The Pittsburgh Steelers are now just 9.5 days away from kicking off their regular season. They will host the Atlanta Falcons in the first regular-season matchup of head coach Mike McCarthy’s Steelers tenure. After winning the AFC North in 2025, McCarthy has inherited a playoff team that has been retooled. Now, the pressure is on him to deliver a deep playoff run.
A number of players will be depended on to push the Steelers as far as they can go. The most pivotal player in this equation is quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He isn’t the quarterback he once was, but he has one more season left in the arm that earned him four NFL MVP awards.
There will also be a number of Steelers recognized for their efforts throughout the season. Whether it is a Pro Bowl selection, an All-Pro selection or even the team MVP, there’s a lot to look forward to from this team. Here are predictions for some of those awards:
Team MVP: Alex Highsmith
Highsmith led the Steelers in sacks last year with 9.5. T.J. Watt is primed for a bounce-back season, but don’t rule out Highsmith continuing to produce at a high level.
If he can stay healthy, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will be able to use Highsmith in a big way. Highsmith had a team MVP-worthy season in 2022. Will he capture the award this year?
Rookie of the Year: Max Iheanachor
Big Max could become a key contributor at some point this season. He has had a strong training camp and put together a solid debut in the preseason finale. Iheanachor had some tough reps, but it was also his first game action.
This prediction assumes Iheanachor earns a starting role early in the season. The other candidates could be Germie Bernard or Robert Spears-Jennings. However, if Iheanachor earns the trust of the coaching staff and gets on the field as a starter, he could have a big rookie season.
Most Improved: Roman Wilson
Just about everyone is in the “believe it when I see it” phase with Wilson. However, Rodgers has repeatedly praised Wilson’s approach entering his third year. Even though his game still needs some refinement, we will see early how far he has come.
Expect Wilson to receive most of the slot work, and perhaps we will all see the connection he built with Rodgers during training camp translate to the field.
Pro Bowlers
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Pat Freiermuth, Zach Frazier, Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr., Chris Boswell, DK Metcalf
If there’s one player poised for a bounce-back year, it is Freiermuth. McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio have produced big performances from tight ends over the years. Metcalf should benefit from the new offense, while Frazier and Porter could earn their first official Pro Bowl nods.
All-Pro Selections
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Joey Porter Jr., Cam Heyward (Second Team), Alex Highsmith (Second Team), T.J. Watt (Second Team), Zach Frazier (Second Team)
Porter played at an All-Pro level last year. He was snubbed for the award and a Pro Bowl selection. This year, he will prove to the NFL and the Steelers why he is worth top-cornerback money.
Frazier could make his All-Pro debut, while several key defenders have a chance to earn recognition as well.
