The Pittsburgh Steelers are once again staring down a familiar but uncomfortable crossroads. This time, it sits squarely at the wide receiver position, where business realities collide with emotional attachment and unanswered potential. Calvin Austin III is set to hit free agency. Pat Freiermuth, once viewed as a foundational offensive piece, was strangely underutilized throughout the 2025 campaign.
As the franchise prepares for its first head coaching hire since Mike Tomlin, these personnel decisions feel heavier than usual—because they are.
The Steelers’ head coach search will set the foundation for the franchise’s future. We’ve seen this story before. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin didn’t just coach teams—they carried eras. On-field production was their responsibility, and stability was their calling card. With the Tomlin era now part of history, the door is open for a new staff to leave its mark.
That uncertainty is exactly why the futures of Austin III and Freiermuth have become such hot-button topics among fans.
There’s also the looming possibility that Arthur Smith could land another job elsewhere. If that happens, Pittsburgh’s offense will once again be forced to learn a new system. That’s nothing new for the players who’ve lived through this rushed rebuild.
Austin III and Freiermuth have caught passes from a revolving door of quarterbacks—Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers—none of whom emerged as the long-term answer. Constant leadership changes under center and on the sideline stunted offensive growth and robbed skill players of continuity.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must evaluate the future of Pat Freiermuth and Calvin Austin III
Context matters, but the NFL is still a business. “What have you done lately?” remains the league’s most valuable currency. Yes, the Steelers clinched the AFC North, but it wasn’t pretty. And if not for a few late-game heroics, Austin III and Freiermuth might have faded into the background entirely.
Austin III delivered when it mattered most, including his unforgettable game-winning touchdown against Baltimore to seal the division. Outside of those crucial moments, however, his impact was inconsistent. He finished the season with 372 receiving yards and three touchdowns—a steep drop from his impressive 2024 output. Injuries forced him to miss three games, and availability continues to cloud his long-term value. Big plays are exciting, but they haven’t been frequent enough to silence concerns.
With Austin’s inconsistency, the door was wide open for Freiermuth to emerge as Aaron Rodgers’ safety blanket. Instead, the offense leaned heavily on Darnell Washington, whose rise as a matchup nightmare felt like both a blessing and a distraction. Freiermuth, a fan favorite Yinzer staple, was often left stranded—noticed only when opportunities had already passed. His 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns tell the story. Even more telling: his targets dropped by 24 from the previous season.
The absence of what many believed were franchise cornerstones is a red flag for any incoming coaching staff intent on implementing its own agenda. Pittsburgh is in the middle of a competitive shift. Schemes will change, philosophies will evolve, and with that upheaval, difficult decisions are inevitable.
I wouldn’t be surprised if both Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth find new homes before next season. Austin’s explosiveness is undeniable, but the missed-game-to-impact ratio remains concerning. Freiermuth’s future is brighter, yet a temperature check may be necessary to gauge his long-term fit and commitment.
A new head coach is the first step toward a new regime. And new regimes rarely arrive quietly.