The Pittsburgh Steelers' season recently wrapped up disappointingly, and all eyes now shift to the offseason. Once again, this roster will need to overhaul itself, and questions remain about the long-term future of this team. In the Wild Card round of the playoffs, the Steelers were humiliated in a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans.
This blowout continued a nine-year drought without a playoff win and didn't come without consequence, as Mike Tomlin's 19-year run as head coach of the Steelers came to a screeching halt.
In short, there will be plenty of new to experience in 2026.
Some of that change will tie in with the roster shuffling. While Pittsburgh may not overhaul its roster like they did a season ago, plenty of change is coming. For quite a few notable names, they just played their last game in Pittsburgh.
These six Pittsburgh Steelers players just played their final game for the team
Adam Thielen, WR
Let’s start with an easy one. Following an early playoff exit, Adam Thielen officially announced his retirement. While the 35-year-old added some stability to the receiver room when signed, he also failed to make a notable impact.
It feels like the receiver room is going to be overturned this year, and if Thielen doesn’t retire, he will be looking for work elsewhere. Given his age, I fully expect him to call it a wrap, but no matter what his choice is, in time, Pittsburgh is over.
Cole Holcomb, LB
While Cole Holcomb was a feel-good story for the Steelers, his time with the franchise seems to be done. Coming back from an almost career-ending leg injury, Holcomb has seen action on both defense and special teams.
However, the team finally gave the reins to Payton Wilson at linebacker, which has sent Holcomb to the bench on defense. He likely wants to get another crack at a defensive role, so he will be looking for a new home once free agency opens.
Marquez Valdez-Scantling, WR
The other veteran receiver that was added, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, failed to bring much juice to the Steelers. He failed to establish the connection he once had with Aaron Rodgers, and while traditionally a deep threat, he failed to connect on his deep targets.
Despite being a favorite target of Rodgers, Valdez-Scantling hasn’t been efficient. Again, the receiver room should feature quite a bit of change, and one of those will be Valdez-Scantling looking for a new team to latch on with.
Kyle Dugger, DB
Kyle Dugger was never brought in to be a long-term fixture. The Steelers gave up the bare minimum to acquire him from the Patriots, and he has done a fine job of serving as the replacement for DeShon Elliott.
He’s played well enough to potentially start somewhere else, but not well enough here to be in the lineup when everyone is healthy. Pittsburgh got their moneys worth for sure, but Dugger will be looking for a new opportunity in 2026.
Jonnu Smith, TE
The only player who is actually under contract in 2026 on this list, Jonnu Smith, was one massive of a disappointment. A sneaky addition in the Jalen Ramsey trade, he felt like a perfect fit. An Arthur Smith favorite coming off a career year, it looked like he was poised for big things.
Instead, he never got on the same page with Rodgers, and his snaps felt wasted. He was used more as a gadget player as opposed to an actual tight end. He was almost more effective on the ground than through the air. In short, it was a disappointing season, and I fully expect Smith to get the ax this offseason.
Isaac Seumalo, OL
The biggest coin flip on this list, it feels like the Steelers are getting ready to move on from Isaac Seumalo. He has been a strong addition to this line when healthy, but his age and mounting injury history have raised some questions. Add in the current market for guards, and Seumalo won’t be cheap.
The Steelers have also been vocal about Spencer Anderson stepping in next season, and that seems like the plan (loosely). I fully expect a guard to be added in the draft to compete as well, since Anderson has had success as the sixth offensive lineman. Unless Seumalo is willing to play for peanuts, he seems as good as gone.