From now until the start of the regular season, we atSteelersWire will be analyzing every player on the roster. Here's a look at Nowakowski and what could be in store for his 2026 season.
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At a glance
Height:6-foot-2
Weight:250 pounds
Age:24 years old
NFL experience:R
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
Week 2:Sunday, Sept. 20, at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brian Fluharty, Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
Week 3:Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Week 4:Thursday Night Football, Oct. 1, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
Week 5:Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
Week 6:Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Barry Reeger, Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
Week 7:Sunday, Oct. 25, at New Orleans Saints, 9:30 a.m. ET (Paris)
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)
Week 8:Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jeff Lange, Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Week 9:Bye week
(Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
Week 10:Sunday Night Football, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer, Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Week 11:Sunday, Nov. 22, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Week 12:Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday Game)
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Week 13:Sunday Night Football, Dec. 6, vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 14:Monday Night Football, Dec. 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
Week 15:Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Week 16:TBD, vs. Carolina Panthers, TBD
(Allison Lawhon, Imagn Images)
Week 17:Sunday, Jan. 3, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Philip G. Pavely, Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports)
Week 18:TBD, at Baltimore Ravens, TBD
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
1/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
1/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 1:Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
2/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 2:Sunday, Sept. 20, at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Brian Fluharty, Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
3/18
Steelers experimenting with new position for massive tight end Darnell Washington
Week 3:Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
4/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 4:Thursday Night Football, Oct. 1, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
5/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 5:Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
6/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 6:Sunday, Oct. 18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Barry Reeger, Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)
7/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 7:Sunday, Oct. 25, at New Orleans Saints, 9:30 a.m. ET (Paris)
(SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network, SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)
8/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 8:Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Jeff Lange, Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
9/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 9:Bye week
(Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)
10/18
Takeaways from the Steelers 2026 regular-season schedule release
Week 10:Sunday Night Football, Nov. 15, at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer, Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
11/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 11:Sunday, Nov. 22, at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
12/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 12:Friday, Nov. 27, vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 p.m. ET (Black Friday Game)
(Ron Chenoy, Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
13/18
Former Steelers linebacker returns to Pittsburgh after UFL breakout
Week 13:Sunday Night Football, Dec. 6, vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
14/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 14:Monday Night Football, Dec. 14, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET
(Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
15/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 15:Sunday, Dec. 20, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
16/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 16:TBD, vs. Carolina Panthers, TBD
(Allison Lawhon, Imagn Images)
17/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 17:Sunday, Jan. 3, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET
(Philip G. Pavely, Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports)
18/18
Steelers' 2026 schedule revealed: Opponents, dates, primetime games
Week 18:TBD, at Baltimore Ravens, TBD
(Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Career with the Steelers
Nowakowski, who played college football at Wisconsin (2020-2024) and Indiana (2025), was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, where he'll be asked to play a similar fullback-tight end hybrid role at the NFL level.
What's next in 2026?
Connor Heyward's departure was a massive loss for the Steelers this offseason. But Nowakowski should nicely fill the gap that Heyward left. Nowakowski has collegiate experience as both a fullback and a tight end, as well as experience as an accomplished blocker. Expect to see Nowakowski early and often as a rookie.
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