Steelers fans are still waiting for the first big move of the offseason from the front office as coaches on the hot seat hold their breath. But those wanting significant change may have to wait. Most coaching changes are made early in the offseason, but Pittsburgh has yet to pull the plug on anyone from their 2024 staff.
As we inch closer to the Senior Bowl, the NFL confirmed the dates of the 2026 NFL Draft and Donte Jackson has a message for fans. Here's the latest Steelers news.
2026 NFL Draft dates in Pittsburgh
Steelers fans have been waiting for this for a long time. For the first time since the NFL merger, the NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh. The Steel City submitted a bid to host the 2026 NFL Draft. Now the dates are official.
Pittsburgh has only hosted one draft, which came all the way back in 1948. From 1965-2014 the NFL Draft was held in New York City. Since then, cities have placed bids to host the draft. Now the 2026 draft starts in Pittsburgh.
The 2026 NFL Draft will kick off on Thursday, April 23, 2026, and conclude on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The draft is expected to give the city of Pittsburgh a significant revenue boost during this highly-anticipated three-day stretch.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said the 2026 NFL Draft is an opportunity to celebrate football and Pittsburgh's unique place in the history of the game, according to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com.
Donte Jackson has a message for Steelers fans about Mike Tomlin
Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson appeared on Christian Kuntz's most recent podcast. When asked about head coach Mike Tomlin, the veteran cornerback heeds a warning.
"I would just be like, 'Be careful what you wish for," Johnson said on the podcast. "I've seen in my six years in Carolina, I've seen three coaches get fired during the season."
Johnson has a point, and most Steelers fans realize you can do far worse than Mike Tomlin. At the same time, resorting to fear tactics seems to be the biggest defense for Tomlin at this point after continuing an eight-year drought without a playoff win. Pittsburgh isn't moving on from Tomlin—at least not this year—so it's a moot point.
T.J. Watt named as finalist for 2024 DPOY award
The NFL Honors ceremony will soon commence on February 6, and T.J. Watt has been named as a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Watt had an underwhelming season in 2024 (by his own standards) and finished with 11.5 sacks in 17 games.
Late in the season, Watt was the betting favorite to win DPOY but was overtaken late in the season by Denver Broncos All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II. Watt joins Surtain, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson, and Zach Baun as the finalists for the DPOY award this year.
Steelers nab cornerback in the latest NFL mock draft
In the latest NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso has the Pittsburgh Steelers turning their card in for Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison. At 6'0'' and 190 pounds, Morrison is sudden with press-man coverage ability and would be an ideal fit opposite Joey Porter Jr. in the secondary.
With Donte Jackson's contract expired and Cory Trice Jr. unable to stay healthy for more than a few games at a time, a boundary cornerback becomes a big need for Pittsburgh and Morrison offers depth and security to the position. The Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the first round of the draft this year.