PITTSBURGH STEELERS
2025 Record - 10-7-0
Head Coach - Mike McCarthy
2025 Offensive Rank - 306 YPG (25th); Rushing - 103 YPG (26th), Passing - 203 YPG (22nd) SCORING - 23.4 PPG (15th)
2025 Defensive Rank - 357 YPG (26th); Rushing - 113 YPG (13th), Passing - 244 YPG (29th) SCORING - 22.8 PPG (17th)
Key Player Additions - Michael Pittman, Jr. (WR), Rico Dowdle (RB), Jaquan Brisker (DB), Jamel Dean (DB), Sebastian Joseph-Day (DL)
Key Player Losses - Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Kyle Dugger (DB), Isaac Seumalo (OL), Calvin Austin III (WR), Jonnu Smith (TE), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR), Jabril Peppers (DB), Scotty Miller (WR)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back for his 22nd season and second in the Steel City after passing for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions a year ago. Jaylen Warren (958 yards, 4.5 YPC, six TD) and Rico Dowdle (1,076, 4.6 YPC, six TD and 39 receptions for 297 yards, one TD with Carolina) will team up to form the running game. At wide receiver is DK Metcalf, who had 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns last season. Also in the mix will be Michael Pittman, Jr. coming over from Indianapolis after making 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns. Rookie Germie Bernard (Alabama) and tight ends Pat Freiermuth (41, 486, four TD) and Darnell Washington (31, 364, one TD) will aid the passing game as well.
DEFENSE - Derrick Harmon, Cameron Heyward, Sebastian Joseph-Day and nose tackle Keeanu Benton man the front line and the linebackers are T.J. Watt (seven QB sacks and two interceptions), Patrick Queen (team leading 120 tackles), Payton Wilson (109 tackles), Alex Highsmith (9 1/2 sacks) and Nick Herbig, who had 7 1/2 sacks. The secondary is led by safety Jalen Ramsey (88 tackles) along with DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker (93 tackles with Chicago) and the cornerbacks are Joey Porter, Jr. and Jamel Dean, who picked off three passes with Tampa Bay last year. The Steelers had 48 sacks and 15 interceptions last season, helping to lead to a plus-12 in the turnovers category.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - There's a new head coach in Pittsburgh for the first time in 19 years as Mike McCarthy takes over after Mike Tomlin left and then took the television gig on Sunday Night Football. It was just the third head coaching change for the Steelers in 57 years. McCarthy will be reunited with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, where they won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers 16 years ago. Rodgers will run the Steelers offense once again and has said this will be his final season. There are weapons to utilize on offense with running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, who is coming off a 1,000-yard season with Carolina and DK Metcalf at wide receiver. The offense will look to rebound after finishing in the bottom third of the league in both rushing and passing.
The Steelers run defense was solid in 2025, but improving against the pass is a must as opposing teams gouged the Steelers a year ago. The hope will be for the team to win the AFC North division again, but that won't be a cake walk as the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns look to dethrone them. The Steelers finish the season playing Baltimore twice in the final four weeks and that could very likely determine the winner in the division. Making the playoffs for the fourth straight year is attainable and how far the Steelers can go from there will depend on Rodgers and company playing at their absolute best.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Atlanta
Week Two - at New England
Week Three - vs. Cincinnati
Week Four - at Cleveland
Week Five - vs. Indianapolis
Week Six - at Tampa Bay
Week Seven - vs. New Orleans (Paris, France)
Week Eight - vs. Cleveland
Week Nine - BYE
Week Ten - at Cincinnati
Week Eleven - at Philadelphia
Week Twelve - vs. Denver
Week Thirteen - vs. Houston
Week Fourteen - at Jacksonville
Week Fifteen - vs. Baltimore
Week Sixteen - vs. Carolina
Week Seventeen - at Tennessee
Week Eighteen - at Baltimore
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