The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to go through a ton of changes during the 2026 offseason. A lot of those changes have already occurred as former head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down from his role after 19 seasons, and the organization announced that Mike McCarthy would be the new lead man. A new head coach means nearly an entirely new coaching staff, and a lot of those hires have already been made. Now, the organization is going to have to make some decisions on the roster as the franchise has a handful of pending free agents, as well as some extension candidates to consider.
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Steelers’ Mike McCarthy talks with former players Ryan Shazier and Joey Porter Sr. at his introductory press conference.
There are some pending free agents for Pittsburgh where the decision of whether or not to potentially bring the player back is quite easy. That is the case for running back Kenneth Gainwell, while a player like Miles Killebrew requires a little more thought. He has been an important special teams player for Pittsburgh over the last five seasons. He has made two Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2023, but he missed most of the 2025 season after suffering a serious knee injury earlier in the year. He is a pending free agent, and insider Mark Kaboly has predicted that the team will let him walk in a recent post on X.
“A special teams captain, Killebrew is coming off a serious knee injury that cut his 2025 short,” Kaboly wrote. “With Danny Smith gone and Carson Bruener stepping into the role of special teams leader, Killebrew is expendable. — LET WALK.”
Killebrew has been an important player for Pittsburgh in recent years, and he has become a fan favorite. However, his injury in 2025 allowed a few other players to blossom on special teams. Those players are already under contract, and it might make the most sense for the organization to allow him to explore other opportunities in free agency once March rolls around.
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Steelers’ Miles Killebrew during a matchup with the Cleveland Browns at home in Week 6 of the 2025 season.
There are a few things to consider when thinking about Killebrew’s future with the Steelers. One is that he is 32-years old and attempting to bounce back from a serious knee injury. The other is that there is a completely new coaching staff in Pittsburgh. Tomlin always spoke about Killebrew’s leadership abilities, and he was a captain on the team for the last few seasons. McCarthy has not experienced that from Killebrew, so the safety and special teamer doesn’t necessarily have that going for him going into any potential negotiations.
The other factor going against Killebrew coming back to Pittsburgh is the emergence of Carson Bruener and Ben Skowronek on special teams. Bruener came in as a rookie in 2025 and notched 19 total tackles on special teams and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Skowronek doesn’t necessarily play the role Killebrew did on special teams, but he has been highly effective in that phase of the game and has turned into a leader within the unit as he was named a Pro Bowler in 2025 himself.
Steelers’ Coaching Change Will Affect Team’s Decision On Miles Killebrew
The change at head coach for the Steelers will affect some roster moves, but the bigger change for Killebrew comes at special teams coordinator. Danny Smith joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff in the same role, which is another reason Killebrew might not be brought back. The Buccaneers would be a natural landing spot for the former All-Pro.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers special teams coach, Danny Smith during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Killebrew doesn’t offer much on defense either as a safety outside of a depth piece, which makes it hard to give him a roster spot with two reliable special teams players already under contract. There isn’t really a way for him to fit in with the Steelers during the 2026 season, which is likely why he will be playing elsewhere.
What do you think the Steelers should do with Killebrew? Let us know in the comments below!