Stars Aligning For Steelers To Allow New OC Brian Angelichio To Recruit Former Player To Play In Pittsburgh

It is going to be a very significant 2026 offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There is a fresh feeling of opportunity after the resignation of Mike Tomlin. While he will go down as a legend in the city, his teams were incapable of winning a postseason contest for nine seasons dating back to the 2016 campaign. Hiring Mike McCarthy was slightly out of left field, but the front office and ownership have made it clear that the goal is to win now. Moving forward, every decision made will be highlighted under a microscope, because fans expect playoff success.

One positional group that has been under intense scrutiny for years is the wide receiving corps. DK Metcalf was the notable acquisition in 2025, but the team decided to trade George Pickens not too long after. The team hasn't had a true one-two punch in the area since Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster were running around. Diontae Johnson and Smith-Schuster provided some stability, but as far as firepower goes, the Steelers are still searching for more in 2026.

Pittsburgh has pieced together the room often by signing veterans and moving on from disgruntled playmakers. The goal will likely be to find great talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, but free agency will comes first. The pool of options won't be incredibly deep; however, there could be a couple of individuals that catch General Manager Omar Khan's eye.

Gerry Dulac hosted a fan chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday and touched on plenty of topics regarding the organization. Someone inquired about the possibility of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor following new Steelers offensive coordinator, Brian Angelichio. The coach was previously on Kevin O'Connell's staff. Dulac noted that such a signing is very possible.

"Coaches looking to bring in new players always look to their former teams, to players with whom they are familiar. So that would not be far-fetched," Dulac wrote.

With Khan expected to select one, or multiple wide receivers in the draft, bringing in a respectable young talent like Nailor could be exactly what the doctor ordered. At 26 years of age, he operated as the third option in the Vikings' passing game in 2025. Nailor hauled in 29 catches for 444 yards and five touchdowns. If the Steelers take a pass-catcher in the first round, Nailor would be a great individual to be slotted third on the depth chart.

The Steelers are entering uncharted territory. Tomlin is gone, McCarthy has arrived, and Khan may have more power over roster construction than he ever has before. One inconsistent piece of the teams trotting out on the field in recent years has been the wide receiving corps. It would be rather shocking if the team passes on signing a free agent, even if there are intentions to take some come the draft. Nailor may be a great option, and Angelichio could give Pittsburgh an edge.

Some could fault the Steelers' up-and-down quarterback play in recent seasons, but the best offenses in the NFL have two, unquestionable options at wide receiver. Pittsburgh needs to find a solution for 2026, and Nailor would help the cause.

Steelers' Offense Will Be Run By McCarthy And Then Aided By Angelichio

McCarthy confirmed that he would be calling the plays on offense during his introductory press conference. It will be his system and philosophy, but that doesn't mean the opinions of Angelichio won't be taken into account. One of his first asks could potentially be for the front office to reach out to Nailor's camp, who is expected to be searching for a new home very soon once free agency rolls around.

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