Steelers Now
Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports outlined the best- and worst-case scenarios for every NFL team in 2026. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sullivan thinks the offense coming back to life under new head coach Mike McCarthy would be the best-case scenario.
“Aaron Rodgers has just enough fuel left in the tank to make another push toward a second straight AFC North title. The 42-year-old is reunited with head coach Mike McCarthy, and they pick up where they left off in Green Bay,” Sullivan wrote. “They put together impressive numbers, especially now that Pittsburgh has a legitimate No. 2 option in the passing game with Michael Pittman Jr. complementing DK Metcalf.”
On the flip side, things could get ugly for the Steelers if Aaron Rodgers gets injured or Father Time comes crashing down. If that occurs, the Steelers are likely to have their first losing season since 2003. 5-12, or 6-11 seems realistic.
“Rodgers looks like a quarterback in his early 40s who already has one foot out the door. Pittsburgh’s roster looks too old and less explosive than some of its division rivals, and the Steelers are left in the dust by both the Ravens and Bengals,” Sullivan wrote. “They are on the outside looking in on the playoffs, and a below-.500 season is how Rodgers’ career comes to a close.”
The Steelers have gone 10-7 in each of the last three seasons. But playoff success has been a lingering issue. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since Jan. 15, 2017. It’s the longest playoff win drought for the franchise since pre-1972.
Mike Tomlin closed his tenure with seven straight playoff losses. Winning a playoff game would be another best-case scenario. Just getting to the playoffs is not good enough.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: What’s the Best-, Worst-Case Scenario for Steelers in 2026?
