Is the Steelers 2026 Offense Slated to Be More Explosive Than They Were in 2025?
The 2025 Steelers offense struggled across the board. Ranking 22nd in passing offense and 26th in rushing offense gave the Steelers the 25th-ranked offense in the NFL last season. The Steelers' highest ranking was 15th in scoring offense, averaging 23.4 points per game; however, this was mostly due to the defense giving them short fields, as they had 27 takeaways on the year. The addition of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator led to the most productive offense and the most consistent quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, yet it still ranked in the bottom half of the league. The Steelers have done their work this offseason, signing Rico Dowdle, drafting Germie Bernard, extending Darnell Washington, and trading for Michael Pittman Jr., yet ESPN analyst Kevin Clark doesn't expect the Steelers' offense to become more explosive. “No, I don't,” Clark said when talking about the Steelers' 25th-ranked 41 explosive plays in 2025. “I don’t think it was a scheme thing last year. I don’t think Arthur Smith was telling Aaron Rodgers to throw less than 10 yards at a historically high rate. I think it was Aaron Rodgers trying to get rid of the ball.”
The Steelers answered the long-awaited question of Rodgers' future in the NFL. The four-time MVP agreed to a one-year contract to stay in the Steel City, and the team did everything in its power to set him up for success in what will be his final NFL season. Rodgers' issue of getting rid of the ball so quickly last season should improve. With the selections of Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker in the 2026 NFL draft, paired with the continued development of the young guys already on their o-line, Rodgers should receive better blocking and therefore have more time. Even if Pittsburgh’s line fails, the additions of Pittman Jr. and Bernard give Rodgers more weapons if he does need to get the ball out quickly. The Steelers relied heavily on yards after catch last season, but with new personnel and a new coaching staff, it remains to be seen how much they will rely on it in 2026.
Often, the 'Steelers' offense is described as looking extremely good on paper, but it falters once the season actually begins. Mike Tomlin had five offensive coordinators during his 19-year tenure as the Steelers' head coach, three of whom were hired since 2018. Regardless of who the Black and Yellow’s play-caller was, from 2018 on, the offense struggled. With a complete change and Rodgers former coach at the helm, it would be shocking if Pittsburgh’s offense didn’t improve and produce more explosive plays. Even with all of Rodgers’ new weapons, Jaylen Warren has recently drawn attention too, with Pro Football Focus’s Daire Carragher listing him as one of the best undrafted players in the league. The black and yellow now have two 1,000-yard rushers with Warren and Dowdle. Rodgers almost certainly doesn’t have the magic touch that he used to, but he’s bringing familiarity and comfort to a promising Pittsburgh offense. The final outcome will come down to how well the Super Bowl XLV Champion can still sling it, but if he can play the same as he did last year, the rest of the roster around him should be able to deliver.
