Summer is the season for arguments that don’t matter - and NFL uniform rankings fit that bill perfectly. Still, Steelers fans had to do a double take on Monday when Sports Illustrated released its 2026 NFL uniform rankings and placed Pittsburgh at No. 22.
Mike Kadlick’s list covered home, away, throwback, and alternate looks, and the Steelers landed well outside the top tier. Kadlick wrote that Pittsburgh’s uniforms have “remained mostly unchanged since the early 2000s,” pointing to the gold pants, black home jerseys and white road jerseys. He also noted that the team’s bumblebee throwbacks got a refreshed look in 2025, honoring the franchise’s 1933 season, but called them “a bit of an eyesore.”
He added: “Many won’t like where they’re ranked-as Pittsburgh’s widely considered to have some of the league’s best uniforms, but to me, they’re just meh.”
That placement put the Steelers behind the Atlanta Falcons at No. 21, the New England Patriots at No. 20, the Tennessee Titans at No. 19 and the Chicago Bears at No. 18.
At the top of the list, SI went with the Los Angeles Chargers, whose set includes a powder-blue home jersey, a yellow alternate and the classic navy throwbacks. At the bottom, Kadlick had the LA Rams at No. 32, despite their similar color scheme.
There’s a strong case that Pittsburgh should have landed much higher. The Steelers stand alone with their black-and-gold identity, a look that separates them from teams that share similar colors across the league.
Their home jerseys get most of the love, but the white road uniforms have their supporters too. The black Color Rush uniforms with yellow lettering also give Pittsburgh something no one else has.
The bumblebee throwbacks are a different story. Both the original 1933 version and the 2025 remake drew criticism, and they remain the weak spot in the mix.
Even so, the Steelers’ best look may not have been part of SI’s ranking at all: the iconic block-number home uniforms. For plenty of fans, those should be the permanent standard, and there’s a real argument for Art Rooney II and the organization to bring them back for good.
There’s also the broader Pittsburgh factor. The Pirates and Penguins wear colors that match the city’s identity, and that shared palette gives the Steelers’ look even more weight.
Uniform rankings are always subjective, and this one will do exactly what it was supposed to do: stir up offseason debate. But when training camp arrives at the end of July, there will be much bigger things to worry about than where the Steelers landed on a jersey list.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May Have Judged This Rookie Defender Too Quickly
Gabriel Rubio arrived in Pittsburgh with the kind of profile the Steelers have long been willing to bet on: a big, physical defensive lineman from Notre Dame who fits the look of a classic 3-4 end. Taken in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he brings the size and run-stopping traits that can earn a rookie a real foothold early, especially in a system that still values players who can hold the line and eat space on the front.
The caution flags are part of the evaluation, too. Rubios pass-rush upside remains a question, which is why his early value is likely to come in a narrower role, and his college rsum is not as extensive as some of his peers. Even so, the Steelers have shown in the past that they are willing to be patient with young defensive linemen who fit their mold, and Rubios first chance will be to prove that his game translates before the labels on draft weekend harden into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Camp Debate Just Put Their Quarterback Future In Focus
The Steelers quarterback room has become one of the most closely watched battles in camp, and for good reason. Aaron Rodgers and rookie Drew Allar are expected to be on the roster, which leaves Mason Rudolph and Will Howard fighting for what looks like the final backup job, a setup that has already sparked debate about how Pittsburgh should manage its depth at the games most important position.
Reporter Mark Kaboly has made his own preference clear, saying he would keep all four quarterbacks if it were up to him. Even so, he does not think the Steelers will actually go that route, and the conversation has now shifted to whether the team values roster flexibility more than carrying extra insurance behind Rodgers and Allar. [Read more 🡒]
These Steelers Enter Camp With Everything Suddenly On The Line
Training camp is about to put a handful of Steelers on the spot in a way that feels more consequential than a normal preseason competition. Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, the roster is still taking shape, and a few names are entering camp with very different levels of security. Will Howard is expected to keep getting backup quarterback reps, while Spencer Anderson looks positioned to open at right guard as the line sorts itself out.
The more unsettled picture sits at running back, where Kaleb Johnson is facing real pressure in a crowded room. With the Steelers adding another option in Rico Dowdle, Johnsons path to meaningful touches has become far narrower, and camp will have to answer whether he can carve out a role at all. For a team trying to settle the edges of its roster early, those battles may end up mattering as much as any headline spot. [Read more 🡒]