The Pittsburgh Steelers made a lot of investments to bolster their roster this offseason. They especially focused on the offensive side of the ball. However, they also made some key signings on defense to give their new defensive coordinator more flexibility with his personnel. One thing is clear: general manager Omar Khan knows the team must improve. That starts with talent acquisition, which falls on his shoulders. One former Steeler and Super Bowl XL champion sees a clearly better roster, one that might finally compete in the postseason.
Jerome Bettis weighed in on the state of the Steelers under new head coach Mike McCarthy. Bettis played on a number of Super Bowl-caliber Steelers teams, so his opinion carries weight. Unsurprisingly, Bettis believes the 2026 team is much better than the 2025 squad.
"Oh, 10 times better. They got more talent," Bettis said. "The key when you are diminished from a talent perspective, you don't give yourself a chance. And I think that's what was happening. They just didn't have enough."
Did the Steelers Do Enough To Take a Step Forward?
Bettis made it clear that the 2025 team had talent to work with, they simply didn't have enough of it. And not just in 2025: Bettis suggested this has been the case for a while.
"They had some talented players, but they just didn't have enough talented players to compete with some of the other top caliber football teams," Bettis said. "You saw it once they got to the playoffs, the latter part of the season when they started to struggle."
That raises the question: did the Steelers do enough this offseason? They retooled their wide receiver room, which has struggled for years. They also signed Jamel Dean and Sebastian Joseph-Day, two defensive players who bring championship pedigree to Pittsburgh and add stability to the secondary and defensive line, respectively.
The Steelers' forced coaching change might prove just as impactful. Mike Tomlin retired after the 2025 season, and the team hired McCarthy to build a sustainable offense; he brought on a strong staff to address both sides of the ball. Will it be enough? Time will tell. But Bettis also suggested a key player has created new urgency in his final season with the team.
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Steelers Rally For Aaron Rodgers' Final Season
McCarthy's hiring didn't just bring a change in philosophy, it also enticed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to return. That, in turn, injected more urgency into the Steelers' front office, coaching staff, and roster. Rodgers made it clear: this is it. Bettis believes the team understands that and is acting accordingly.
"I think they understood that, and they went and tried to retool and get more talent in the building," Bettis said. "That's what they've done, and so let's see what happens this year. Obviously, there should be some motivation knowing that this is Aaron's last year, and I think that should carry through to the team, and hopefully play with a sense of desperation."
Rodgers' teammates embraced him last season, and longtime defensive captain Cam Heyward publicly pushed for his return in 2026. That gives the Steelers a chance to rally the entire organization around one final run with their future Hall of Fame quarterback. Their offseason featured aggressive trades, strong free-agent signings, and change across the board.
Time will tell whether Bettis' assessment proves correct. For now, though, the Steelers look like a fundamentally different team from the top down.
