The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of a transformative offseason in 2026, experiencing a level of change unseen in nearly two decades. With the departure of former head coach Mike Tomlin, the team is seeing a significant shift, retaining only a handful of coaches from the 2025 staff. New head coach Mike McCarthy is taking a different approach than his predecessor, opting to bring in his own team rather than keeping the old guard.
McCarthy's strategy marks a clear departure from Tomlin's era, as he expands the coaching staff in line with league trends. Notably, there's been a shift in the team's approach to the pre-draft process.
Beat writer Mark Kaboly highlighted this on 93.7 The Fan, pointing out the Steelers' reduced presence at Penn State's Pro Day. In past years, the Steelers would send a full contingent to these events, but under the new regime, this isn't the case.
This change has sparked curiosity, especially regarding Penn State's top quarterback prospect, Drew Allar. While some fans are eager for the Steelers to consider him, others remain skeptical. The absence of key coaching figures at his Pro Day could be telling, though it might not hold much significance if Allar is brought in for a private visit.
Kaboly clarified that while the Steelers weren't absent from the Nittany Lions' Pro Day, with likely an area scout present, McCarthy and General Manager Omar Khan prioritized attending Georgia's Pro Day. This shift suggests Pro Days might carry less weight in the Steelers' draft strategy now that Tomlin is no longer at the helm.
The focus on Georgia's Pro Day might hint at the Steelers' quarterback preferences, though there's no certainty they'll draft one in April. Names like Allar and Carson Beck are worth monitoring. Beck, having spent his final season at Miami, originally played at Georgia under head coach Kirby Smart, offering the Steelers valuable insights.
As Khan and McCarthy navigate their first draft process together, it will be intriguing to see how these changes impact the team's strategy moving forward.