The 2026 offseason was nearly unrecognizable for the Steelers, as they welcomed a new head coach for the first time in 19 seasons following Mike Tomlin’s resignation. Pittsburgh’s own Mike McCarthy was announced to be just the 4th head coach of the Steelers since 1969.
Mike McCarthy started making the team his own from the beginning, signing Rico Dowdle and Brock Hoffman in free agency, both of whom played for him in Dallas. The selection of Drew Allar in the draft was a direct tie to the veteran coach’s ability to scout and develop quarterbacks.
Organized team activities and minicamp had a familiar feel, as there is only so much diversity in football in shorts, but those periods were used largely to install the new schemes. Changes on offense are not that irregular, with the Steelers having changed offensive coordinators 3 times in the last 8 years. But an overhaul comes on defense, where new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham brings an entirely new system. Mike McCarthy explained early on that he desires to keep the terminology the same, but Graham’s history shows us that the defense will look very different than recent years.
“..ideally we want to keep the language the same. Those are big decisions when you come in here because when you have something that works the way it’s worked here for so long, I think you should try to do everything you can to build off that, if possible.”
Steelers.com
Before stepping on the field at Saint Vincent College, McCarthy had already impacted training camp. The former regime scheduled practices in the afternoon, adding heat to the rigors of camp, but McCarthy has alleviated that heat by scheduling practices earlier in the day, usually between 10:30 and 11:30 AM.
As Latrobe, PA, hosts Steelers training camp for the 60th time, many of the sights and sounds will remain the same, but the functions of practice could change. It’s unknown at this point if Steelers staples such as “backs on backers” and “7 shots” will be part of the plan. The famous “Friday Night Lights” practice session has already become Saturday night lights, and there is no telling what other changes could be coming. What we do know is that McCarthy is serious about camp and getting this team ready for football.
“We have those three practices in helmets and shorts and the ramp-up [practice], but when that Monday hits, we want to get going and make sure we’re ready to play games.”
Steelers.com
Finally, the grind of football season is upon us. Coaches and players (and writers) have been preparing for the welcome whirlwind of activity that comes with football season, and we finally made it. Here is my official preview of the Steelers 2026 Training Camp.
Position Battles
Starters
Right Guard
The top position battle in camp this season is undoubtedly right guard. 2025 starter Mason McCormick moves to the left side to replace the departed Isaac Seumalo, leaving a vacancy on the right side. Last year’s “6th man”, Spencer Anderson, free agent Brock Hoffman, and 3rd-round selection Gennings Dunker will compete to be the starter.
Anderson, a former 7th-round pick, will play in 2026 on a contract year, further motivating him in camp to prove himself as a starter. Early indications are that he will be penciled in to run with the first team to start camp, but RG represents the truest competition in camp.
Brock Hoffman enters the equation with familiarity – not with the Steelers, but with McCarthy. In four seasons in Dallas, he started 16 games, 9 of which were under McCarthy. 2024 was his best season, when he finished with a 68.9 RBLK, 62.1 PBLK, and 66.3 OVR per Pro Football Focus. Although he played each interior offensive line position, 75% of his snaps were taken at right guard.
According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Gennings Dunker is a heavy-handed blocker with a great build who clears out down blocks aggressively and dominates at the second level. He also notes that his pad level needs improvement and that he can be caught off guard and out of position against advanced pass rush schemes. His pre-draft pro comparison for Dunker was none other than Mason McCormick.
The Steelers have a good problem at right guard – too many solutions. Gennings Dunker was undoubtedly drafted to be the starter of the future, and with offensive line coach James Campen’s tutelage, he will become that, in time. Hoffman’s positional versatility makes him valuable, as he can back up any interior position. He’s great for competition, but I believe Spencer Anderson ultimately begins the season as the starter. His experience, work ethic, and desire to prove himself in the final year of his contract are too much to ignore. He also may be the beneficiary of the camp competition happening beside him at right tackle.
