AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers
AI Summary
Pittsburgh enters 2026 in a genuinely new era: Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 seasons following a wild-card loss to Houston, and the Steelers hired Pittsburgh native Mike McCarthy, who reunites with 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers from their Green Bay days. Rodgers has already said this will be the final season of his career, and the offense around him got a notable facelift with a trade for WR Michael Pittman Jr. and free-agent additions Rico Dowdle (RB) and Robert Tonyan (TE), joining holdovers DK Metcalf and CB-turned-defensive-cornerstone Jalen Ramsey. Despite the star power, oddsmakers remain skeptical of a team that nearly missed the playoffs last year — early power rankings have Pittsburgh around 18th with a win total near 8.5, and camp has already been shadowed by Joey Porter Jr.'s back injury and a still-unsettled receiver room.
Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026
Real Efficiency KPIs
Offensive EPA/play
+0.026
#15 of 32
Defensive EPA/play allowed
+0.018
#18 of 32
2025 regular season, 975 offensive / 1104 defensive plays. Source: nflverse play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season. This is a prior-season baseline — this team's 2026 numbers will replace it once real Week 1 plays exist.
Key Players (2025 production)
Leading Passer
Aaron Rodgers · QB
327/498, 24 TD, 7 INT
+28.3 passing EPA
Leading Rusher
Jaylen Warren · RB
211 car, 958 yds, 6 TD
-0.5 rushing EPA
Leading Receiver
DK Metcalf · WR
59/99, 850 yds, 19% target share
+32.9 receiving EPA
Leading Pass Rusher
Alex Highsmith · LB
9.5 sacks, 19 QB hits
Leading Tackler
Payton Wilson · LB
73 solo, 52 assist
Leading Interceptor
T.J. Watt · OLB
2 INT
Source: nflverse player stats (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season; team attribution updated for documented 2026 offseason trades. Prior-season baseline, not 2026 in-season stats.
Key Storylines
- First-year HC Mike McCarthy replaces Mike Tomlin (resigned after 19 seasons) and reunites with QB Aaron Rodgers, his starter for 13 years in Green Bay
- Aaron Rodgers, 42, says 2026 will be the final season of his career as he installs McCarthy's West Coast offense
- Traded for WR Michael Pittman Jr. from the Colts and signed RB Rico Dowdle and TE Robert Tonyan in an uncharacteristically aggressive offseason
- RB1 competition still open between returning starter Jaylen Warren and newcomer Rico Dowdle, with Kaleb Johnson behind them
- Preseason power rankings and betting markets (win total ~8.5) are skeptical, with some books favoring the under on Pittsburgh's first losing season since 2003
Injury Report
Joey Porter Jr. · CB
PUP
Opened training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a back injury that reportedly flared up during camp; no firm return timeline given, and he is also seeking a contract extension.
DK Metcalf · WR
Limited/DNP
Missed practice time after getting banged up during a training camp session; injury undisclosed, and McCarthy has downplayed it as not a major concern.