The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty to get excited about heading into the upcoming campaign, but rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard is quickly becoming one of the biggest reasons for the buzz. The former Alabama standout is already drawing attention before he ever steps onto the professional gridiron, and the work he’s shown with prolific position specialist “Route God” has only added to the confidence around the second-round pick.
Bernard also sounds like a player who knows exactly how to speak to the moment. On the Big Time Talk Podcast with Jonathan Hankins, he laid out his thinking for the 2026 season and explained why he chose the jersey number he did.
"Obviously I was five in college, but, he's [Jalen Ramsey] got five, so yeah we not touching that,” the rookie confessed to Hankins. “But they had 17 open, and one of my favorite receivers is Davante Adams. I've been watching his film for a long time."
That’s the kind of answer that will perk up Aaron Rodgers.
Adams has long been a familiar name to Rodgers. Back in 2014, the former Fresno State receiver became a new target for him and put together 38 receptions, 446 receiving yards, and three touchdowns as the third option in McCarthy’s offensive scheme.
That production helped Rodgers guide the Packers to the NFC Championship game while also earning league MVP honors. Adams would later grow into Rodgers’ top target for more than half a decade.
Now Rodgers gets a little deja vu in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers enter the season with playoff expectations of their own, and they used second-round capital on a promising receiver with the hope that he can become a real difference-maker. Bernard looks like the kind of player who can fill that role. He has the kind of versatile skill set that can change an offense in more than one way, and the numbers from his final season at Alabama back that up.
In 2025, Bernard caught 64 passes and led Alabama’s receiving corps with 862 receiving yards. His seven receiving touchdowns ranked second among Crimson Tide targets. Ryan Grubb also found ways to use him beyond the passing game, giving him 18 rushing attempts that produced 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
That versatility is a big part of why there’s so much interest in what comes next. Bernard is not being sold as an instant superstar, and that’s not the expectation here. The more realistic goal is steady production now and a climb toward becoming a top target over time.
The Steelers seem to understand that, too.
Bernard should see the field in his rookie season, and a role as a slot receiver alongside Roman Wilson feels like a strong possibility. That kind of setup gives him a chance to earn meaningful reps while also creating healthy competition for the long haul.
He’ll also be surrounded by veterans like DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., which should give him plenty to absorb in year one. If things break right, Pittsburgh may end up getting far more than just a promising rookie - and Rodgers might just see a little of that old Davante Adams feeling again.
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The broader backdrop is what makes the debate linger. Baltimore and Cincinnati still shape the conversation in the North, and both carry their own health questions at quarterback, which only adds to the uncertainty around how the division will unfold. Pittsburghs path through the 2026 schedule will help answer a lot of it, but for now the Steelers are still being sized up against rivals with as much talent and more recent postseason credibility. [Read more 🡒]