"I Weigh In": Steelers' Art Rooney II Is Absolutely Involved In Trade Discussions

The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t usually pull back the curtain on how things operate inside the building, but Art Rooney II just did exactly that heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. With speculation already building around who truly holds influence in key roster decisions, his comments brought rare clarity to a structure that is usually kept behind closed doors.

At the center of it all is General Manager Omar Khan, who has continued to reshape the roster and steer the long-term direction of the team since taking over. Alongside him is new head coach Mike McCarthy, whose role in the football operation has added another layer to how decisions get made, especially when it comes to draft strategy and organizational alignment.

When Mike Tomlin was at the helm, it was no secret just how much power he held. Many believed Tomlin had the most control and say, even more so than the general manager. Now with McCarthy entering his 19th season as a head coach but his first in Pittsburgh, the power dynamic has become especially interesting. As for the draft, Rooney explained his role in the process when he sat down with Bob Pompeani on CBS Pittsburgh.

"Well look, it's a busy time leading up to those nights," Rooney said while speaking with Pompeani. "By the time we get to the draft, a lot of the work has already been done. Following the board is key. There are trade opportunities that come up that I weigh in on. You know I participate in discussions about different aspects of the players, so it's a fun time, but as you say, we have a great staff."

Instead of leaving room for interpretation, Rooney laid out how that balance of power actually functions inside Pittsburgh’s front office.

And in doing so, he effectively set the tone for how the Steelers will approach one of the most important drafts in recent memory.

"With Coach McCarthy and his staff coming on board, it's been fun to see them working with our personnel staff," Rooney said. "I think it has come together pretty good."

From the sounds of Rooney, he certainly does defer a lot to those he has hired to do their jobs. Rooney will weigh in where he feels he should, but for the most part, he lets Khan and now McCarthy follow their own process. Khan has a lot of pressure on him now that Tomlin is gone. For the longest time, all the blame could still fall on Tomlin’s shoulders, but now every roster move will be even more scrutinized and blame placed at Khan’s feet.

That shift in responsibility changes everything about how the Steelers are judged moving forward. What was once filtered through Tomlin’s leadership now lands directly on Khan and the current structure in place under McCarthy. Every draft pick, trade, and roster decision will be evaluated with far less insulation than before. 

Steelers Fans No Longer Can Blame Mike Tomlin

Rooney’s comments make it clear the organization is trusting its front office to operate independently, but trust does not remove pressure. If the Steelers succeed, the structure gets praised. If they stumble, there is no longer a long-standing buffer to absorb the criticism or redirect accountability elsewhere.

That shift also means Steelers fans no longer have Tomlin as the default answer when things go wrong, forcing a full reset in how accountability is viewed across the entire organization.

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