Steelers Receive Optimistic Label As Franchise Is Now Considered A Contender For Super Bowl LXI

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a frustrating go of it in recent years. The fan base is not happy with the way things have gone as the organization has remained somewhat competitive and made the postseason in three consecutive years, but cannot hang with most playoff teams. The franchise has been blown out in the postseason recently, and Pittsburgh has not come close to advancing in the postseason in practically a decade. The organization has refused to rebuild, but that has left the team looking for a potential franchise quarterback. It is extremely difficult to be labeled a legitimate contender without a reliable star under center.

Pittsburgh has gone the veteran route at the quarterback position over the last two seasons. Russell Wilson was in town in 2024, and then Aaron Rodgers took over in 2025 and played decently. There is still a chance that he can return in 2026, but he is weighing his options as retirement is certainly on the table for the four-time league MVP. 

A few factors will probably weigh into his decision, including the moves made by the organization during the 2026 offseason. The moves have been both impressive and necessary, and Saad Yousef of The Athletic has the Steelers ranked as a team that is positioned to make a Super Bowl run at the end of the 2026 season.

"The quarterback position is a big question mark, whether Aaron Rodgers chooses to return or not," Yousef wrote. "Rodgers was serviceable last season, but far from his MVP-caliber play in Green Bay. However, assuming Rodgers does return, adding [Michael] Pittman [Jr.] and Rico Dowdle to the offense will help. The biggest thing is that the Steelers are far from finished. They have 12 picks in this year’s NFL Draft, the most of any team in the NFL. They can still add a lot more young talent or dip into the trade market — or both."

Both sides of the ball have been disappointing for the Steelers as of late. The defense has underperformed while the offense has struggled to find efficiency. The hope is that the revamped coaching staff can fix some of the issues in both of those areas, while bringing in additional talent can also be a part of the solution.

While the quarterback position is still up in the air, the expectation is that the offense will be much better in 2026. New head coach Mike McCarthy has an offensive mind and will be calling plays during games, so hopefully the schematics and tendencies can take a step in the right direction. The passing game should be easier to operate out of after the addition of Michael Pittman Jr., while Jaylen Warren also got a new running mate in Rico Dowdle.

Defensively, Pittsburgh made some key additions on the backend. Cornerback Jamel Dean was a great, high-value signing, while Jaquan Brisker was a promising add in the safety room. It also cannot be overstated how good of a move it is to bring in Sebastian Joseph-Day for depth on the defensive line.

Steelers Can Put Finishing Touches On 2026 Roster

Pittsburgh will be looking to improve up until the 2026 regular season begins, but the organization does have 12 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. It is very unlikely that the franchise makes anywhere close to that number of selections as some picks will likely be traded to move up, or gain capital in 2027. However, the organization will still be adding some very important players. A few high-impact rookies could take this team to the next level, even with the questions at quarterback.

Calling the Steelers Super Bowl contenders is a little rich, but the organization is making the right moves. 

What do you think about the Steelers being tabbed as a Super Bowl contender? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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