The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into 2026 with a very different feel, even after a season that ended in dramatic fashion. Their division-clinching win over the Baltimore Ravens in the final moments of Week 18 set up a year that now comes with a new voice on the sideline and a familiar one under center.
For the first time since 2007, Pittsburgh will be led by a new head coach, with Mike McCarthy taking over in his hometown. Aaron Rodgers is also back for a second season with the Steelers, and the quarterback says this will be his final year in the NFL.
Even with many of the pieces from last year’s 10-win team still in place, the expectations outside the building are not especially rosy. FanDuel Sportsbook has Pittsburgh’s win total at 7.5 and is projecting the Steelers to finish with their first losing season since 2003.
That puts plenty of attention on the road ahead, and the schedule does not leave much room to ease in. Pittsburgh opens at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. on FOX, then goes to the New England Patriots the following week for a 1 p.m.
CBS kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 20.
The AFC North stretch starts quickly after that, with the Cincinnati Bengals coming to Pittsburgh in Week 3 on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. on CBS. The Steelers then hit the road for a Thursday night game at the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 1 at 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video.
October keeps rolling with a home game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. on CBS, followed by a trip to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. on CBS. Then comes one of the more unusual entries on the slate: a Week 7 meeting with the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 9:30 a.m. on NFL Network.
Pittsburgh gets the Browns again in Week 8 at home on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. on CBS, then has a BYW WEEK in Week 9. The back half of the schedule brings a heavy dose of prime-time and spotlight games, starting with a Sunday night trip to Cincinnati on Nov. 15 at 8:20 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.
The Steelers also travel to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11 on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 4:25 p.m. on CBS before hosting the Denver Broncos on Black Friday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. on Prime Video. A home game against the Houston Texans follows on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8:20 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.
December and January finish with a tough closing run: at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, Dec. 14 at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN, home against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. on CBS, home against the Carolina Panthers with date, time and TV station TBD, at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. on CBS, and then at Baltimore again in Week 18 with date, time and TV station TBD.
The Steelers have the names and the structure to make things interesting. Now comes the part where McCarthy and Rodgers have to turn that into wins.
In Other News...
Steelers Unknown Is Suddenly Forcing A Real Receiver Debate
Brandon Smith arrived in Pittsburgh on a Reserve/Future deal with the kind of profile that usually puts a player on the long shot pile, but the first two practices of camp have at least made him worth a closer look. The 27-year-old receiver has shown up with a few notable catches, including work downfield and a back-shoulder grab, and that kind of early flash can matter when a staff is sorting through a crowded receiver room.
Smith still has plenty working against him, from his age to the fact that he has only a thin NFL track record after stops with several teams and a run in the UFL. His clearest path to sticking may come down to special teams value, and if he keeps making plays in camp, the Steelers could have a real decision to make about whether he belongs in the mix for the practice squad or somewhere higher on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
T.J. Watt Is Already Feeling Mike McCarthys Steelers Shift
Mike McCarthys first Steelers camp has already brought a different feel, and T.J. Watt is adjusting to it as the team gets ready for the season opener against the Falcons. The new head coach has changed the routine in a few noticeable ways, including removing live tackling from training and reworking how defenders are positioned on the field, a shift that naturally puts extra attention on one of Pittsburghs most important players.
For Watt, that means more than just learning a new voice in the building. The Steelers are experimenting with different looks across the defensive front, moving Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig around to create better matchups and keep offenses guessing. It is early, but the changes already suggest McCarthy wants a more flexible pass rush, and Watt is at the center of how that plan is supposed to work. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Trade Decision Fans Never Expected
The Panthers rash of injuries along the offensive tackle and EDGE rusher spots has pushed them into the kind of trade-market conversation that can reshape a roster quickly, and Pittsburgh has a few names that naturally fit the discussion. From the Steelers side, the most obvious pieces are on the line and at outside linebacker, which is why the idea of a deal between these teams has started to circulate even though nothing is close to being done.
Broderick Jones stands out as the kind of player who could draw attention if he continues to show he is healthy and ready to contribute, especially with Carolina searching for help up front. If the Panthers look beyond the trenches, Roman Wilson is the other notable Steelers receiver who could come into play as a fallback option, but for now this remains a case of fit, need and timing more than any confirmed movement. [Read more 🡒]