomlin Franco Harris Jersey, Steelers vs Raiders

Mike Tomlin wearing a Franco Harris jersey. Photo Credit: Fred Vuich, AP via St. Albert Gazette

2007 – 2010: Cementing the Franchise Legacy

Few NFL coaches get handed the keys to a Super Bowl team.

If you think that winning is “simple” for them then please Google Phil Bengtson, Ray Handley and Richie Petitbon. A coach who takes the reins of a Super Bowl-caliber team must do much more than “not mess up.”

As Willie Colon explains, “It’s hard to grab the keys to the Porsche and not crash it.”

In his first season, Mike Tomlin took an underperforming team that had gone 8-8 in 2006 and led them to a 10-6 record and an AFC North Championship.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Ben Roethlisberger connected with Heath Miller to bring the Steelers within 5 points. Mike Tomlin went for two. Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward bringing narrowing the difference to three.

Except Sean Mahan got flagged for holding. Tomlin didn’t bat an eye and went for two again. But this time, Roethlisberger couldn’t connect.

  • The Steelers did score again. But so did the Jaguars who won the game 31 to 29.

The move was controversial at the time, but with social media in its infancy the fan rage muted by 2026 standards.

But by doubling down in going for 2, Mike Tomlin established his legacy as a head coach who would put games in the hands of his players and trust them to deliver with the game on the line.

With the Arizona Cardinals threatening to take the lead as the first half closed, James Harrison, granted the freedom to freelance by Tomlin and Dick LeBeau, audibled out of his pass rush assignment and dropped into coverage. 100 yards later Harrison authored the longest run in Super Bowl history, putting the Steelers up 17 to 7.

james harrison, super bowl xliii, interception, record, pick six

James Harrison’s dramatic interception in Super Bowl XLIII

By the time more points were needed to put Pittsburgh back in the lead, the culture of trust and confidence in one another Tomlin had built proved to be the difference maker, as observed at the time:

the Steelers poise and camaraderie were consistent for four quarters. The men in Black and Gold never lost their belief in themselves nor their faith in one another. When faced with adversity, they persevered, they remained determined. And they did it together. That’s been the case all season.

And that’s what made them Super Bowl champions.

The Steelers 2009 season will and should be remembered for the Super Bowl hangover Tomlin tried and failed to avoid.

  • But 2009 revealed something important about Tomlin: His ability to rally a down team.

Memories have faded, but Tomlin’s Steelers never looked worse than they did during 2009’s 5-game losing streak. Yet, Tomlin rallied them for 3 straight wins.

In 2010, the Steelers suffered one of their worst off seasons ever as the word “Midgeville” entered the vernacular. Willie Colon was lost for the season in June. With Ben Roethlisberger suspended for 4 games, Tomlin brought Byron Leftwich back to Pittsburgh. Leftwich broke his leg in preseason.

By week, 2 Mike Tomlin was playing Charlie Batch, effectively his 4th string quarterback, and traveling to Tennessee, starting UDFA Steve McLeodon over Casey Hampton and authoring arguably the greatest defensive performance in franchise history.

  • By the time 2010 ended, the Steelers were in their 3 Super Bowl in 6 years.

Super Bowl XLV ended with a loss , but that didn’t change the fact that as new decade began, it was no longer a question of 4 Super Bowls for Chuck Noll and 1 for Bill Cowher, it was 6 Super Bowls for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Kevin Colbert observed.

2011 – 2017: The Under Appreciated Rebuild

Mike Tomlin isn’t the only coach to take over a Super Bowl team and win another Lombardi. But continuing to win for more a couple-of-three seasons is much more challenging.

  • Just ask Barry Switzer or Mike Martz.

Yet, despite the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement leaving the Steelers in Salary Cap purgatory, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert managed .500 seasons in 2012 and again in 2013 – after a 2-4 start no less. The 2012 season stands out for one simple reason – it contains the only Mike Tomlin-coached game where the Steelers were eliminated from playoff contention.

  • By 2014 the Steelers returned to the playoffs, as they did in 2015 and 2016.

As observed elsewhere on this site, the Steelers Killer Bees were too true to their name. Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown only played 3 of a possible 7 playoff games together.

Steelers Killer Bees, Steelers Killer Bs, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell

The Steelers Killer Bees were too true to their name. Photo Credit: pegitboard.com

(Rhetorical question “How might Chuck Noll have fared had Bradshaw, Franco, Swann and Stallworth been similarly unavailable for his playoff runs?”)

