2026 Steelers thread

The safe choice has never been Rooney's MO. That's what makes this particular hire suspect. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's a bad hire. We don't need an old homer in there. We need young blood willing to adapt to today's NFL. Originally Posted by jayzee43

I agree on the Chubby Mike hire but not on Rooney’s MO. Keeping Tomlin was the safe choice for the past 6-7 years. And Hiring Chubby Mike was another. I wanted them to throw the dice on a Shanahan, Sean Mcvay or the Vikings HC understudy. Could implode but could also could find the next great young coach for the next generation. Now we have a decent, but never great old HC.

Should’ve never dumped Pickett, Claypool, Pickins and Ju Ju. They needed some time to mature, young guys still more interested in TikTok, but would’ve been a great combo by now. The Steelers don’t draft and develop talent like they did in the glory days. One off year and they dump them for rando geriatrics that never last and have no devotion to the team.

Should’ve never dumped Pickett, Claypool, Pickins and Ju Ju. They needed some time to mature, young guys still more interested in TikTok, but would’ve been a great combo by now. The Steelers don’t draft and develop talent like they did in the glory days. One off year and they dump them for rando geriatrics that never last and have no devotion to the team. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

Of the guys you mentioned, only JuJu had a “devotion” to the team. The others wanted out. Especially Pickins. He only has a devotion to himself.

Should’ve never dumped Pickett, Claypool, Pickins and Ju Ju. They needed some time to mature, young guys still more interested in TikTok, but would’ve been a great combo by now. The Steelers don’t draft and develop talent like they did in the glory days. One off year and they dump them for rando geriatrics that never last and have no devotion to the team. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

Pickett? Lol. He's been proven to be a lifelong 3rd stringer. One of only two players in NFL history to be traded 4 times in his first 5 seasons.

Pickens and Juju, I can agree with. Kenny Pickett? You can't be serious. And if you are, it's even funnier.

Yeah, but you wanted to run it back with Tomlin. Originally Posted by bambino

Huh?

Time will tell if some of the “young blood” coaches will succeed. Minter and Kubiak are first time HCs, the rest hired during this cycle have HC experience. Shula and Scheelhaase didn’t get offers. The Steelers offense will certainly be better and the defense can’t get worse. Originally Posted by bambino

Well yeah, duh time will tell. It always does.

Shula and Scheelhause didn't get offers, but the Steelers should have at least brought them in - instead of just having impersonal Zoom sessions.

The most we can expect out of McCarthy is 5 years and hopefully a couple playoff wins. That's not the Steelers way at all. Never has been. This was a dumb, shortsighted hire.

Bradshaw sucked his first few seasons also, gotta give the new guys time to develop their play and leadership skills.

Bradshaw sucked his first few seasons also, gotta give the new guys time to develop their play and leadership skills. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

Kenny Pickett hasn't stopped sucking, 5 years in. Sorry J, he's a lost cause and always has been. He will go down as the worst 1st round pick in Steelers history.

Huh?



Well yeah, duh time will tell. It always does.

Shula and Scheelhause didn't get offers, but the Steelers should have at least brought them in - instead of just having impersonal Zoom sessions.

The most we can expect out of McCarthy is 5 years and hopefully a couple playoff wins. That's not the Steelers way at all. Never has been. This was a dumb, shortsighted hire. Originally Posted by jayzee43

You can’t predict what McCarthy will achieve. DUH. But I’m confident that the offense will be more productive and coherent and the D will be statistically better than last year. Why waste time bringing in the Rams guys again if they didn’t impress in their first interviews? They obviously didn’t impress other teams either. Why waste their time.

BTW, what exactly is the “Steelers Way”? It’s been pretty mediocre the last decade. That’s what it’s been. That’s an over used cliche which means nothing.

Kenny Pickett hasn't stopped sucking, 5 years in. Sorry J, he's a lost cause and always has been. He will go down as the worst 1st round pick in Steelers history. Originally Posted by jayzee43

He’s never been able to settle in, different guys and coaches and offensive schemes every year. Nobody will play up to their potential in that situation. They should’ve danced with the one they invited to the prom, at least for a few years and see where it went IMO.

BTW, what exactly is the “Steelers Way”? Originally Posted by bambino

I can tell you what it's definitely NOT: hiring a 62 year old retread to be their head coach.

He’s never been able to settle in, different guys and coaches and offensive schemes every year. Nobody will play up to their potential in that situation. They should’ve danced with the one they invited to the prom, at least for a few years and see where it went IMO. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

Well J, I will say Tomlin shit the bed with him. First off, there was Canada, who was terrible. Secondly, Picket didn’t get any snaps with the first team O before Tomlin threw him in against the Jets. He wasn’t ready. But Pickett acted like a spoiled brat when he was benched for Rudolph and wanted out. So they shipped him to Philly where he had no chance of starting over Hurts. He looked really bad in Vegas. I doubt he’ll ever be a starting QB in the NFL. Really good in College for a year, not so much in the NFL. He wasn’t a first round talent.

He’s never been able to settle in, different guys and coaches and offensive schemes every year. Nobody will play up to their potential in that situation. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

Jalen Hurts and Caleb Williams beg to differ. Baker Mayfield, too. Pickett isn't remotely in their league.

I can tell you what it's definitely NOT: hiring a 62 year old retread to be their head coach. Originally Posted by jayzee43

60 is the new 40. The Steelers hired Jock Sutherland when he was 57.

Should’ve never dumped Pickett, Claypool, Pickins and Ju Ju. They needed some time to mature, young guys still more interested in TikTok, but would’ve been a great combo by now. The Steelers don’t draft and develop talent like they did in the glory days. One off year and they dump them for rando geriatrics that never last and have no devotion to the team. Originally Posted by Jacuzzme

You can make an argument for Pickins and Ju-Ju but the other two!?!? Neither will end up as NFL starters.

I could concede Pickett might’ve never made it, but Claypool is a beast. If I remember right he caught 4 td passes in 1 game. His size, strength, speed and talent could’ve made him one of the greats. His problem was discipline, that can be taught and comes naturally with age.