The Pittsburgh Steelers open the 2025 season against the New York Jets. Last year ended in disappointment as the team dropped four straight games to close the regular season and then suffered a lopsided playoff loss to the Ravens.
In response, the front office put together one of the busiest offseasons in franchise history. They reshaped the roster through major trades and free agent signings to finally break the playoff drought and push deeper into January.
This year’s roster looks stronger than last season’s, but with so many new faces there are still plenty of questions to answer. Here are three things to watch in the Week 1 matchup against the Jets.
What to look out for in Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 battle with Jets
How soon can the Steelers offensive line come together?
Pittsburgh has poured significant resources into the offensive line since Omar Khan took over as general manager. Both starting tackles were first-round picks, Zach Frazier was taken in the second round, Mason McCormick was a fourth-round selection, and Isaac Seumalo arrived as a key free agent signing two years ago. That is a lot of draft capital and investment, but also a lot of young, untapped potential.
Frazier quickly emerged as one of the top centers in the league as a rookie, while McCormick put together a solid first year of his own. Troy Fautanu did not see the field at all, and Broderick Jones, who has struggled to find consistency early in his career, is finally moving back to his natural left tackle spot, where the team hopes he can settle in. Seumalo remains the steady veteran presence, though he missed the preseason while dealing with an injury.
The problem has been slow starts. Under Pat Meyer, the line has repeatedly stumbled through the early part of the season before finding rhythm midway through the year. That cannot happen now with Aaron Rodgers at 41 years old running the offense. The group must be ready immediately, both to protect the veteran quarterback and to open up a passing game that has been stuck in neutral for years.
Still, this offense will live and die on the ground. The Steelers were one of the least efficient rushing teams in the league last season, and that must change from the opening snap in Week One. The offensive line will be the single biggest factor in whether this season succeeds or stalls. Against a stout Jets defensive front, the unit needs to deliver right away, or Pittsburgh could be staring at an early upset.
Who will rise in the Steelers wide receiver room?
Last season, the Steelers' wide receivers struggled outside of George Pickens, and now he is gone after being traded following the acquisition of DK Metcalf. Much like last year, the front office chose not to add another free agent to support their new WR1, instead putting faith in the young group already in place.
Roman Wilson missed most of his rookie season and is essentially starting fresh, while Calvin Austin III showed flashes but still has more to prove. Alongside Scotty Miller, this wide receiver room remains one of the biggest question marks on the roster.
The passing game should benefit from having Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but if the receivers fail to step up, the offense will once again be limited by a lack of reliable options. In Week One, Metcalf will have his hands full with Sauce Gardner shadowing him, which means the rest of the unit will be tested immediately.
For Wilson, it is a chance to carry his impressive preseason momentum into meaningful action and show why the team drafted him in the third round. For Austin, it is an opportunity to prove he can be a consistent second option behind Metcalf. If neither delivers, the offense could quickly find itself in the same frustrating position as last year.
What changes will we see in the Steelers defense?
All offseason, the talk has been about how different this Steelers defense will look. After trading Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and investing two draft picks into the defensive line, the front office made it clear that the priority was shoring up the run defense and building a deeper cornerback room after that embarrassing wildcard exit.
Last year, the defense was criticized for being too predictable, rarely blitzing, and seldom moving TJ Watt around to create mismatches. Training camp painted a different picture. Watt has been spotted lining up in different spots, and Patrick Queen has openly said that “Blitzburgh” is coming back.
That is exactly the kind of aggression this defense has been missing. With all the money and talent invested on this side of the ball, it should be an elite unit every season, yet it has not consistently reached that standard.
Now the pieces are in place for a real shift. If the pass rush is unleashed with creative looks, more frequent blitzes, and constant movement across the line of scrimmage, and if the secondary can hold up behind them, this group has the potential to be dominant. Week One against the Jets will be the first test, and if the hype is real, this defense should set the tone by overwhelming an offense they are built to punish.