Are the vibes bad in Pittsburgh?
NFL insider Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports doesn't "love the vibes" with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.
The Steelers hired former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy after Mike Tomlin stepped down from his post.
Pittsburgh also re-signed Aaron Rodgers, the oldest active starting QB in the NFL.
"I don't love the vibes with the Steelers this season," Schwab wrote. "Mike McCarthy doesn't seem like an improvement on Mike Tomlin and has the same criticisms against him that Tomlin did. I'm not in the business of expecting big things from quarterbacks about to turn 43 years old.
"The defense could be better, but that's far from a guarantee after a big step back. The Steelers will be better than the Browns, that seems safe. But a third-place finish in the AFC North, and their first losing season in a while, seems to be firmly on the table."
Tomlin never finished with a losing record with the Steelers, but Schwab thinks Pittsburgh could go below .500 in 2026.
In Year 1 of the McCarthy era, the Steelers face the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.
2003. That's the last time the Steelers finished below .500. It would certainly be wild to see Pittsburgh having a losing record in Year 1 of the McCarthy era. It all depends on how Rodgers performs.
One of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Rodgers finished with 3,322 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2025. He completed 65.7% of his passes.
McCarthy and Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers as members of the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers hasn't won a playoff game since the 2020 season, while the Steelers haven't won a postseason game since the 2016 season.
It will be intriguing to see how Rodgers and Co. perform in 2026.
A four-time MVP, Rodgers will retire from the NFL after next season. Will he go out on top or lose the to Father Time? Only time will tell.
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