The Steelers have hit the midpoint of the 2026 regular season sitting in a strong spot: 6-2, first in the AFC North and holding the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture. With the bye week in the books, the conversation inside the team’s mid-season awards has started, and the first honor up for debate is the biggest one of all - MVP.
For most of the staff, the answer comes down to one name: Jaylen Warren.
Joey Bray went with the running back, calling it a decision that “simply cannot go to anyone else.” Warren was third in the NFL in scrimmage yards through eight weeks and still sits fifth after the bye, all while producing with remarkable efficiency. Bray pointed to the lack of outside weapons on the offense and said Warren has been the engine driving Pittsburgh’s upward trend heading into the second half.
Austin Bechtold also landed on Warren, noting that he entered the bye week with more rushing yards than Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor. Bechtold highlighted Warren’s 6.93 yards per touch, the best mark in football and 1.31 yards better than the next closest back, Bijan Robinson.
He called Warren the Steelers’ best weapon and said he has been revolutionary for an offense that has been relatively stagnant for half a decade. Bechtold added that he would welcome more carries for Warren, as long as his body can hold up, while also mentioning that T.J Watt and Jalen Ramsey have a case.
Mike Nicastro joined the Warren camp as well, calling him the igniter of Pittsburgh’s offense and a major reason the Steelers are sitting at 6-2. Nicastro pointed to Warren’s ability to create explosive plays, keep the offense ahead of the chains and provide a spark when the passing game stalls.
Through eight games, Warren has rushed for 704 yards on 119 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. He has also added 294 receiving yards on 25 catches, giving him 998 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns.
Nicastro said Warren has become the engine of the offense and noted the Steelers have won four straight.
Jarrett Bailey also picked Warren, saying that even after the bye week he remains fifth in the NFL in scrimmage yards and has developed into one of the game’s three-to-five best running backs. Bailey said there is no chance the Steelers are 6-2 without Warren’s production.
The only votes that went elsewhere were for center Zach Frazier. Ryan Parish chose Frazier, saying it was tempting to go with Warren but that Frazier is so important to what Warren and the rest of the offense do that he had to get the nod. Parish also said Frazier has the strongest case to be the best at his position in the entire NFL.
Ryland Bickley made the same call, saying he was torn between Frazier and Warren but would give the edge to the center. Bickley said Frazier has been arguably the best at his position in the league this year and added that, when the choice is that close, the offensive line deserves some credit. He said Frazier has anchored the group that has been the story of the team’s season so far.
Tuesday morning, the staff will reveal its votes and winner for the Steelers’ mid-season Offensive Player of the Year.
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