While the Pittsburgh Steelers were clearly an average team in 2025, an AFC North title and a home playoff game are still two worthy accomplishments. Most of us, though, can see that this operation is simply not sustainable—continually putting Band-Aids on the quarterback room year over year does not lead to long-term stability.
If the Steelers hope to progress into that next tier and become a legitimate contender in the AFC, they'll have to figure out how to draft and develop a legitimate franchise quarterback. The best teams in the conference are typically always the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and, more recently, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots.
It's no coincidence that all those teams drafted and developed a first-round quarterback. Pittsburgh's chances at repeating as AFC North champions in 2026 feel low, and it's for good reason.
The Pittsburgh Steelers ranked as the most vulnerable division winner for the 2026 season
NFL.com Senior News Writer Kevin Patra ranked the Steelers as the most vulnerable division winner for the 2026 season. Unfortunately, he's right:
"Pittsburgh eked out an AFC North title last season on a missed Ravens field goal as time expired in Week 18. The Steelers saw Mike Tomlin step down, replacing him with 62-year-old Mike McCarthy. Pittsburgh is once again in the middle of Aaron Rodgers drama. Even if the future Hall of Famer plays, he’s still 42. Rodgers played well in spurts last year, but wasn’t a top-15 QB.
The Steelers finally improved their weaponry with the additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and second-round receiver Germie Bernard, but there remain significant questions about what the offense will look like with an aging QB. If Rodgers ultimately decides not to play, those issues are magnified.
The Ravens and Bengals each improved this offseason. A new coaching staff in Baltimore should bring life to the team, particularly on defense. Cincinnati bolstered a moribund defense significantly. If Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson stay healthy, 10 wins isn’t taking the division again."
Patra's analysis of the division could not be more accurate. Both Baltimore and Cincinnati improved this offseason, and if not for a Tyler Loop missed field goal in Week 18, the Steelers would have finished 9-8 and been on the couch and not in the playoffs.
We did see Cincinnati, especially, improve big-time this offseason. Major defensive changes like Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook entering the room boost a unit that simply needs to be average. There's no debate on how good the offense can be as well, as Joe Burrow is a superstar, and the wide receiver duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins might be the league's best.
Baltimore is typically always a juggernaut, and even after starting 1-5 in 2025, the Ravens did find a way to get to 8-8 before Week 18, so there's no use in hoping this team remains in the middle of the road - as long as the Ravens aren't dealing with an abnormal amount of injuries in 2026, the team is going to start off strong.
To be fair, though, Pittsburgh did add some talent in Jamel Dean, Michael Pittman Jr., and Jaquan Brisker, among others, but no matter how good this roster gets, it feels like a lost cause because of the quarterback situation.
On the flip side, the Ravens and Bengals are typically considered dangerous teams because of their quarterbacks. It's not a mystery, and there is no secret formula here. General Manager Omar Khan can keep signing cool free agents and making trades for weapons—none of it will matter until the quarterback position is taken more seriously.
And sure, on paper, Aaron Rodgers was efficient in 2025—throwing 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions is a great ratio, but the offense was a 'dink and dunk' unit and just was not nearly explosive or threatening enough to compete with the best teams in the league.
Pittsburgh's chances of winning the AFC North in 2026 feel close to zero.
Add us as a preferred source on Google