Steelers Fans Brace for Mediocre 2026 Season Under Mike McCarthy

Analyst predicts Pittsburgh will go 10-7 and make the playoffs, but not be a true Super Bowl contender.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:33am

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According to a Bleacher Report analysis, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to have another middling season in 2026 under new head coach Mike McCarthy, going 10-7 and making the playoffs but not being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The report suggests the Steelers' stability and consistency over the past two decades may lead to more of the same - good enough to make the postseason, but not good enough to win it all.

Why it matters

Steelers fans have grown accustomed to their team being a perennial playoff contender, but the prospect of another 10-7 season and early playoff exit under a new coach is likely to disappoint many in Pittsburgh. The team's inability to find a true franchise quarterback to take them to the next level is seen as a major obstacle to their Super Bowl aspirations.

The details

The report from Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport predicts the Steelers will win 10 games in 2026 to capture the AFC North division title, continuing the team's streak of not having a losing season in over two decades. However, Davenport believes the Steelers' quarterback situation, whether it's Aaron Rodgers or someone else, will not make them "a legitimate Super Bowl contender." The analysis suggests Pittsburgh is stuck in a cycle of being good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to win a championship.

  • The Steelers won 10 games to become the AFC North champions in 2025.

The players

Mike Tomlin

The longtime Steelers head coach who is leaving the team.

Mike McCarthy

The new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, hired to replace Mike Tomlin.

Aaron Rodgers

The veteran quarterback who may or may not return to the NFL and join the Steelers in 2026.

Gary Davenport

The Bleacher Report analyst who made the 10-7 prediction for the Steelers in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“McCarthy inherits a team that won 10 games to become the AFC North champions in 2025. They haven't had a losing season in over two decades.”

— Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report Analyst

“The Steelers don't have a quarterback that makes them a legitimate Super Bowl contender—and there's no clear path to that guy in the short-term. The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

— Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report Analyst

What’s next

The Steelers will look to the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency to try and find a quarterback who can elevate the team to Super Bowl contention, but the report suggests that may be a difficult task in the short term.

The takeaway

Steelers fans have grown accustomed to their team being a perennial playoff contender, but the prospect of another 10-7 season and early playoff exit under a new coach is likely to disappoint many in Pittsburgh. The team's inability to find a true franchise quarterback to take them to the next level is seen as a major obstacle to their Super Bowl aspirations.