Steelers Gain Huge Praise From Former NFL QB Who Goes On Incredible Pro-Pittsburgh Rant

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into a season of total transition. After now-former head coach Mike Tomlin stepped down following 19 seasons, the organization turned to Pittsburgh's own Mike McCarthy to take the helm. With a new coach and staff, the team is moving in a different direction, while still maintaining its high standards for excellence. It's not a full rebuild, but a retooling of how the team will operate going forward. 

The Steelers' defense left a lot to be desired in 2025, especially given the fact that it was the league's highest-paid group. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has made it a point that while the unit is going to keep the traditional 3-4 defense, his scheme will revolve around his players, not the other way around. 

This is a significant change from the previous staff, as communication and the scheme were cited as reasons for the collective’s shortcomings. Additionally, the Steelers will have their first offensive-minded head coach in decades, flipping the script for a team that is usually defensively focused. With these coaching and schematic changes also came an emphasis on roster construction. 

The team made some big moves through the NFL Draft and free agency. With offense in mind, the Steelers traded for former Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and traded up in the second round of the draft to select wideout Germie Bernard. 

Now, with a solid group of receivers, the offense is poised to have a better season. Some major additions on the defensive side of the ball help round out the roster, including cornerback Jamel Dean. With that in mind, former quarterback Chase Daniel was on NFL Live on ESPN, where he explained how bullish he is on the Black and Gold heading into 2026. 

"I'm pretty bullish on these Steelers. Their core is locked in: Michael Pittman, DK Metcalf, and Germie Bernard, who I think is gonna have an extremely versatile year. You look at all three of those guys, and they all play different parts of the offense. The biggest thing is you gotta throw the football down the field at some point. The biggest thing I'm looking forward to is how McCarthy and [Aaron] Rodgers work together," Daniel said. 

This high praise comes because the organization clearly understands what went wrong last season. A lack of weapons on offense didn't help the unit find a groove, and oftentimes, drives fell stagnant. Three-and-outs were a common trend, and the vertical passing game wasn't where it should've been. Pittsburgh made some much-needed upgrades. 

Daniel spoke a ton about the Steelers' need for a solid running game. The team was among the bottom in 2025 when it came to total rushing yards (1,756) and in the middle of the pack in yards per carry (4.3). 

Another huge move was the signing of running back Rico Dowdle, who is coming off a career year. The tandem of Dowdle and Jaylen Warren should bring the Steelers a 1-2 punch at running back. The running game, complementing the pass, will only help the team create a complete offense. 

Steelers' Offense Can Only Get Better

After 2025's disappointing end, the Steelers' offense will improve. Through all of the additions to that side of the ball and a head coach who has established himself as an offensive mastermind, Pittsburgh is set up to put up more points and move more efficiently in 2026. Even with an aging quarterback, the combination of a better scheme, more weapons, and, hopefully, a better run game will take the team to new heights. 

This season will be a huge one for how the Steelers plan on moving in the future. But one thing is for certain: the offense looks much better on paper than in previous years. Now, it's up to execution and putting up big numbers. 

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