Injuries aside, by the time the Steelers reached the 2016 AFC Championship game, the only three players who remained from the 2008 Super Bowl squad were James Harrison, Ben Roethlisberger and long snapper Greg Warren.

Yes, Tom Brady seared the Steelers that night in New England, but the fact that Mike Tomlin got his team there with three rookies defensive starters, without Cam Heyward in the lineup and with Robert Golden logging 36% of the defensive snaps speaks volumes about his coaching acumen.

Steelers vs Patriots, Steelers vs Patriots 2016 AFC Championship, Javon Hargrave, Tom Brady

Javon Hargrave sacks Tom Brady early in the ’16 AFC Championship. Photo Credit: Charles Krupa, AP via Mercury News.

As badly as another AFC Championship loss to the Patriots stung, the Steelers seemed to be back.

Alas, tragedy would close the Super Bowl window that Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert had re-opened 12 games later, when Ryan Shazier fell to the turf paralyzed from the waist down at Paul Brown Stadium.

From there on out, Mike Tomlin would be forced to do more with less.

Interlude: Tomlin’s Warts — Assistant Coaches and Talent Evaluation

And there’s a reason why Tomlin had to do more with less. As Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher did before him, Mike Tomlin had his flaws.

The infamous post-penalty 2-point conversion foreshadowed one of them. Sean Mahan was called for holding, and he’d been hand-picked by Mike Tomlin from Tampa Bay. Mahan traded away at a fire-sale price next September.

  • That raised the question on why Tomlin chose to bring Mahan to Pittsburgh in the first place.

Yes, Mike Tomlin managed to pluck Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt at the bottom of the first round. He and his scouts found gems like Antonio Brown and Kelvin Beachum in the 6th and 7th rounds.

But as the Steelers struggled to Re-Load for Ben Roethlisberger, they swung and missed badly as any sober evaluation of their 2018, 2019, and 2020 draft classes reveals. 2021 wasn’t much better, but Salary Cap Armageddon, combined with injuries and surprise retirements, forced them  to reach to fill needs.

D.K. Metcalf, Terrell Edmunds, Steelers vs Seahawks

D.K. Metcalf burns Terrell Edmunds for a touchdown. Photo Credit: Yahoo.com

This isn’t the sole responsibility of Mike Tomlin, but his voice was at the ver least, the first among equals in the draft war room.

  • In contrast, Mike Tomlin did have a free hand in picking assistant coaches.

Let’s be objective and acknowledge Mike Munchak, Danny Smith, Karl Dunbar, Richard Mann, Al Everest and, arguably, Todd Haley as good hires.

But those were balanced out by the Bob Ligasheskys, Amos Joness, Carnell Lakes and Joey Porter Sr’s (anyone notice how Bud Dupree blossomed when Keith Butler returned to the linebackers room?) Tomlin changed offensive line coaches not named Munchak the way everyone else changes underwear.

His signature attempt to cultivate an innovative coaching talent was Matt Canada. Canada holds the infamous distinction of being the only Steelers coordinator to be fired mid-season in the modern era.

Selecting assistant coaches wasn’t Tomin’s strength, and this weakness weighed him down.

2018 – 2025 – Doing More with Less

The post-Shazier/playoff drought phase of Tomlin tenure will remain a lightning rod for generations. So be it.

  • Here the focus is on what Mike Tomlin achieved as instead of what he failed to achieve.

Three examples highlight Tomlin’s skill as both a leader and as a football tactician: Quarterbacks, the 2021 season and the 2025 season.

Quarterbacks

The Steelers franchise deserves all the criticism it gets for bungling the post-Roethlisberger transition. I can’t prove it, but I suspect Mike Tomlin wanted to draft Lamar Jackson but got beaten to the punch.

Be that as it may, following Roethlisberger’s injury in 2019, Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers all started for the Steelers.

Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Steelers 2022 quarterback competition

Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Photo Credit: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images and The Athletic.)

Do Coach-quarterback records say more about the coach or the QB? Who knows? Either way they yield valuable insights such as:

  • Don Shula reached a Super Bowl with David Woodley – Score one for Shula.
  • Bill Belichick’s record without Tom Brady is piss poor – draw your own conclusions.
  • Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls with three different QBs – Yeah Joe is underrated.
  • Noll & Malone beat Walsh & Montana. Twice – Score one for The Emperor.

