The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason is only a week old, and already it’s taken a turn like few others in franchise history.
Or at least over the past five-plus decades or so.
Mike Tomlin stepping down has made for a coaching search, something the Steelers haven’t done since 2007 and have done only two other times since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.
But just because the coaching search takes up all of the attention doesn’t mean that regular business-as-usual won’t be taking place behind the scenes. As in the lead-up to any season, the Steelers have plenty of decisions to make about personnel and shaping the roster.
For obvious reasons, of course, the new coach could compel the Steelers to steer into a certain direction when it comes to the types of players he wants to acquire (or keep).
“I think it’s too early to say what effect (the coaching change) is going to have on the roster,” team president Art Rooney II said last week. “The new coach obviously is going to have a lot to say in that. We’ll have that discussion when the time comes.”
Whoever the Steelers’ next coach is — and over the first six days since Tomlin stepped down, nine candidates had interviews with the team or had scheduled one — he could help shape how the Steelers approach free agency. The cadence of the annual league calendar makes free agency the first true opportunity to add talent.
“Part of the discussion with candidates,” Rooney II said, “will be our roster and how they view our roster, what they would do with our roster, and making sure we’re all comfortable with that plan.”
Twenty-three Steelers are scheduled for unrestricted free agency, including at least 11 who were playing a significant role as the season ended: starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, starting left guard Isaac Seumalo, team MVP running back Kenneth Gainwell, co-starting strong safeties Kyle Dugger and Chuck Clark, co-starting cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr. and James Pierre, receiver Adam Thielen, receiver Calvin Austin III, punter Corliss Waitman and fullback/tight end Connor Heyward.
Thielen has already announced his retirement, and Rooney publicly said Rodgers was not expected back at age 42. The Steelers have a viable in-house replacement for the 32-year-old Seumalo in Spencer Anderson, who this past season was the top backup at guard and played significant snaps as the “jumbo” No. 3 tight end. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers profess faith in Anderson and if they offer him a contract extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.
Dugger and Clark were themselves fill-ins for DeShon Elliott, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in October. The revolving door at safety also included Jabrill Peppers (also a free agent) and the since-cut Juan Thornhill. The subpar play of Thornhill combined with injury issues compelled the Steelers to move Jalen Ramsey from cornerback.
As the Steelers map out their offseason, they need to decide if Ramsey will move back to cornerback. He was a three-time first-team All Pro there, but he is not the same player at age 31. It is not out of the question (especially with a new coach) that the Steelers move on from Ramsey and the $12 million they owe him in 2026.
Another candidate to be cut is tight end Jonnu Smith, who is due $7 million in 2026 after averaging just 5.8 yards per catch during his first season with the Steelers.
Gainwell’s Steelers debut campaign went much better, but he also might not be back — and not because the Steelers won’t want him. After posting 1,023 yards from scrimmage and leading the Steelers in catches (73), the market for Gainwell’s services figures to be greater than when the Steelers got him for $1.79 million for one year during last year’s free agency.
Management will need to decide what they’ll pay to keep the team MVP around in 2026.
Austin has been a model teammate and served as a speedy playmaker at times over the past three seasons with the Steelers. He might be back on an unextravagant contract, but a priority for the team needs to be to find an upgrade via a legitimate WR2 to DK Metcalf. That might come via the draft — but with free agency taking place six weeks earlier, the Steelers first need to make a decision to what degree they will pursue veteran receivers.
Cornerback is another spot that a No. 2 must be secured one way or another by the Steelers to complement Joey Porter Jr. That could come by way of retaining Pierre and/or Samuel, via a free agent or by taking their chances in the draft.
Quarterback, of course, looms over all player acquisition decisions the Steelers must make this spring. If Rodgers isn’t back, it will mark six different Week 1 starters in six seasons for the Steelers. The free-agent market is uninspiring, though, headed by the likes of Daniel Jones (recovering from injury) and Malik Willis.
The importance of that position means that a decision regarding it, more than most, will be in conjunction with the new coach.
“I’m sure the quarterback position will be an important part of that discussion with the candidates,” Rooney II said, “and we’ll have to develop a plan for going forward.”