OTL: AFC North Preview – Pittsburgh Steelers

It’s a new era in the Steel City, as Mike McCarthy returns home to Pittsburgh to take over as head coach for his childhood team. After 19 seasons at the helm, the highly-respected Mike Tomlin elected to step down from the position just a day after a playoff loss, despite an AFC North title. It’s been nine seasons since the last Steelers playoff win, despite six playoff appearances within that span. The organization has reunited McCarthy and future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers for what is already confirmed as Rodgers’ final season.

Unlike the Browns, who I covered in last week’s AFC North Preview, Pittsburgh enters the season with high expectations. Future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt has never won a playoff game in his stat-stuffed career, and coming off an offseason with the additions Pittsburgh’s made, it’d be another season of disappointment if they’re once again unable to secure a postseason victory.

One Last Ride

The Steelers front office has done some serious work, solidifying a respected core of weapons for one final run for Rodgers. In March, Pittsburgh struck a deal to acquire former Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., before extending him on a three-year, $59 million extension. Pittman is coming off a solid season, despite a quarterback carousel down the stretch, recording 80 receptions (17th), 784 receiving yards (36th), and 7 TDs (T-15th). He’ll be a great addition alongside DK Metcalf, and an upgrade from Calvin Austin, Adam Thielen, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling from a season ago.

It wasn’t the only addition at the position, as Pittsburgh selected highly sought-after Germie Bernard in the second round of April’s draft. Bernard might be the perfect addition to the one-two punch of Pittman and Metcalf. The 22-year-old can line up outside or in the slot and has shown an ability to run his route tree across all three levels.

Receiver wasn’t the only position group to see an upgrade, as the front office looked to fix a run game that finished 26th in the league in total rushing yards (1,756). Kenneth Gainwell took his talents to Tampa Bay, leaving room for Pittsburgh to sign former Panther running back, Rico Dowdle. Dowdle is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season, racking up 1,076 yards (14th) and six touchdowns (T-24th). The seven-year veteran recorded three games over 100 rushing yards last season, including a 206-yard performance against the Dolphins. The run game obviously begins up front, and adding both Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker in April’s draft is the right start to turning it around.

For an offense that’s been quite underwhelming over the last few seasons, they shouldn’t be taken lightly in 2026.

Fixing a Broken Defense

Pittsburgh’s defense was the highest paid in the league last season, paying $90 million on that side of the ball, just under $2 million more than the next closest team (Chargers), according to Spotrac. Despite the hefty number, the Steelers defense truly underachieved, especially in the secondary, finishing 30th in passing yards allowed (4,437), T-27th in passing touchdowns allowed (30), and 27th in passing first downs allowed (202). The front office did its due diligence in looking for additions that can improve that broken secondary. Jamel Dean highlights a solid free agency cycle, after seven seasons with the Buccaneers. Dean has surrendered just a 57.2% receiving percentage in his career, along with 11 total interceptions. He joins fellow free agents, former Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker, who’s coming off a career-high 81-tackle season, and former first-rounder Darnell Savage, who appeared on three teams last year.

The front seven has been solid for years, and will look to keep the same standard regardless of a new coaching staff. Watt and Cameron Heyward will be looked upon to lead the defense, as they have since Watt entered the league in 2017. Former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen will look for a bounce-back year after a career-high 32 missed tackles in 2025 and his lowest total tackle amount (87) since 2021 (74). The front office has made a number of additions on each side of the ball, many of which are at true positions of need. There was a lot of hype around McCarthy’s hire back in 2020 with the Cowboys, and the results never really lived up to that.

Time will tell if it was truly the right hire for an organization that may have needed an infusion of youth, but for now, the Steelers are clearly improved, on paper, from a season ago.

Record Prediction: 11-6; Second in AFC North

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