Rudolph, Hodges, Tribusiky, Pickett, Fields along with an aging Wilson and an even older Rodgers offer a wide spectrum in terms of talent and pedigree.

  • The only one with a losing record in Pittsburgh was Trubisky.

The rest have losing records in their post-Steelers lives, and Hodges, who was .500 as a Steelers starter, couldn’t even secure a spot on another team’s practice squad.

Enough said.

The 2021 Season

We remember Ben Roethlisberger going out with a bang in 2021 after seven 4th quarter comebacks. He gets  he lion’s share of the credit for the 9-7-1 finish.

But what we forget ’21 Steelers had an offensive line held together with spit, duct tape and bubble gum and a defensive line that had Cameron Heyward playing alongside career backups and practice squanders.

Few credit Mike Tomlin for keeping that team together. But they should.

The 2025 Season

Mike Tomlin’s Yin and Yang was on full display 2025.

During the off season, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan took several calculated personnel risks.

One was that the trio of Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay and Joey Porter Jr. backed by safety Juan Tornhill could deliver the shutdown secondary necessary to combat Joe Burrow’s video game-like passing attack. On offense, they gambled that Roman Wilson would grow into a legit WR No 2.

  • Burrow didn’t get a chance to test them, but Joe Flacco did and exposed them.
  • Roman Wilson flashed (well, flickered) early on but finished the year inactive.

By season’s end, Mike Tomlin had brought in 3 new defensive backs and moved the pieces around so that only secondary starter was playing in his opening day position. He did something similar at wide receiver adding not one but two cast offs.

Jalen Ramsey, Tua Tagovailoa, Steelers vs Dolphins, Steelers vs Dolphins MNF

Jalen Ramsey sacks Tua Tagovailoa. Photo Credit: Alysia Rubin, Steelers.com

The changes resulted in a team that lost 5 of 7 games to close November at 6-6, to one went 4-1 down the stretch and won the AFC Championship.

Sweet Steelers Symmetry

Early in his tenure, a reader asked Ed Bouchette in a Post-Gazette chat to compare Tomlin to his predecessors. Bouchette opined that Tomlin struck him as a cross between Noll and Cowher.

So there’s something poetic about Mike Tomlin finishing with 193 regular season wins, just as Chuck Noll did. And its fitting that Tomin’s Super Bowl record of 1-1 match’s Bill Cowher’s.

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Bill Cowher interviews Mike Tomlin. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

Noll and Cowher boast better post-season percentages, yet Tomlin’s regular season squads never swooned to the depths his predecessors touched.

Thank you Mike Tomlin for 1 Super Bowl, 2 AFC Championships, 8 AFC North Titles, 14 playoff experiences and 193 wins.

Thank you for giving us 19 years of a “winning era.”

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Steelers 2025 Thanksgiving Honors: Pat Freiermuth

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Say it now Steelers Nation and say it in unison, “Muuth!!”

Yes, you hear the battle cry on the road almost as often and  almost as automatic on the road as you do at Acruisure. When you hear it, you know that things are going well. And things are going well because the new number 88 for the Pittsburgh Steelers has just authored the play.

And that’s why we’re happy to give 2025 Steelers Thanksgiving Honors to Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth, Jordan Battle, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

Pat Freiermuth stiff arms Jordan Battle en route to the end zone. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The Steelers Twists and Turns @ Tight End

Tight end is one of those tricky positions for the Steelers.

Under Chuck Noll it went from a position of strength featuring players like Larry Brown, Randy Grossman and Bennie Cunningham, to almost total obscurity (you don’t see many Preston Gothard throwback jerseys, do you?) without rhyme or reason.

Larry Brown, Super Bowl IX

Larry Brown catches a touchdown in Super Bowl XI. Photo Credit, Twitter, Vintage Steelers

But there’s no mystery behind the fact that the Steelers second Super Bowl era was quietly anchored by tight end Heath Miller, hands down the franchise’s best at the position.

Following Miller’s retirement, the franchise rode the tight end carousel trying out home grown options like Jesse James, free agents like Ladarius Green and Eric Ebron and trades for guys like Vance McDonald.

Some of those worked better than others, but Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert took the team off the carousel when they took Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Steelers 2025 Thanksgiving Honors: Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth arrived in Pittsburgh and not only became an immediate starter, but Ben Roethlisberger’s go-to guy in a season the Steelers signal caller exited the NFL by authoring 7 more 4th quarter comebacks.

