The Steelers won the AFC North in 2025 but made another first-round playoff loss. That led to the departure of longtime coach Mike Tomlin, and – yesterday – the hiring of former Packers and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy as only the fourth Steelers head coach since 1969.
The 62-year-old McCarthy, as native of Greenfield and longtime friend of the Rooneys and Steelers general manager Omar Khan, is an offense-oriented head coach who needs a quarterback and an offensive coordinator. He also has to revamp his wide receivers room and make some major decisions on the offensive line.
Perhaps his biggest job, however, will be to the defense. The highest-paid defense in the NFL finished 26th in the league in total yards allowed, at 356.9 yards per game. The defensive line is anchored by the ageless Cam Heyward, but the secondary is also very old by NFL standards, and their performance was more than a little spotty at best (commentator Colin Cowherd remarking that they are “aging like milk, not wine.”)
The linebacking corps is a continuing problem. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Steelers may release veteran inside ‘backer Patrick Queen, who has one year left on his three-year contract, would cost the team $17 million, and, after Pro Football Focus predicted before the season that Queen was one player who had the “most to prove” in 2025, graded out 78th out of 88 linebackers at his position, missing 31 tackles, according to PFF.
Other defensive stars who could depart the Steelers are Heyward, cornerback/safety Jalen Ramsey, safeties Jabril Peppers, Chuck Clark and Kyle Dugger, and even TJ Watt, the superstar edge rusher who had only seven sacks in 2025 and could be traded.
SMITH SAYS GOODBYE
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is the second Mike Tomlin assistant to depart the team. He’s been hired to be the OC for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Special teams coach Danny Smith previously left to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has interviewed for the same job with the Washington Commanders.
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