Right Tackle
Right tackle may be less of a true competition and more of a placeholder situation. Last year’s left tackle, Dylan Cook, played well as he replaced incumbent starter Broderick Jones following his season-ending injury. In 5 games played, 4 as a starter, he allowed 1 sack and 2 hurries on his way to an 80.7 PBLK grade, which was 8th in the NFL. Despite his success, the Steelers drafted tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Max Iheanachor oozes size and traits, but is still working on developing them into football skills. Although a raw prospect, he dominated at Arizona State, starting 28 games at right tackle. Troy Fautanu’s move to left tackle opens the door for Iheanachor. Working with a coaching staff with a proven history of developing offensive linemen, I believe this first-round selection will bear fruit sooner rather than later.
Having not played football until college, Iheanachor is a proven fast learner. His ability, plus his high ceiling, give him serious consideration to be a day-one starter. Cook played excellently last year, but Iheanachor’s ascendancy will not be held back for long. He does not necessarily have to beat out Cook, but adequate play could earn the rookie the job, given the trajectory of his progression. Starting two rookies on the right side of the offensive line is less than ideal, which I believe could play a part in the decision at RG if Iheanachor is named starter at RT.
On the Bubble
Asked often, Mike McCarthy has been clear on his intention to keep 3 quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, leaving either Mason Rudolph or Will Howard as the odd man out. Aaron Rodgers, of course, will be the starting QB, and 3rd round rookie Drew Allar is safe as well at QB3. Who will win the Steelers’ suddenly coveted QB2 position?
The job is Rudolph’s to lose, but Howard will be given the opportunity to win it; however, in an unorthodox way. OTA’s and Minicamp saw Will Howard work with QB2 reps, and that is expected to be extended into training camp. This allows Howard ample opportunity to prove himself, and with mostly proven players running with the 2nd team.
Although it’s a new staff, the coaches, and the league know what Mason Rudolph is. Little can be learned from the 9-year veteran in this setting, but much can be learned about Howard. QB2 reps in training camp likely mean QB2 reps in preseason, which Howard was robbed of in his rookie season.
Position on the roster and the depth chart is Mason Rudolph’s to lose, and rather than letting Rudolph lose it, the coaching staff has elected to give Howard the golden opportunity to win it. Howard exceeding his 6th-round expectations, or nearing the known ability of Rudolph, would likely gain him favor. An average or poor showing in preseason could safely land him on the practice squad, which could be the second-best case scenario behind Howard running away with QB2.
Ownership has made clear the desire to compete, hence the return of Aaron Rodgers. However, mortgaging the future should not extend down to QB2. The pursuit of sustained success should enter the equation in more ways than just Drew Allar. A strong showing of progression or promise should, and could, earn Will Howard the coveted QB2 position in 2026, if only 3 QBs are kept.
Kaleb Johnson vs Eli Heidenreich
Kaleb Johnson may or may not be directly competing for a roster spot, but it’s hard to construct a Steelers roster that includes both Johnson and Eli Heidenreich.
Johnson’s rookie year was disappointing to say the least, whether it was his fault or the former coaching staff’s is irrelevant. New season, new staff, clean slate.
Eli Heidenreich, the 7th-round hometown military man, enters the conversation as a jack of all trades, who contributed as a return man, wide receiver, and runner whilst at Navy, but has largely spent his time in the running back room with the Steelers.
Mike McCarthy has been open about his desire for players to contribute at multiple positions, which favors Heidenreich considerably. His aforementioned versatility brings great value, albeit mostly in depth. Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are expected to handle most running back duties, and the wide receiver position saw considerable upgrades with the additions of Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard. The return game would be an intriguing position for Heidenreich if the Steelers had not drafted return specialist Kaden Wetjen in the 4th round. Providing depth at so many positions is valuable, especially if the ability to contribute on punt and kick units is shown.
Special teams earn so many careers in the NFL, and it may be Kaleb Johnson’s best avenue to remain a Steeler. Johnson was drafted to be a runner. A runner in a wide zone system that has since left Pittsburgh. Last offseason, he focused on adding pass protection to his game, an important factor that is still an unproven question due to his lack of playing time in 2025. This year, he’ll have to add special teams to his repertoire in order to contribute at multiple positions.
This competition favors Heidenreich. Training camp and preseason give him ample opportunity to show his worth at several positions, while Kaleb Johnson is still hanging on to college tape as a runner and learning new skills and positions to be considered as a depth piece of the roster. Important factors are that Heidenreich likely does not make it through waivers if cut, and Johnson could bring trade value, as he’s entering only his 2nd season as a former 3rd-round running back with no wear and tear.