IT is easy to see why.

As a rookie, Pat Freiermuth caught 60 passes 7 touchdowns and boasted a 75% catch rate, which for comparison purposes, is 3 points better than Heath Miller’s career average. During that first year it was fair to wonder whether Freiermuth would mirror Miller’s stature at the position.

To be honest, his development hasn’t quite followed that path.

  • But, to be fair to Freiermuth, that’s an extremely high bar to clear.

So what has Pat Freiermuth done since his sensational rookie year? He’s caught 123 passes and counting, 15 touchdowns while compiling a 73.7% catch rate. Those numbers are impressive, but what’s more impressive is the way he does it.

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers vs. Browns,

Focused Pat Freiermuth scores the go ahead touchdown. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

When times get tough, the wise move for the quarterback is to look to Pat Freiermuth.

As a rookie, Ben Roethlisberger looked to Freiermuth in the 4th quarter on the road against the Browns to put the Steelers ahead for good, giving Big Ben one final win in Cleveland. Last year, Russell Wilson targeted Freiermuth against Washington to give the Steelers a lead in a 1 point game. Aaron Rodgers did the same thing against Indianapolis just a few weeks ago.

Six of Pat Freiermuth’s 15 touchdowns have been lead changers there’s a reason why clutch players are clutch players. And even when he doesn’t give Pittsburgh a lead during a win, Pat Freiermuth makes it look pretty:


And that clips offers an additional reason of why Pat Freiermuth is winning Steelers Thanksgiving Honors in 2025. With that catch from last week’s loss in Chicago, Freiermuth has now caught touchdowns from Ben Roethlisberger, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.

  • That’s 7 separate quarterbacks, if you haven’t been counting.

Catching touchdowns from 7 different quarterbacks over 5 seasons is an interesting and somewhat impressive stat. But underlines something far more important about Pat Freiermuth: As the Steelers offense has struggled for the last 5 years, Freiermuth has been a source of stability and has easily been the unit’s most consistent player.

And that fact, more than any statistics we can cite, is the reason why Pat Freiermuth wins Steelers 2025 Thanksgiving Honors

A Word about Steelers Thanksgiving Honors

In 2009, as the Steelers were ramping up for what would be the infamous 5 game losing streak the punctuated their Super Bowl hangover, I was looking for a sign of hope, something to be thankful for.

Rashard Mendenhall jumped out to me.

Not only had he authored several impressive games after taking over the starting role for Willie Parker, but in the loss to Kansas City after Andy Studebaker had intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger pass Mendenhall not only picked himself up off the turf, he crossed width of the field, and ran down at the 8 yard line to save a touchdown.

  • Thus, the tradition of Steelers Thanksgiving Honors was born.

Every Thanksgiving since then, Steel Curtain Rising has taken out time to shine the spotlight on someone who makes us thankful that they’re with the Steelers:

2009 – Rashard Mendenhall
2010 – Marukice Pouncey, Emmanuel Sanders, Al Everest
2011 – Antonio Brown
2012 – Keenan Lewis
2013 – Cam Heyward
2014 – Le’Veon Bell
2015 – “The Understudies” – Alejandro Villanueva, DeAngelo Williams, Will Allen, Cody Wallace
2016 – Ryan Shazier
2017 – Ben Roethlisberger
2018 – JuJu Smith-Schuster
2019 – Kevin Colbert
2020 – T.J. Watt
2021 – Cam Heyward (second time)
2022 – Larry Ogunjobi
2023 – Chris Boswell
2024 — Russell Wilson

As you can see, many Steelers Thanksgiving Honorees are franchise pillars. Time has certainly shown others to be short timers.

But that’s the point: They all underlie the wisdom of giving thanks for something in the moment that you have it.

Happy Thanksgiving Steelers Nation

Thanksgiving is my favorite US holiday, as it is something embraced by everyone. And today marks my 24th Thanksgiving celebrated outside of the United States.

Hopefully, everyone reading this, be you here in Argentina, up in Mexico or somewhere in the good ole USA has reasons drawn from family and friends – and not football — to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving Steelers Nation.

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6 Late & (Not So) Random Hits on Steelers Preseason Win Over Jags

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The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the 2025 preseason with a 31-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night. Family time keep me from watching the game until Sunday night and work to do and bills to pay prevented me from publishing this until today.

