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Head coach Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers hired two more assistants to finalize the team’s 2026 coaching staff.
Head coach Mike McCarthy has completed filling out his first coaching staff with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team announced Thursday it hired Robert Kugler as tight ends coach and Tim Berbenich as game management/quarterbacks coach. With those two additions, the Steelers’ 2026 staff is now set.
With the final two additions, the Steelers will have 21 assistants on their staff to support McCarthy in 2026. That’s two more assistants than the team had last season.
According to Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora, the Steelers also had 19 assistants during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In 2022, the team had 18 assistants.
Discounting S&C staff and Chief of Staff, the #Steelers have 21 coaches for 2025. 10 offense, 8 defense, 2 STs, 1 HC.
Here’s how that stacks up to past years.
2022: 18
2023: 19
2024: 19
2025: 19
2026: 21
The Steelers will also have four members of their strength and conditioning/sports science staff.
McCarthy hired Kugler as his final position coach. A North Allegheny native, Kugler coached for the New England Patriots during the 2025 campaign.
Berbenich served as the Atlanta Falcons pass game coordinator/game management coach the past two seasons under Raheem Morris.
Mike McCarthy Adds Former North Allegheny TE to Coaching Staff
With the Patriots, Kugler served as an assistant offensive line coach. So, his move to Pittsburgh will not only be a return to his hometown but also to his most natural position.
Kugler played tight end in high school at North Allegheny.
In addition to growing up in Pittsburgh, Kugler has a direct connection to the Steelers as well. His father served as Steelers offensive line coach from 2010-12 under Mike Tomlin.
Kugler spent two seasons with the Patriots as an assistant offensive line coach. He held the same role with the Carolina Panthers from 2022-23.
During 2021, Kugler received his first NFL opportunity as an assistant offensive line coach for the Houston Texans. Before that, he coached in college for a few seasons.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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