All Eyes On: Schematics
The Mike Tomlin era started off with a bang, winning a Super Bowl in just his second season and securing 8 playoff wins in his first 10 seasons. It fizzled out as quickly as it started, with the team having won its last playoff game in 2016, nine seasons ago. Though it wasn’t always a problem, recency bias points to two main causes: the lack of a franchise QB, and poor schematics.
The Steelers are still missing a franchise quarterback, but there has been forward momentum in that area. Schematics, however, have been absent too long. Gone are the days of Matt Canada’s jet sweep, Minkah Fitzpatrick playing 40 yards off the ball, or T.J. Watt’s stationary alignment. With Mike McCarthy comes all-new schemes and a particular emphasis on mastering them.
Mike McCarthy is a three-receiver set, West Coast offense traditionalist who believes heavily in timing and making the game as easy as possible for the quarterback. But these are the Steelers, and Mike McCarthy realizes that and has addressed that they will be a power football team. It remains to be seen exactly what that means, but McCarthy’s past and the roster configuration suggest a good amount of 2 tight end sets with a bruising inside zone run game. Establishing the run will always be a key to success in Pittsburgh.
Defensively is where the curiosity and excitement take hold. It’s been years since Pittsburgh has had a truly intimidating and respected defense. Patrick Graham has a reputation for adapting his scheme to the strength of his personnel, which plays well with the Steelers’ unit. Graham is expected to take advantage of the strength on the edge, using the established T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, along with Nick Herbig (and his new contract) and second-year Jack Sawyer, who progressed well late last season. Cam Heyward, Joey Porter Jr., and DeShon Elliott help give Graham valuable talent on all levels. Newcomers Jaquan Brisker and Jamel Dean figure to contribute immediately as starters.
What exactly the new offense and defense look like remains to be seen, but the change will certainly be welcomed. By the fans and players alike.
Questions to be Answered
Below are some of my own particular questions I’m looking to have answered in training camp:
- Who will be the primary slot defender? The Jaquan Brisker signing to me was interesting. I’m not sure he has the ability to play true free safety, but he may not be asked to do so much. I question him and DeShon Elliott both in split safety. Ideally, I would like to see Jalen Ramsey at free safety with Brisker at nickel, but that takes Ramsey too far from the action too often. He excels closer to the ball. A good mix of both is the most likely scenario.
- Inside linebacker responsibilities. Patrick Queen has had a rough start to his Steelers career, often a step late in coverage or missing tackles. Payton Wilson has been somewhat of a disappointment in his young career as well. Both return as starters with Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison behind them – the same LB room as last year. I believe Patrick Graham prefers thumpers, evidenced by former Steelers thumpers Elandon Roberts and Robert Spillane going straight to Graham when they left Pittsburgh. It could mean somewhat of a devaluation of the linebacker position in Pittsburgh, which given their inability to find adequate help there – may not be such a bad thing.
- How many QBs are on the roster? A hot topic of offseason discussion is which QB gets cut. I say, why not keep all 4? McCarthy’s emphasis on positional versatility makes the game-day rosters much more flexible. A roster spot could surely be reserved for an extra QB. This allows you to have Rodgers & Rudolph to play and win games, while developing Howard and Allar as potential QBs of the future.
- Does Pat Freiermuth finally get used? Since his rookie year, we’ve been hearing how important Pat Freiermuth will be to the offense “this year” or how many targets he will get, but we’re yet to see it. The skill position rooms have suddenly become crowded, but the West Coast offense doesn’t shy away from the middle of the field, where Muth excels. Jake Ferguson had tremendous success in McCarthy’s offense, and there’s no reason Freiermuth cannot be used in that same way. Feed Muth.
- When will Joey Porter Jr. get paid? The contract is inevitable, and it’ll be large, but when? I can’t see him missing real games for it, but practices? Maybe. The Steelers have a way of letting these things drag out, which ultimately preserves their best players through the rigors of training camp, but with a new coaching staff and new schemes, I think he’ll be wanted on the field sooner rather than later.
If you made it this far, I hope you like what you read. It’s an all-time exciting season for Steelers football and I’ll have all sorts of written content throughout the season. Follow along as I write weekly articles with reports and opinions throughout training camp and into the regular season.
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