With that, here were 6 (not necessarily) random takeaways from the game.

Kaleb Johnson, Steelers vs Jaguars preseason 2025

Kaleb Johnson rushes in his preseason debut. Photo Credit: AP via Tribune-Review

1. Still Sweating the Offense?

It was what, a little more than a week ago the word out of St. Vincents was that the defense as dominant but that the offense was, generously put, sluggish.

Well, that sluggish offense just put up 31 points on a humid Florida night. What’s more, Mason Rudolph looked almost flawless, and Skyler Thompson even has some calling for Will Howard to do a red shirt year on IR.

  • Take all of that with a grain of salt.

The glow of those preseason stat sheets can transform into a ugly, smudgy glare once the games count for real. Kenny Pickett and Matt Canada can attest. Still it was good to see.

More importantly, it was the way that they got those 31 points that impressed.

2. Air Arthur?

Don’t look now, but Steelers quarterbacks threw 38 passes – and they did so voluntarily and effectively. The good news is that Steelers offensive tackles Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones looked good and kept their quarterbacks clean.

It is easy to see why. The Steelers want to see what they have in Roman Wilson, and know that they need him to prove himself to be starter capable this season. He looked good on Sunday night. So did Scotty Miller.

Perhaps more importantly, Smith’s quarterbacks exploited the middle of the field – something at Russell Wilson was loath to do last year, and frankly it was an area that Steelers offense avoided brief lifetime of the Kenny Pickett era.

3. Pierre Proving You Can Come Home Again?

During the preseason-less COVID summer of 2020, Steel City Insider wrote about an undrafted rookie free agent cornerback named James Pierre. Pierre made the final roster, got some playing time and was working his way in as a starter in 2021.

He hit some rough patches and didn’t play as much in 2022 or 2023. The Steelers let him walk as a free agent but brought him back when Washington cut him.

James Pierre, Steelers vs. Browns

James Pierre intercepts Jameis Winston. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Pierre was mainly brought back for special teams, and resigned for the same reason. But he’s had as strong camp and played extremely aggressively Sunday night. He may get caught up in the numbers game, but it won’t be an easy decision.

4. Flying to the Ball

Teryl Austin’s defense flew to the ball Sunday night. And if DeMarvin Leal and Jack Sawyer didn’t generate much pass rush, It didn’t look like there were any missed tackles.

Sebastian Castro, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark, Beanie Bishop and Brain Echols all looked sharp and likely to make Grady Brown and Austin burn the midnight oil as they finalize cuts in the secondary.

Payton Wilson and Cole Holcomb also had good nights as inside linebacker could be another “problematic” area on the depth chart to winnow down.

5. The Kids Will Be Alright

Thus far the reports on rookies Derrick Harmon, Kaleb Johnson and Jack Sawyer have been nothing but positive. The same can be said for Yahya Black and Will Howard (who was hurt.)

Yet, the rookie who shown brightest was none other than Carson Bruener, who played well both on special teams and defense.

In contrast, Harmon, Johnson and Sawyer looked like, well rookies getting their feet wet in their first preseason game.

  • Is that a reason to worry? Absolutely not.

IF James Harrison had flashed the potential the type of player who’d make 4 scores of sacks, he’d wouldn’t have been cut 4 times. Yes, Ryan Shazier authored a strong preseason debut. And Franco Harris’ was sensational.

But there are two other names to keep in context: Jarvis Jones and Huey Richardson.

Jones recovered a fumble and had ESPN calling him Harrison’s heir apparent. You can read more about Richardson’s debut here, but he had a sack, two pressures and a forced fumble while playing inside linebacker and defensive tackle en route to becoming the worst first round bust in Steelers history.

In short, there’s either worrisome or wrong with rookie looking like rookies in their preseason debut.

6. NFL’s Been De-emphasizing Preseason, Tomlin Leans In

When he arrived in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin didn’t shy from playing his starters, although he wisely paced them. But with the arrival of the 17 game season, Mike Tomlin has played his starters less and less. T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen, Aaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf among others did not suit up.

That however provided opportunities for young guys to get a shot at their NFL dream.

And as we saw, the men took their opportunity to heart. Good for them.

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Steelers 2025 Training Camp Kicks Off: What This Offseason Really Taught Us

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Steelers training camp has finally arrived!

