When’s the last time anybody would’ve described the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense as fun? The answer is 2018 — the last season the Steelers avoided a bottom-10 finish in total offense and the final year Ben Roethlisberger looked like himself before injuries began taking their toll. Poor offensive play has become the norm, but the upcoming 2026 unit has a chance to finally break the trend.
“If I know anything about Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers, they’re gonna throw the ball. It’s going to be fun,” former McCarthy QB Ben DiNucci said via CBS Sports. “He’s gonna give Aaron a lot of control at the line of scrimmage.”
As a former McCarthy quarterback who grew up in Pittsburgh, DiNucci offers a unique perspective on what this offense could look like.
“I think they’ve done a really good job this offseason adding some tools around Aaron,” DiNucci said. “I think [Rico Dowdle] was an awesome signing for them. You go get a 1,000-yard back, add him to your backfield, a guy who has some familiarity with Mike McCarthy — a teammate of mine in Dallas for a couple years.”
The additions of WRs Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard grab the headlines, but RB Rico Dowdle may be the single most impactful newcomer. His 1,373 scrimmage yards ranked 19th in the entire NFL and 14th among running backs — an impressive total considering Carolina reduced his workload at times in favor of Chuba Hubbard.
For perspective, Dowdle was just 37 yards shy of Saquon Barkley and 40 shy of Breece Hall. This wasn’t a typical depth signing or a low-cost veteran addition. The Steelers may have landed a legitimate difference-maker who could define their offense in 2026.
That’s not to discount the impact of Pittman and Bernard. Pittsburgh barely had enough talent to justify the WR3 position last year, let alone a bonafide WR2. Pittman has spent most of his career as the top dog for the Indianapolis Colts, and has the production to back it up. Bernard, and perhaps even Roman Wilson, also have a chance to make their mark.
We haven’t even mentioned the offensive line yet, which has potential with another first-round pick added to the mix to be a primary driving force for the team’s success.
Mike McCarthy’s history suggests a top-10 offense is not only possible, but likely. He’s finished with one in two thirds of his seasons as an NFL head coach. That expectation is too lofty for some, but any improvements should put the 2025 AFC North champions back atop the division standings.
“This division could end up being like the NFC West was last year with three playoff teams,” DiNucci said. “We’re gonna get back to hard-nose AFC North-style football, and I think the Steelers are gonna be right there every week at the forefront of it.”
After years of searching for answers, Pittsburgh may finally have an offense capable of delivering something fans haven’t experienced in years — one that’s actually fun to watch.
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