The Pittsburgh Steelers once again failed to win a playoff game for the ninth straight year.
Despite winning the AFC North this season, they failed to win a playoff game.
This Steelers offseason will feel like no other.
Mike Tomlin stepped down as the head coach, and the Steelers have yet to hire his replacement.
The odds have changed since a couple of days ago. Here are the current odds to be the next head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
- 1. Chris Shula (-200)
- 2. Nathan Scheelhaase (+325)
- 3. Mike McCarthy (+475)
- 4. Sean McDermott (+575)
- 5. Anthony Weaver (+1400)
- 6. Brian Flores (+1600)
Whoever takes over the head coach gig will have his work cut out for him, as the roster is in disarray.
Pittsburgh Steelers Offseason Needs
The Steelers’ roster is a mess. They need to fix a lot of positions.
First thing, the Steelers do not know who will be under center in 2026.
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers will likely retire. He is also 42 years old, and the Steelers need a QB even if he does return for one season, which feels unlikely.
Currently, the other two QBs on the roster are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard. The Steelers can not feel good about their QB room.
It is unlikely the Steelers will be able to find their future starter in the 2026 NFL Draft. Free agency will be the way to go for the QB position once again.
Some possible options are Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, and Tua Tagovailoa. None of these three options screams franchise QB, but they could be a bridge till the Steelers finally find a QB in the NFL Draft.
The QB position is the most important position in the NFL, and the Steelers have been struggling with this position since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
Pittsburgh may be best off for the future to just start Will Howard and see what he can do for a season. If he struggles and the Steelers have a high draft pick in 2027, this may be the best for the organization. That way, with a high draft pick, the chances of finding a franchise QB are better.
A rebuild is much needed in Pittsburgh.
Wide Receiver
This position is a massive weakness for the Steelers.
Here are the current WRs on the roster:
- 1. DK Metcalf
- 2. Calvin Austin III
- 3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- 4. Scotty Miller
- 5. Ben Skowronek
- 6. Roman Wilson
The only player who is even decent is Metcalf. However, Metcalf should not be a team’s number one wideout. He is more of a WR2 than a WR1. In 11 out of 15 games this season, he had 55 receiving yards or fewer.
Besides Metcalf, none of the WRs on the roster should be startable. The Steelers’ wideouts struggled to get open and make plays.
There was a severe lack of talent at the position that was very evident.
Pittsburgh needs to bring in playmakers via free agency and the NFL Draft. Wide receiver is a desperate need.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Pat Freiermuth were all on the roster in 2025. However, none of them did much of anything in 2025.
Smith was acquired via a trade last offseason, but he was fairly useless this season.
Pat Freiermuth, at times, felt like the Steelers forgot he existed. Out of the three tight ends, he has the best hands, but struggles to get open because he is a slower TE.
Darnell Washington is the best blocker of the three tight ends and is a red-zone threat due to his size. He still needs to improve his pass-catching abilities, and he also struggles to get open.
The Steelers need a young, versatile, pass-catching tight end who can make plays, which they severely lacked this season.
Pittsburgh lacked playmakers at the WR and TE positions in 2025, and this must be addressed in the offseason.
Defensive Line
Derrick Harmon had an impressive rookie campaign. Harmon was excellent in stopping the run and was able to generate a pass rush. However, he is the only young, promising player on the defensive line.
Cam Heyward will be 37 years old next season. With Tomlin stepping down, chances are that Heyward will retire. He is still playing at a solid level, but he is up there in age, and Father Time will catch up to him soon.
Keanu Benton has regressed in each of his first three seasons. He was terrible against the run in 2025 and was a massive disappointment this season.
Pittsburgh’s defensive line was an issue in 2025, and they need to add a young player in the offseason.
Linebackers
Patrick Queen may no longer be on the Steelers. Pittsburgh needs to try to keep Queen and not let him leave in free agency.
T.J. Watt looked slower and was not nearly as impactful in 2025 as in previous years. He was a good trade candidate last offseason, but the Steelers decided to pay him, making it difficult to trade him this offseason.
Alex Highsmith is a solid pass rusher, but not elite.
Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer may see more responsibility next season, but this is also a weak position for the Steelers.
Secondary
The secondary has one good player. Joey Porter Jr took a big step forward in 2025. He showed he can be a true shutdown CB.
James Pierre improved in 2025, but that was his first good season.
The Safety position was a disaster for Pittsburgh this year. They acquired Jalen Ramsey last offseason, and he was terrible at CB. So, Pittsburgh moved him to the Safety position, and he was not much better. Ramsey was a major liability in coverage this season.
Safety needs to also be a priority this offseason for the Steelers.
The Steelers Need To Enter The Offseason Thinking This Is A Rebuild
Pittsburgh has far too many weaknesses for them to think they can contend in 2026.
No QB, weak WR & TE room, and many weaknesses on defense should have them thinking to build a stronger roster first before they can draft a franchise QB.
They will not be able to find a franchise QB in this year’s NFL Draft, but they can use free agency and the draft to improve some positions.
Improving the WR and TE room will help the future QB the Steelers draft succeed.
The defense needs to add younger players and improve some positions.
Pittsburgh needs to go into this offseason with a rebuild on top of their mind. They are not contenders and need to drastically improve a very weak roster.
