The NFL never fails to keep fans guessing, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are at the center of one of the wildest offseason shakeups. If you’re looking for a team that’s hitting the reset button hard, look no further. After all, no one missed out on how Pittsburgh traded star wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys. That alone made headlines, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Add to that the departure of both quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, during free agency, along with losing workhorse running back Najee Harris. Now, here’s the kicker—Pittsburgh is the only team league-wide without its leading passer, rusher, or receiver from 2024. That’s a pretty rare and wild situation in football terms. So, this raises a big question: what’s next for the Steelers?

So, this past Wednesday, ESPN offered their take on the Steelers’ schedule, and from the looks of it, it could be a tragic start for Mike Tomlin. Here is the schedule for the first 7 weeks of the regular season:

The very first game of the regular season against your former quarterback at MetLife Stadium, who expressed a strong desire to return? Yeah, that’s bound to scare you. And that is exactly what the analysts are trying to convey. Dan Orlovsky chimed in with, “I think [the Steelers are] staring at 0-6 in the face,” and Louis Riddick added, “every single team’s QB situation is right there [is better].” Yikes—not great news for the Steelers’ QB mess, which, honestly, couldn’t be worse.

They recently brought back Mason Rudolph with a two-year contract worth $7.5 million. Though he has been with the team since 2018, he has managed to impress only on certain occasions. That’s a pretty big gamble, especially when the franchise is sailing turbulent waters and seeking stability at the quarterback position. There’s also Will Howard, a rookie, and Skylar Thompson. And just to put things into perspective, the Jets quarterback room looks tough with Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez, and Brady. And that’s just one team we are talking about. How they will pace against the others is a thing of concern that the Mike Tomlin-led team needs to figure out.

Then there’s Pickens, whose exit has left a big hole at the No. 2 wide receiver position. Drafted in the second round in 2022, he was lighting up the field with big plays week after week. Off the field, though? Well, let’s just say his reputation could use some work. He racked up fines from both the team and the NFL, and you can bet Mike Tomlin has had his share of Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights moments, fielding endless questions about Pickens’ maturity.

On the upside? The Steelers snagged DK Metcalf in a trade, and he’ll be joining Robert Woods, Calvin Austin, and Roman Wilson to form their new receiving corps. But who’s gonna throw them the ball? Cue the Aaron Rodgers rumors flying everywhere. Pittsburgh’s crossing its fingers that it can bring Rodgers on board and hope he’s got a bit of that Green Bay spark left—think early Ted Lasso vibes here. If they score Rodgers and it works out, everything changes.

Pittsburgh’s not exactly shedding tears over these departures, either. Last year, their offense hit a brick wall late in the season, crashing their playoff hopes with five straight losses. They’re clearly thinking it’s time to stir the pot instead of just hanging out in mediocrity. If they don’t snag Aaron Rodgers and get him playing like the Aaron Rodgers of old days, hey, expect even more big shake-ups next year. Plus, let’s not overlook the whole Justin Fields situation—it seems like Pittsburgh really dropped the ball on that one.

The Steelers’ biggest blunder: Ignoring Justin Fields

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a golden opportunity to re-sign Justin Fields during the 2025 NFL offseason, but they completely whiffed on it. Now, they might have blown their shot at long-term stability and staying in the mix for championships. Fields was easily one of the best quarterbacks on the free agency market and showed serious progress during his short stint in Pittsburgh. He lit it up here and there, but the Steelers’ hesitation let him walk to the New York Jets, leaving their quarterback plans feeling pretty shaky.

When Fields first landed in Pittsburgh in 2024, it was clear they saw something special in him. Sure, he didn’t quite get it going in Chicago, but his athleticism and knack for making plays were undeniable. Under Mike Tomlin’s coaching, Fields improved his throwing game and seemed hungry to prove himself. When he finally took over as quarterback, he went 4-2 — a solid record — and breathed new life into the team, putting them in a strong position in the AFC North race.

But even with all that promise, the guy was benched in Week 7 against the Jets for none other than Russell Wilson… and that move didn’t make much sense. Fields wasn’t struggling; in fact, he was trending upward. That decision left fans scratching their heads — and looking back, it totally backfired. With Wilson running the show, the Steelers hit rock bottom, losing five straight to close out the season. What started as a promising effort turned into a frustrating mess that left them on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Wilson clearly wasn’t getting it done, and fans couldn’t help but wonder why Fields, who was starting to click, got sidelined at such a crucial point.

Then came the 2025 offseason. Both Fields and Wilson hit free agency. Honestly, with Wilson’s noticeable decline and the disastrous finish to the season, sticking with Fields should have been an obvious choice. The guy’s only 26 — with plenty of mileage left — and he could have been a legit long-term answer for Pittsburgh. But here we are.

Now, the Steelers’ future looks uncertain, hanging by a thread depending on how they handle their game plans and strategies moving forward. If they don’t figure it out quickly, surviving this season could be an uphill battle.