The ESSENTIAL Football Show 
Top 51 Cap Space (per Spotrac): 2026: $6.0 million | 2027: $3.9 million | 2028: $116.4 million
Draft Picks: 2027: 1-4, 7, DAL 5, MIA 7 | 2028: 1-7
Football Decision Makers: GM Omar Kahn | HC Mike McCarthy | OC Brian Angelichio | DC Patrick Graham | ST Danny Crossman
State of the Team
Chuck Noll: 1969-1991, 4 Super Bowl Victories
Bill Cowher: 1991-2006, 1 Super Bowl Victory, 2 Super Bowl Appearances
Mike Tomlin: 2007-2025, 1 Super Bowl Victory, 2 Super Bowl Appearances
Mike McCarthy: 2026-?
In a vacuum, I don’t have much of an opinion about the Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin; it isn’t the most ambitious choice, but McCarthy brings a wealth of experience and a documented track record of success to the role.
What I do have an opinion about is Mike McCarthy rejoining Aaron Rodgers, the latter of whom apparently grew fonder of his relationship with “Big Mike” as he racked up two more MVPs playing in Matt LaFleur’s offense in Green Bay.
The Aaron Rodgers that reappeared in 2020 and 2021 was one of the most entertaining quarterbacks I’ve ever watched.
The Aaron Rodgers that we saw post-Achilles tear - both with the Jets in 2023 and the Steelers in 2024 - is the worst watch in football.
I don’t know how else to put it. Rodgers has retained his turnover-averse style, but he doesn’t have the ability to extend plays anymore and is not looking to take hits, which has caused the offense to devolve to quick hitters at the line of scrimmage and fade balls.
That’s not to say there aren’t a few great throws mixed in there - Rodgers has a case as the most talented quarterback in the history of the game - but it is to say that I think the odds of the Steelers blowing up in spectacular fashion greatly exceed the odds that they accomplish anything significant in 2026.
Offense
The Steelers offense has some good players; I don’t think it has any great players, and with a mediocre quarterback pulling the trigger, I’m not sure how all that translates.
The offensive line and running game are the strength; tackle Troy Fautanu and guard Mason McCormick will flop from the right side to the left, where both will look to build on promising seasons. Zach Frazier is likely the most accomplished player in the group - entering Year Three, Frazier has established himself as one of the NFL’s better centers - but the right side is a huge question mark, with guard Spencer Anderson transitioning from a backup position into a full-time role, and rookie Max Iheanachor the clubhouse favorite to start at right tackle as Broderick Jones works through a neck injury.
That group is supplemented by tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, who pair with receivers DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. to give the Steelers a BIG group of pass catchers on the outside. Unfortunately, the group lacks juice to a degree; the exception is Metcalf, but when you compare his production as the lone receiver to what Davante Adams did as a clear lead dog with Rodgers back in Green Bay, you realize some of the limitations in Metcalf’s ability to truly drive a passing attack, hence the “green” grade where some may have him “purple”. (That comparison also speaks to Rodgers’ drop-off; nothing in football happens in a vacuum.)
The running back room should be fun; Jaylen Warren is coming off a quality season as a “bowling ball” type runner with enough juice to break off explosives after he bounces off tackles. His running mate, Rico Dowdle, reunites with McCarthy after the two worked together in Dallas, giving the Steelers another physical runner with a track record that includes some massive performances.
There could be some rookie contributions as well, with receivers Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen, their 2nd and 4th round picks, set to compete for playing time, and guard Gennings Dunker, one of two 3rd rounders on offense, in place to push Spencer Anderson on an offensive line that could have excellent depth if Broderick Jones is healthy and Brock Hoffman, another free-agent acquisition who played for McCarthy in Dallas, continues to turn in acceptable play if injuries thrust him into the lineup.
As to the second 3rd-round pick, former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is coming back from a knee injury, but could wind up competing with 2025 6th-rounder Will Howard for snaps down the stretch if the Rodgers situation doesn’t play to expectations.
It’s not a bad offense by any means - it’s actually very solid - but without a quarterback capable of pushing them over the top, that probably won’t amount to very much.
Defense
On the other side, the Steel Curtain faces questions despite rallying down the stretch in 2025.
To be blunt, this group is old. So many names that were once no-brainer “blue” players with “gold” seasons on their track record - defensive tackle Cam Heyward, edge T.J. Watt, and defensive back Jalen Ramsey - strike me more as “purple” players these days, with the 37-year old Heyward arguably more of a “green” in 2026 despite his renaissance season back in 2024.
This is a unit that should be fine - there aren’t any clear holes - but I wonder what the ceiling is. Younger players such as defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Keeanu Benton and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. could continue to ascend - Porter Jr. cleaned up his penalties significantly in 2025 - but even if they do, it’s hard to say whether that improvement makes up for any regression from the veterans on the unit.
Ultimately, I see a unit that should be good - the back end is sound with veteran corner Jamel Dean and safety Jaquon Brisker joining DeShon Elliott, Porter, and Ramsey, while Asante Samuel Jr. provides depth and rookie cornerback Daylen Everette provides some upside - but that needs a revival season from T.J. Watt or a jump forward from Harmon and/or Benton to come anywhere near the dominant form that was once this unit’s trademark.
There is also a notable change coming with Patrick Graham taking over as defensive coordinator; Graham has a history of finding ways to be successful with less talented units, and it’s possible his vision is a positive shakeup from the defenses that have been, if not coordinated by, then somewhat overseen by Mike Tomlin… but it’s also possible that the new marriage doesn’t work out so well given the reverence that key veterans on this unit express for “Mike T.”
Final Takeaways
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a model organization for decades, and I’ll stop short of declaring this plan “dead on arrival”, but I can fully understand any Steelers fans who are frustrated by the path taken here.
Unlike the Mike Tomlin hire, when Pittsburgh shocked the NFL world by passing on a pair of highly regarded coordinators (Ken Whisenhunt and Dick LeBeau) to go with an up-and-coming young talent, the move to McCarthy lacks excitement. For better or worse, we know what we’re getting with McCarthy, and while it seemed like a positive to bring someone with his experience to steady out a somewhat chaotic Dallas organization, Pittsburgh has never really been described that way.
It is what it is, and time could prove me wrong, but if we’re going to take a twist on the old “Dos Equis” commercials, I’d say the Steelers have a strong case as the “least interesting team in the NFL” heading into 2026.