The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming campaign. But few things outweigh the anticipation fans are feeling for rookie wideout Germie Bernard. The former Alabama Crimson Tide standout is slowly identifying himself as a game-changer before he takes the professional gridiron. Videos of his work with prolific position specialist “Route God” are enough to develop confidence in the second-round pick.
The rookie also has a knack for saying the right things. His discussion with Jonathan Hankins on the Big Time Talk Podcast shed light on the rookie’s goals for the 2026 season. He even selected his jersey number to match the threads of his favorite receiver.
"Obviously I was five in college, but, he's [Jalen Ramsey] got five, so yeah we not touching that,” the rookie confessed to Hankins. “But they had 17 open, and one of my favorite receivers is Davante Adams. I've been watching his film for a long time.”
That’s music to everyone’s ears. Especially an aging All-Pro quarterback like Aaron Rodgers.
Adams is obviously a familiar name to the former Super Bowl MVP. In 2014, the former Fresno State receiver became a new target for Rodgers. He earned 38 receptions, 446 receiving yards, and three touchdowns as the third option in McCarthy’s offensive scheme. The production was more than expected and helped Rodgers carry the Packers to the NFC Championship game while earning league MVP honors. Adams would go on to become his top target for over half a decade.
Germie Bernard's jersey selection process shows exactly what to expect from the Pittsburgh Steelers' newest WR
Now deja vu greets Rodgers 12 years later.
Like the 2014 Packers, Pittsburgh has playoff expectations for the upcoming campaign. They too invested second-round capital in a promising wideout, hoping he will become a catalyst for the offense. Like Adams, I believe Bernard will become the X-factor McCarthy’s staff envisioned. He is ready to make an impact and can do so in multiple ways.
In 2025, Bernard earned 64 receptions and led Alabama's receiving core with 862 receiving yards during his final season. His seven receiving touchdowns ranked second among Crimson Tide targets. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb also implemented Bernard’s talents in other ways. He received 18 rushing attempts and recorded 101 rushing yards with two touchdowns.
It’s impossible to deny Bernard’s dynamic skillset. And that’s exactly why fans are thrilled to see his excitement towards joining the franchise. Still, It’s unrealistic to believe his impact will be similar to recent breakout rookies. I believe the rookie will have a productive season, but the goal is to become a top target over time.
Luckily, the Steelers understand this is a not a sprint, but a marathon.
Germie Bernard will see the field during his rookie season. I expect him to earn significant reps as a slot receiver alongside Roman Wilson - which will be good for long-term competition. He’s in an environment destined to bring out the best at a gradual pace. With DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr, and other veterans around, Bernard is sure to soak up knowledge in year one. Hopefully the rookie finds an even better connection than Adams and Rodgers once shared back in 2014.
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