Soon social media will be awash with images of newcomers such as D.K. Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Rodgers making their first arrival at St. Vincents. We’ll also see plenty of familiar faces like T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and Pat Freiermuth returning to Latrobe.

Cam Heyward, Cameron Heyward, St. Vincents, Latrobe, Steekers training camp, dorms

Cam Heyward at St. Vincents in July 2022. Photo Credit: AP, Keith Sarkocic.

They’ll all be welcome sights because the Steelers 2024 season ended in ignominious fashion with the Ridiculing by the Ravens. Finally, the men and Black and Gold can start doing something about it.

But as practices start tomorrow and you hear immediate pronouncements about Who is already winning the position battle at X and how Such and Such have suddenly found themselves on the roster bubble, if there’s anything lesson that this off season taught us it is this:

  • Let reality unfold at its own pace.

Seriously. Just look back and see how the prevailing narrative on the team has snaked through this off season.

Mike Tomlin began by promising change. Then, when only Grady Brown and Mike Sullivan were dismissed, everyone immediately accused Pittsburgh of standing pat. Then Omar Khan traded for D.K. Metcalf, and everyone leapt to the assumption that the Steelers would make a play for Sam Darnold.

When they did not, and when the Steelers started letting Justin Fields and other free agents walk and focused on signing free agents who wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula a new thread emerged: The Steelers tanking for draft position.

The “Steelers are tanking” yarn spun faster, when Mason Rudolph returned, Russell Wilson followed Fields to New York, the Steelers traded George Pickens and everyone who ever followed professional football tied themselves up in knots wondering when/if Aaron Rodger would ever sign.

“Everyone” didn’t include Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan who acted as if, get this, they were following a plan as opposed to following social media.

  • That anxiety dissipated a bit when Aaron Rodgers finally signed.

Then Omar Khan shocked everyone by trading Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. The “tank” yarn not only came undone, it reversed itself. “The Steelers Are ‘All In'” we were assured.

So to summarize, the Steelers have gone from doing nothing, to trying to tank to being “All In” on a Super Bowl this year – all in the space of a single off season. At least that’s what aggregated social media feeds would lead you to conclude, when in reality the team has done what it always does: Try to position itself to win now without sacrificing the ability to compete in the future.

The success or failure of 2025 Steelers will indeed be foretold in stories such as Broderick Jones‘s development, Kaleb Johnson‘s ability to push Jaylen Warren at running back and whether Juan Tornhill can both stay healthy and be an adequate replacement Minkah Fitzpatrick.

But remember: Reality unfolds at its own pace. Those stories will take weeks to develop, not days or let alone hours. So keep that in mind and enjoy the ride.

 

 

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Was the Steelers 2025 Offseason Really That Unprecedented?

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The Steelers 2025 off season will soon end as the team converges at St. Vincents for training camp.

  • My, what a long strange trip it’s been.

Yes, the trip has been strange enough at times that the conventional wisdom heading into Latrobe is “These are not your father’s Pittsburgh Steelers” or “The Steelers Way as we know it is over.”

  • But should we accept the conventional wisdom at face value?

To be sure, there has been no shortage of personnel turnover since the Ravens ridiculed the Steelers in the playoffs. That’s certain.

But strip away the hyperbole and the social media-induced hype and you’ll see much of change we’ve seen is firmly grounded in franchise precedent.

Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Steelers training camp, St. Vincents

The Steelers Brain Trust @ St. Vincents. Photo Credit:Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports, via Yahoo! Sports

Stripping Down the D.K. Metcalf Trade

Strip the Situation to the Studs – Pittsburgh invests a premium pick in a skill player. He plays well. He makes an expensive veteran expendable. Alas, he has issues. So the Steelers send a 2nd round to the NFC and bring in a pedigreed player while shipping the former premium pick out.

Sounds familiar, right?

Good. Because it should. Except we’re not talking about how D.K. Metcalf and George Pickens came and went to Pittsburgh, but about the Bam Morris to Jerome Bettis switch out in the spring of 1996.

Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, Dewayne Robertson, Steelers vs Jets, Steelers history vs Jets

Jerome Bettis hurdles guard Alan Faneca evading Dewayne Robertson in the Steelers 2004 AFC Divisional playoff win. Photo Credit: Matt Freed, Post-Gazette

Yes, there are differences. Morris had legal problems; Pickens has maturity issues. The Steelers cut Morris. They traded George Pickens. They also didn’t fork over a ton of money to Bettis until after the 1996 season, whereas they handed Metcalf a check as he walked through the door.

