**KELVIN GARDNER FROM PINE BEACH, NJ: With Mike McCarthy's history of working with multiple defensive systems, do you expect the Steelers to stay rooted in their traditional 3–4 identity, or lean more into the hybrid, multiple-front style we've seen from many recent Super Bowl champions?**
ANSWER: Since the Steelers are aligned in a traditional 3-4 about 30 percent of the time, statistics would indicate they already were employing hybrid, multiple-front styles on defense. Coach Mike McCarthy said on Jan. 27, "The history of the Steelers defense and staying with the 3-4 is important, as far as the origin of it … Always been a fan of it and always felt it was the toughest one to compete against as an offensive coach. That's part of the reason why I went to it in Green Bay."
When Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham did an interview with Missi Matthews for Steelers.com, said this about the current defensive personnel: "The size. The sheer mass of the human beings we have lined up out there. This is what you envision in terms of your defense to look like in terms of length, size, mass. They're just big men. Every time I have met one of them, most of them are all bigger than me. I'm not a small guy, but they just dwarf me. I'm like, 'Yes this is exactly what I want it to look like.'"
**SCOTT RANDALL FROM CONWAY, SC: Obviously, this draft is WR wealthy. Do you think this can sway the decision of the team to attack CB/safety in the first round over a WR?**
ANSWER: My opinion on this is that I wouldn't pass on a dynamic WR in the first round because I think/hope you can get the same caliber player in the second/third round. I would trust the evaluations/grades and pick my board.
**KAWPORN SUSSANGKARN FROM CHIANGRAI, THAILAND: Hopefully Aaron Rodgers will be back this year, so the Steelers won't have to use a draft pick on a QB. Next year I believe there are supposedly more options of "good" QBs in the draft. What do you think?**
ANSWER: I think the key word in your question is "supposedly." Again, I'm trusting the evaluations and the grades on my draft board. What this 2026 group of draft eligible QBs has shown everyone is that what's predicted before the college season is not necessarily the reality.
**JAMES ROBERT LABAR JR. FROM BYRNEDALE, PA: Who will be the starting left tackle for the Steelers in 2026?**
ANSWER: Well, I don't see the Steelers using a No. 1 pick on a tackle in the upcoming draft, and the cost of a starting-caliber LT in free agency can be astronomical. That would leave it as a competition between Broderick Jones and Dylan Cook.
**RICHARD CIMINO FROM HOT SPRINGS, AR: You listed the coaching staff for us. It was rather lengthy. How many coaching staff members were on Mike Tomlin's staff? Seems like Mike McCarthy has doubled the previous staff.**
ANSWER: There were 23 assistants on Mike Tomlin's staff in 2025. There are 26 listed on McCarthy's staff for 2026.
**BRIAN JENKINS FROM CULPEPER, VA: Have the Steelers ever swapped a first-round pick in a current draft for one in the following year's draft, or traded back to have extra capital to make moves the following year? I know it's early, but the QB class in 2027 is being called one of the best in a long time. Do you think that is something they would consider?**
ANSWER: In a previous submission about the potential QB class of 2027, the word "supposedly" was used. Your submission uses, "is being called." I personally believe it makes no sense to trade a No. 1 pick in 2026 for what might happen in 2027.
**HANS KOLLER FROM FREDONIA, PA: I'd like to offer my condolences to Mike Wagner's family. I'm not old enough to have seen him play, but my mother did, and we had the chance to meet him when he was signing autographs. When she fan-girled over meeting her first player from the 1970s teams, he couldn't have been a more gracious person.**
ANSWER: As Mel Blount said, "I don't know how to say it other than he was a good person."
**RUSS PALLONE FROM TRINIDAD, CO: I've read several reports that the pass interference penalty rule may be changed to be more like the college rule, a 15-yard penalty/automatic first down instead of a spot foul. Do you think the pros outweigh the cons in such a change?**
ANSWER: What I believe is that it's a moot point in 2026, because NFL Media's Judy Battista reported on Feb. 22: "NFL Competition Committee's Rich McKay does not expect it will be a big year for rules proposals. 'The game is in a good place,' he said."
**MICHAEL ROBERTS FROM ELIZABETHTOWN, KY: Overall I really like this coaching staff's mix of experience and new faces. What will Steve Scarnecchia do as Chief of Staff?**
ANSWER: I have no idea. But I'm also confident Coach Mike McCarthy has a plan and that he verbalized that plan to President Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan. And I'm sure that whatever that role is will evolve.
**JACK G. FOSTER FROM ROUNDUP, MT: Thanks for the list of new assistant coaches who have been hired. Was any of the previous staff retained? Also, have the previous offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator been hired elsewhere?**
ANSWER: Tom Arth was retained to coach quarterbacks and Scott McCurley was retained to coach inside linebackers. Arthur Smith was hired to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, and Danny Smith was hired to be the special teams coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As of a few days ago, Teryl Austin did not have a coaching job for 2026.