The Pittsburgh Steelers have felt stuck over the last few years. They haven’t won a playoff game in almost a decade, and their last three seasons have all ended the same way. The Steelers gone 10-7, defying most peoples’ expectations, but then they’ve stood no chance in the postseason. However, analyst Adam Schein expects that to change in 2026.
“I think the Pittsburgh Steelers are gonna surprise a lot of people this year,” Schein said Tuesday on Schein Time show. “I think Pittsburgh’s the favorite in the division. I think Pittsburgh’s had a remarkable offseason, and when they get [Aaron] Rodgers back, they’re gonna complete it. I think Michael Pittman Jr. is one of the best moves of the entire offseason. I think he’s gonna have a monster first season in Pittsburgh…
“I think [Rico] Dowdle’s gonna be outstanding for this football team. They improved the defense. And frankly, I think Mike McCarthy is a better head coach than Mike Tomlin. I have no issue with Aaron taking his time. He’s earned it, he’s a vet, knows the offense, knows the system. Don’t sleep on the Pittsburgh Steelers as a 12-win football team in 2026.”
That’s quite the change compared to how Schein talked about the Steelers last offseason. He guaranteed they were going to have a losing season in 2025, expecting them to win only five or six games.
However, most of that was because of Tomlin. Now that he’s gone, Schein has done a 180 and is now bullish on the Steelers.
Whether he’s right or wrong remains to be seen. However, he’s right that the Steelers have improved their roster this offseason. Pittman gives them the No. 2 receiver they’ve desperately needed. While losing team MVP Kenneth Gainwell isn’t great, Dowdle is a nice substitute. He’s coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and he previously played for McCarthy.
Quarterback is the Steelers’ biggest question at the moment. The more McCarthy speaks, though, the more it feels like Rodgers is going to return. While he wasn’t great last year, he also wasn’t awful. With a better system in place, there’s a chance that Rodgers and the Steelers could meet Schein’s expectations.
The Steelers won the AFC North last year, but they haven’t won at least 12 games since 2020. They went 12-4 that year, winning the division but quickly bowing out of the playoffs.
McCarthy produced three-straight 12-win seasons as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach, but he won a single playoff game during that stretch.
Regular-season success won’t be enough for the 2026 Steelers. The key for them at this point is winning at least one playoff game. Dominating during the regular season would feel hollow if they can’t follow it with some postseason success.
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