Fair enough. But the template Omar Khan followed looks a lot like the one Tom Donahoe left behind.

Distilling the “Sleep Walking Through the 2025 Draft” Ditty

Distilling this Ditty Down to Its Core Details – Despite a desperate need at quarterback, Pittsburgh passed on multiple signal callers, waiting until day three to address the position, and opting instead to double-dip on defensive line.

OK. The heckles from the peanut gallery condemning the Steelers blueprint for their 2025 Draft class have largely come from the national media. But it serves to debunk the myth that this off-season was somehow “unSteelers-like.”

In January the Baltimore Ravens knee-capped a once-proud defense with 299 yards on the ground.

And Omar Khan responded in his third draft just as Kevin Colbert did in his second draft after the 2000 Steelers had similarly been embarrassed on Sunday Night Football by Fred Taylor: By beefing the defensive line.

Colbert passed on Drew Brees and drafted Casey Hampton (and Kendrell Bell) instead. Khan took Derrick Harmon.

Yes, a long-term solution at quarterback remains a glaring need for the Steelers. But in refusing to reach, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan stuck with franchise precedent.

After passing on Dan Marino in 1983, the Steelers really didn’t have a shot at another franchise quarterback until Brees in 2001*  But more importantly, they always resisted the urge to reach for one (see the non-draft of Chad Pennington in 2000.)

*Unless you count passing on Steve Young in the 1985 Supplemental Draft or maybe Brett Favre in the 1991 Draft.)

Oh, And About the Steelers Quarterback Situation… 

Breaking the Story Down to Its Bare Bones: The Steelers had a young signal caller who was reaching unrestricted free agency for the first time. They wanted him back. They made him an offer. The New York Jets offered more. The Steelers declined to begin a bidding war.  Instead, they opted to go with a quarterback room that consisted of a veteran journeyman, a 6th round pick and a Wild Card nearing one of the endpoints of his career timeline.

That about describes what happened, doesn’t it?

Neil O'Donnell, Barry Foster

Yes it does. It is exactly how the Steelers quarterback situation unfolded in 1996 after Super Bowl XXX. They made Neil O’Donnell an offer. The Jets offered him more. The Steelers let him walk and instead turned to Mike Tomczak, Jim Miller (a 6th round pick) and Kordell Stewart.

  • Of course the analogy’s imperfect.

Tomzack, Miller and Stewart were part of the 1995 Steelers. Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Aaron Rodgers were not Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. While the Tomzack-Rudolph comparison holds water pretty well, Miller had 2 years and appearances in 3 NFL games, whereas Howard’s a rookie.

  • But the Kordell-Rodgers parallel holds up better than you think.

Kordell knew how to make headlines. So does Rodgers. Kordell had just played his first year. Rodgers has basically said this is his last. Kordell was a wild card that could go either way for the Steelers in 1996, just as Rodgers is now.

“Oh, but none of the QBs in 1996 caused the angst that Rodgers caused,” the chorus protests!

Angst for who?

Did Pittsburgh panic when Justin Fields priority boarded for New York? Did start a bidding war? Did they throw a contract at Russell Wilson after he visited the Browns and the Giants? Did they sacrifice future drafts to get Jaxson Dart? Did they reach for Shedeur Sanders?

No, they didn’t.

The Steelers had a plan at quarterback. And when that plan didn’t unfold as expected, they remained patient, refused to panic and, arguably, got the best quarterback available this off-season. And they’ll pay him 21.8 million less than the Browns are paying Deshaun Watson this year.

Its almost hard not to picture Mike Tomlin laughing to himself as he watched the social media outbursts that erupted as each day pass without Aaron Rodgers signing.

Putting the Steelers 2025 Off Season in Perspective

The Steelers 2025 off-season certainly had its share of surprises. And it is certain that neither Omar Khan nor anyone else on the South Side had a WWTDD? (as in What Would Tom Donahoe Do?) moment this spring.

But if you look at the principles that guided the Steelers braintrust through it all, you’ll see that they’re the same ones that the franchise has followed since Dan Rooney assumed control in the mid-60s: Try to field the best team possible for the coming season without sacrificing their ability to compete in future seasons.

  • Now, will their strategy succeed?

Its almost time to hit the blocking sleds and St. Vincents and start finding out!

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