The Steelers are facing major changes as they seek the successor to HC Mike Tomlin, but some players will be affected more. Some even stand to potentially benefit from a new regime—depending, of course, upon how they view them. Below are five players from the Steelers’ roster, not necessarily the five players, who could gain the most from a fresh start.
Pat Freiermuth:
The longest-tenured Steelers player on this list, Pat Freiermuth’s usage fell way off last season. Largely a byproduct of OC Arthur Smith’s system, it seems unlikely the Steelers’ next head coach would retain him. Freiermuth is on record as wanting a bigger role, and the front office probably wants that, too.
Asante Samuel Jr.:
Asante Samuel Jr. likely would have cashed in big in free agency had he been healthy. Instead, he signed with the Steelers mid-season and wrestled with James Pierre for playing time. A new head coach would view Samuel through a broader lens, based on what he did with the Chargers. Of course, he is also a pending free agent, so the Steelers would have to re-sign him. It remains to be seen what role losing Mike Tomlin might play in that.
Roman Wilson:
This one is a layup considering Roman Wilson finished the season on the bench after the Steelers swapped out the wide receiver room en masse. At one point during the season, emerging as a starter, his role quickly changed. When the Steelers claimed Adam Thielen off waivers, Wilson became an afterthought. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also passed him on the depth chart—even Scotty Miller did. But he’s under contract for the next two years, Thielen is retired, and there’s no reason for Valdes-Scantling to return. Even Calvin Austin III is a free agent. It’s just Wilson and DK Metcalf, basically.
Kaleb Johnson:
Last year’s third-round draft pick, Kaleb Johnson, saw very little work during the season. In the Steelers’ defense, he didn’t necessarily look like he was ready. They were also getting what they needed from Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. But whoever the next coach is will likely have scouted Johnson last year and could see his potential. They might not look at Gainwell the same way the Steelers’ 2025 staff did, either. Coming out of the draft, Johnson seemed to have lead-back potential. Just because he didn’t hit the ground running doesn’t mean anybody should write him off.
Dylan Cook:
While Broderick Jones was Omar Khan’s first draft pick as general manager, the Steelers’ next head coach will have no ties to him. Nor will, presumably, a new offensive coordinator or offensive line coach. That should be good news for Dylan Cook, who may see a more objective evaluation of his 2025 tape. Or perhaps more accurately, a more objective evaluation of the left tackle position.