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The Steelers welcomed Aaron Rodgers in 2025. It was a move that generated fanfare off the field and some wins on the field. The Steelers managed to get to 10 wins and make the playoffs, but it didn’t carry them further. The team lost in the Wild Card Round, which has become an all-too-common result of late. That led to Head Coach Mike Tomlin stepping down, opening a new era. What will that mean for the Steelers in 2026? Let’s dive in.

Off-Season Changes

With Tomlin gone, the Steelers have a new Head Coach for only the fourth time since the 1970s. This time it’s Mike McCarthy, who took a year off after a successful stint with the Dallas Cowboys. He also has experience with Rodgers, who is back in 2026 and was his quarterback in Green Bay. But the Steelers bid farewell to a few role players on offense, including running back Kenneth Gainwell, receiver Calvin Austin, and tight end Jonnu Smith. The team also bid farewell to veteran safety Chuck Clark.

But the Steelers spent the off-season reloading, too. The team made a deal to acquire veteran receiver Michael Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts. Pittman caught 485 passes and 25 touchdowns in six years with the Colts. The Steelers also added to the receiver group in the draft, snagging Germie Bernard. Bernard caught 114 passes and 22 touchdowns the past two seasons at Alabama. The Steelers added Rico Dowdle to the backfield, fresh off another 1,000-yard season, and rookie quarterback Drew Allar to add depth to the passing group.

Fantasy Impact

Rodgers is back in 2026, finishing as QB18 last year. He figures to be a solid QB2 option, despite his age, because the Steelers have a solid set of weapons. In the backfield, Jaylen Warren is back to team with Dowdle. Warren was an effective team with Gainwell in 2025, and figures to do the same with Dowdle this year. I like him as a low-end RB2 and Dowdle as an RB3.

In the passing game, the Steelers acquired D.K. Metcalf last season and he had some moments. Now they’ve added Pittman and Bernard, as well as still rostering Roman Wilson. I like Pittman the best, and I think he’ll be a WR2. I like Metcalf as a WR3, and Bernard to have some flex value later in the season. At tight end it’s veterans Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. I don’t think either produces more than TE2 value, and neither will be a reliable guarantee week-to-week.

Prediction

McCarthy didn’t do a lot in the playoffs with the Cowboys, but he shepherded a good offense and a team that mostly won double-digit games. Can he do the same with the Steelers? It’s possible, but this team and this division still seems unsettled. I like the Steelers to finish with between eight and 10 wins and be in the playoff mix again.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.