The Pittsburgh Steelers are all-in on 2026. That much is clear after bringing back a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers for one last ride and keeping several pricey veterans in place. The real question is what comes after that season ends.
ESPN’s answer was bleak.
On Monday, a panel made up of Aaron Schatz, Ben Solak, Louis Riddick and Seth Walder ranked all 32 NFL teams by how they expect each club to look from 2027 through 2029, taking into account roster, quarterback, coaching and front office. The Steelers landed at No. 30.
ESPN pegged Pittsburgh’s future roster at 20th, but the quarterback outlook was even harsher at 32nd. The coaching ranking came in at 31st, while the front office checked in at 27th.
Only the Miami Dolphins at No. 31 and the Arizona Cardinals at No. 32 finished behind them.
That’s a harsh snapshot of where ESPN thinks the Steelers are headed once the 2026 window closes. And it’s especially jarring to see Pittsburgh sitting behind the Cleveland Browns at No. 28 and the New York Jets at No. 29, two franchises that have spent plenty of time drawing criticism for how they’re run.
The logic behind the ranking is easy to see. After 2026, ESPN does not believe the Steelers will have a quarterback on the roster who looks like a legitimate starter. There are also questions about Mike McCarthy’s coaching staff and about the recent quarterback choices made by Omar Khan and the front office, with the article pointing to the team’s run of mostly washed-up options like Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.
Still, this is a prediction, not a verdict.
Solak pointed out that the Steelers’ future in the trenches looks promising, and that gives the organization at least one real foundation to build on. To change the narrative, though, the Steelers will need several things to break right.
Their young players have to flash in 2026. They’ll need to uncover a quarterback for 2027 and beyond who can actually give the fan base hope, whether that ends up being Drew Allar or another top prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.
McCarthy also has to show he can still coach at a high level late in his career with a third team. The offense, the article said, needs a spark that it has lacked over the past seven years.
If Pittsburgh can make those pieces fit over the next half year or so, next year’s future rankings could look a whole lot different. If not, the warning lights will keep flashing for Steelers fans.
In Other News...
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The Giants want to see where Harris stands before anything goes further, which makes this more than just a courtesy stop. He has to prove he is far enough along in his recovery to be considered for a roster spot, and that part of the process can matter just as much as the name recognition. If Harris clears that hurdle, he could give a backfield in need of another option a veteran presence and a familiar kind of insurance. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fringe Roster Battle Just Got Much Harder To Ignore
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Lew Nichols, Brandon Smith and Doneiko Slaughter have all popped enough in camp and in the preseason opener to force another look, even though none entered the summer with much buzz as likely roster pieces. For a team still sorting out the final spots, that kind of performance matters, and it has made the next stretch of preseason feel a little less about filling out games and a lot more about separating names that seemed like afterthoughts a week ago. [Read more 🡒]