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Within a couple of weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers will report to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe for 2026 training camp. The team features an influx of fresh talent along with an entirely new coaching staff. Fans will get their first look at Mike McCarthy's homecoming as the Steelers begin a new era.
The 2026 season comes with plenty of unknowns, but a few things are certain. Aaron Rodgers is entering the final season of his career, Mike Tomlin is no longer the head coach, and the Steelers are defending AFC North champions.
Unlike his previous stops in Green Bay and Dallas, McCarthy inherits a playoff-caliber roster. The Steelers hired him to elevate the offense and help the team break through in the postseason. His influence is already evident, and changes are beginning to take shape. Here are three bold predictions for the first season of the McCarthy era.
Aaron Rodgers throws 30+ touchdowns
Rodgers reunites with the Mike McCarthy offense that helped define the best years of his career. In what is expected to be his final NFL season, he'll likely leave everything on the field during one last championship pursuit. Last season, he threw 24 touchdown passes despite playing in an offense that lacked a cohesive passing scheme and a strong receiving corps.
Now, Rodgers has a revamped wide receiver room, an upgraded offensive system, and one final opportunity to let it fly. Surpassing 30 touchdown passes may be a tall task for the soon-to-be 43-year-old quarterback, but if there's ever a time for him to reach that mark again, it's during his last dance in the NFL.
T.J. Watt records 12+ sacks
Watt could be entering a pivotal season in Pittsburgh. After signing a lucrative extension last year, it's difficult to envision him wearing another uniform. A former Super Bowl-winning player believes in his ability, and Watt remains one of the league's most relentless pass rushers. With a new defensive scheme in place, he'll have an opportunity to make an immediate impact.
Breaking the sack record that slipped away from him is probably unrealistic, but Watt can still deliver a resurgent season and justify the Steelers' investment over the final years of his contract. If he records more than 12 sacks, it would be a major boost for both Watt and the Steelers. Whether he reaches that milestone remains one of the biggest questions entering the season.
Steelers win their first playoff game in 10 years
Rodgers and the Steelers were routed in the 2025 Wild Card round, which proved to be Mike Tomlin's final game as head coach. The 2026 season marks 10 years since Pittsburgh last won a playoff game. If McCarthy wants to validate the Steelers' decision to hire him, ending that drought would be a significant first step. The roster has enough talent to make it happen.
Ultimately, it will depend on whether the defense takes another step forward and whether the offense makes an even bigger leap. McCarthy was brought in to build a productive offense and develop the franchise's quarterback of the future. If his homecoming celebration extends beyond this season, it will be because the Steelers finally found postseason success in 2026.
