Pittsburgh spent nearly two decades knowing exactly who its head coach was. The first outside verdict on what comes next is not especially flattering.
Six NFL executives surveyed by The Athletic ranked the Pittsburgh Steelers 10th in the AFC entering 2026, with five viewing them as roughly a .500 team and only one placing them in the division-contender tier. Their concerns centered on an aging Aaron Rodgers, an unsettled offensive line, and a veteran-heavy defense entering Mike McCarthy's first season.
"Pittsburgh has been sick of Tomlin, hating the one-and-dones, but be careful what you wish for, because on paper, they have sub-.500 written all over them," one executive told The Athletic . "A shaky O-line with an aging quarterback is not a good combo."
Mike Tomlin stepped down in January after 19 seasons and another first-round playoff exit. Pittsburgh replaced him with McCarthy, whose offensive background and long history with Rodgers became central to the new direction.
That familiarity did not erase the skepticism.
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"The quarterback is the quarterback, and he's polarizing," another executive said. "He ain't getting younger, and you question what exactly their offense is going to look like. They are old on defense. It can go quick there."
Rodgers is 42 and has already said 2026 will be his final NFL season. He threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions last year, but his 71.9 PFN QB Impact grade ranked No. 29 among qualifying quarterbacks.
The age concern extends beyond him. Cameron Heyward is 37, while T.J. Watt and Jalen Ramsey are 31, even though Pittsburgh's defensive line finished No. 1 in PFN's 2025 D-Line Impact rankings with an 89.3 grade.
One executive did see reasons for optimism in McCarthy's arrival and Pittsburgh's offseason additions.
"McCarthy obviously knows Aaron, and his offenses were good in Dallas," the executive said. "Adding (Michael) Pittman helps. But I don't see them having a great run game, so you are putting a lot of pressure on Rodgers."
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Pittman gives Pittsburgh another proven target opposite DK Metcalf after arriving from Indianapolis. He caught 80 passes for 784 yards and a career-high 7 touchdowns in 2025. The Steelers also return Jaylen Warren, who rushed for 958 yards, with Rico Dowdle joining him in the backfield.
The offensive line remains young. Pittsburgh's initial depth chart listed Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson, and Dylan Cook as the first unit, while first-round rookie Max Iheanachor opened camp behind Cook at right tackle.
For one executive, the roster still raised the same concern.
"Overall, though, this feels like an older team that is stuck," he said. "I don't see how they get better a year older and lacking continuity."
Pittsburgh opens McCarthy's tenure at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13. After 19 years of Tomlin stability, executives clearly think the replacement era could begin with a much bumpier ride.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
