Why Spencer Anderson Could Be Key to the Steelers 2026 First-Round Pick Becoming a Starter
Max Iheanachor, Pittsburgh’s highly touted rookie offensive lineman, has excellent athletic ability, while his imposing size and physicality give the Steelers another valuable asset up front. He’s six-foot-six and weighs 321 pounds. However, the former Sun Devil still needs to gain more experience, as he didn’t play football until college. He grew up playing soccer and became a basketball player after moving to the United States from Nigeria at age 13. Steelers guard Spencer Anderson has stepped into a mentorship role to help prepare Iheanachor to become a starter.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has made his expectations for the 22-year-old clear. He’s emphasized the importance of consistency. On September 1st, Nick Farabaugh shared on X, formerly Twitter, “Mike McCarthy was asked what it would take for Max Iheanachor to get into the Week One starter conversation: ‘The biggest thing is stacking success. I mean, he needs to stack practices together, starting with today.’” With Anderson’s guidance, the former Sun Devil can improve his consistency.
When speaking with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday, Anderson discussed mentoring the 22-year-old. He said, “Max is learning. He’s a young player. Not that I have to tell him everything to do, but sometimes I have to be more demonstrative and be like, ‘Hey, Max, we’re going here, and we’re doing X, Y, and Z.’” Anderson explained, “He already knows it. It’s just double-checking and making sure we’re on the same page. He’s a young player and has a lot coming at him. He’s looking at a lot when, for the majority of us, we know what we’re seeing and the game has slowed down for us. For him, it will be faster, with him being a rookie.”
Despite his lack of football experience, Iheanachor earned a 72.5 overall grade and a 78.3 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus for 2025. During his time at Arizona State, he played in 32 games, starting in 31. He was named to the second-team All-Big 12 in 2025. The former Arizona State offensive line standout played 860 snaps during the season and didn’t allow any sacks. He only allowed three quarterback hits and 11 hurries, for a total of 14 pressures.
Anderson is an excellent mentor for the 22-year-old. He’s patient, and he has plenty of experience. He played every offensive line position during his time at the University of Maryland. If the Arizona State alumnus eventually earns a starting role, he’ll be lining up next to Anderson. The former Terrapin’s mentorship is going to be a key factor in preparing Iheanachor to become a starter.
