Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy during his introductory press conference on Jan. 27, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently outlined expectations for first-year NFL head coaches. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, Davenport expects Mike McCarthy to lead the Steelers to a 10-7 season for the fourth consecutive year. It would also extend the Steelers’ non-losing season streak to 22 years.
“McCarthy inherits a team that won 10 games to become the AFC North champions in 2025. They haven’t had a losing season in over two decades. The Steelers are the model of stability. The roster was bolstered with some quality additions by trading for wide receiver Michael Pittman and signing running back Rico Dowdle, safety Jaquan Brisker, and cornerback Jamel Dean,” Davenport wrote.
“But the Steelers have been a good but not great team for a long time, and Pittsburgh has the same problem this year that has existed since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
“Aaron Rodgers or not, the Steelers don’t have a quarterback that makes them a legitimate Super Bowl contender—and there’s no clear path to that guy in the short-term. The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy during his introductory press conference on Jan. 27, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
It’s late March, and the Steelers still don’t have an answer from quarterback Aaron Rodgers on whether he’ll return to the Steelers in 2026.
Rodgers said on The Pat McAfee Show earlier this month he’s been in contact with general manager Omar Khan and McCarthy, but there’s no deadline or contract offer set by either side.
“There’s conversations to be had down the line, but right now, there has not been any progressive conversations,” Rodgers explained.
Rodgers is just laying low now and spending time with his wife.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with my wife, we went on a ski trip, been laying low,” Rodgers said. “I’ve talked to Mike [McCarthy}, I’ve talked to Omar. There’s no deadline put in front of me, no contract offer to debate between. I’m a free agent.”
Rodgers spent 13 years in Green Bay with McCarthy. The Steelers’ coaching staff also has a slew of former Packers coaches, including offensive line coach James Campen, who has a close relationship with the four-time NFL MVP.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that was something that I enjoyed seeing,” Rodgers said. “All those guys getting back together. It’s some of the guys that had the greatest impact on my career.
“… Obviously that would be a draw if I decided we’d go down that path. But again, it takes two to tango, and we’ll see what happens as we get into free agency and everything.”
The Steelers most likely won’t be Super Bowl contenders in 2026. Like Davenport stated, until the Steelers find a long-term answer at the quarterback position, it’s hard to imagine anything changing anytime soon.
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