The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2026 season has the same goal every season since 2016 has had: end the playoff win drought that has persisted for a decade now. Despite making the playoffs six times since losing to the Patriots in the 2016 AFC Championship, Pittsburgh hasn't come close to winning any of the playoff games they have been a part of during that stretch.
As soon as the decision to replace long-time head coach Mike Tomlin with Mike McCarthy was announced, it became clear to fans that there would be no change to the Steelers mantra of staying competitive at all costs. That sentiment was only amplified when Aaron Rodgers officially returned as the team's starting quarterback, reuniting with McCarthy for one final run.
With that being said, it won't be McCarthy or Rodgers that defines the 2026 season for Pittsburgh. They are who they are at this point. The same thing goes for the established stars like Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt. Instead, it will be players who have yet to reach their ceiling, or ones who need a bounce-back season, who will determine how far the Steelers go this season.
These Pittsburgh Steelers players will be who set the ceiling for how good the team can be in 2026
Derrick Harmon flashed in 2025, but now it's time to put it all together
When the Steelers selected Derrick Harmon in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, I was ecstatic. Harmon was my personal top interior defender in the class, even ahead of Michigan's Mason Graham. Despite dealing with a few knee injuries that limited his overall impact, Harmon still made his presence felt as a rookie.
The Steelers were significantly better against the run with him on the field, and he flashed as a pass rusher with three sacks in 12 games. If he continues to be a major contributor against the run while amping up his pass rush production in 2026, the sky is the limit for how good the Steelers defensive line could be. While Heyward is still the team's top interior defender until proven otherwise, Harmon must close that gap this year if Pittsburgh wants to get back to being a top 10 defense.
Germie Bernard may be just a rookie, but the passing game's ceiling may rest on him
Putting a rookie on this list is a bit of a gamble, especially one who may not even begin the season as a full-time starter. With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. sitting atop the Steelers receiver depth chart, second-round rookie Germie Bernard isn't guaranteed to play significant snaps right away.
It doesn't help that Aaron Rodgers isn't exactly known for loving inexperienced receivers, but Bernard is absolutely one of the players who could determine how good this offense can really be in 2026. He has already impressed his teammates with his football IQ this summer, and his diverse skill set should help him fill any role that the offense needs him to.
He may not put up the kind of numbers needed to get recognition outside of Pittsburgh, but he could quietly elevate a passing game that was stuck in neutral most of last season.
Whoever plays right tackle better be able to protect Aaron Rodgers during his swan song
This one is admittedly a total cop out, but can you really argue with it? As it stands, 2025 surprise breakout Dylan Cook seems to be getting the first crack at the right tackle job, with Troy Fautanu moving over to his college position on the left side. 2026 first-round pick Max Iheanachor also figures to be in the mix, as would Broderick Jones if he can get back to full health before the season.
While I do think the best long-term outcome of this battle would be for Iheanachor to be ready to hit the ground running, who actually wins matters less in 2026 than how well they can protect Rodgers in his final season.
Rodgers showed last season that he is no longer a dynamic pocket mover who can escape pressure and find receivers down the field. If the offense wants to create explosive plays through the air, the pass protection will have to be top-notch and allow the 42-year-old room in the pocket. If not, the offense may not improve at all despite upgrades across the board.
Jamel Dean needs to break the Steelers recent streak of missing on veteran corner additions
Last, but definitely not least, we have the Steelers' biggest free agent addition from this offseason. Jamel Dean spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, and now he looks to pair with Joey Porter Jr. as one of the NFL's top cornerback duos. Dean is coming off an excellent season in 2025, putting up a stellar 47.7 passer rating allowed according to Pro Football Focus.
As great as he was a year ago, Dean will turn 30 midway through the 2026 season. Plenty of corners far better than him have completely fallen off by that age, and the Steelers know that better than almost anyone. Patrick Peterson and Darius Slay were disaster signings for the Steelers just over the past few seasons. Even Joe Haden, their most successful free agent CB addition over the past decade, fell off once he reached his early 30s.
If Dean can fend off any major regression for at least this upcoming season, the Steelers secondary could be a legitimate strength for the first time in years. If not, it could get ugly fast.
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