Steelers Reveal Just Enough To Raise Questions About Max Iheanachor's Role

The Pittsburgh Steelers had quite the optical spectacle in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. By now, it is no secret that the Steelers’ 21st overall pick, Max Iheanachor, was not their first choice. Still, that does not mean Pittsburgh was not overly high on his draft grade or thrilled to have him fall into their lap. Now that the draft drama is behind them, the Steelers can begin preparing to evaluate which of their 10 rookies can make an impact in the 2026 season. Naturally, Iheanachor leads that conversation as the team’s first-round pick.

The Steelers are in an entirely new era now that Mike McCarthy is the head coach. He brought with him an impressive staff that he has built through relationships developed over his prior 18 seasons coaching in the league before taking the job in Pittsburgh. McCarthy has James Campen to coach up the offensive line group, along with new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio. There was not much faith in the previous staff to develop talent, at least in the eyes of many Steelers fans. 

However, with this new regime in place, there is a quiet confidence building around the development of the young players coming in. Angelichio is a big reason for that. He is known for his intense passion for football and attention to detail. Angelichio spoke to the media on Tuesday and revealed that Iheanachor will not be locked into just one position on the offensive line.

"We'll move him around," Angelichio said while speaking with the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday. "Take some looks at him. See where he fits well. We'll certainly give him options. He will learn multiple positions."

The coolest part about Iheanachor, but also the most worrisome, is his relatively short background in football. He started playing just a few years ago, beginning as a left tackle before flipping to right tackle at Arizona State.

The transition proved to be seamless for Iheanachor. Even as the level of competition rose, he started 30 of his 31 career games with the Sun Devils. His standout play at right tackle earned him Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. Angelichio wants to ensure that at the next level, he continues to maintain that versatility rather than settling into just one role.

"We're trying to train them all to have the versatility to play right and left throughout a season," Angelichio said. "If you can keep five guys, it's great. But usually, you're having to mix and match offensive line combinations and move guys around."

The Steelers know how important versatility is along the offensive line. That is something they have tried to master over the last few seasons under the previous staff, but it has not exactly worked out as planned.

Steelers Have Exciting Players Developing On The Offensive Line

They do have some exciting young players developing and growing together, but overall development has not been at an elite level until the last couple of seasons, when things began to improve.

Now, with this new staff in place and exciting young talent spread across the offensive line, Steeler Nation will be looking to witness a rapid rise in 2026 and beyond with this unit. It should start with the addition of Iheanachor and this new staff. Competition and coaching stability will be key factors, as Pittsburgh looks to finally unlock the full potential of its front and build a long-term identity up front in the trenches.

Please feel free to share your Steelers takes and thoughts with me on X (@anthonyghalkias) and consider following for more Steelers-related content and discussion. I’m always open to hearing different perspectives, breaking down games, and talking all things Pittsburgh football. Whether it’s roster moves, coaching decisions, or game-day reactions, I read and respond whenever I can.

#SteelerNation