The Pittsburgh Steelers' skill position group for the 2026 season is ranked top 15 in the NFL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' skill position group for the upcoming 2026 season is ranked top 15 in the NFL by FOX Sports.
Pittsburgh's offense is led by QB Aaron Rodgers, RBs Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren, WRs D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard and TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.
New head coach Mike McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with Rodgers when the two were on the Green Bay Packers, will call offensive plays next season.
"They have surrounded 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers with some intriguing pieces for his theoretical NFL swan song," FOX Sports wrote. "DK Metcalf hasn’t played like an elite receiver in recent years, but he’s still dangerous and capable of big plays. Adding Michael Pittman and drafting Germie Bernard in the second round gives the Steelers depth they didn’t have last year. And they have decent TEs in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, whom they should find a way to use more.
"Their most interesting new piece, though, is RB Rico Dowdle, a Mike McCarthy favorite from his days in Dallas. Pittsburgh didn’t have much of a running game last year, but there’s potential with a Dowdle-Jaylen Warren tandem."
McCarthy and Rodgers won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers as members of the Packers. Rodgers, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, is glad that McCarthy will be his head coach in his final NFL season.
“The fun thing, for me, is that this is a real full-circle moment for me and Mike — the closing of my career and the end of his career being back home in Pittsburgh,” Rodgers said, via The Athletic. "The surreal aspect of it has kind of drifted a little bit, but it’s still really special to hear that voice in my head that I’ve heard for so many years.”
One of the top quarterbacks in NFL history, Rodgers put up 3,322 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. The future Hall of Famer completed 65.7% of his passes.
The Steelers won the AFC North last season but lost to the Houston Texans at home in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs. McCarthy was hired after Mike Tomlin stepped down from his post.
Rodgers has been in the NFL since 2005. He has played for the Packers, New York Jets and Steelers and has 527 career passing touchdowns and 66,274 career passing yards in the regular season.
A four-time MVP, 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.
“Just to be able to take this final lap with him, it’s awesome,” McCarthy said. “You always want to do a great job, but now to do it with him in his last chapter, it’s special.”
The Steelers begin the 2026 season at home against the Atlanta Falcons. Let's see how many touchdowns Rodgers throws for in his final NFL season opener.
