Yahoo Sports senior writer Frank Schwab released his latest NFL power rankings, and Pittsburgh fans might need a stiff drink, seriously. He slotted the Steelers at a chilly No. 20 in the league, outright declaring he has "significant doubts" about their whole direction under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy.
The 'Knockoff Tomlin' Take That Stings
Schwab didn't pull any punches, did he? He's blasting the Steelers' coaching hire, implying they went for comfort over real change after Mike Tomlin's departure. Schwab wrote they "could have swung big on a young coach rising through the ranks." Instead? They "settled for Mike McCarthy, who at 62 years old seems like a knockoff version of Tomlin with all the same criticisms of not being able to raise a team’s ceiling to an elite level." Wow, that's harsh! He even went so far as to suggest those Western Pennsylvania roots played a part, like it was some "fun homecoming story" rather than a true course correction. This is about a coach with a Super Bowl championship and nearly two decades of experience, so Schwab's words are hitting hard on a first-year guy.Aaron Rodgers: History or Hazard?
It's not all doom and gloom on paper, though. Schwab actually handed out a B grade for their offseason moves, even praising the free agency haul. Cornerback Jamel Dean, safety Jaquan Brisker, and running back Rico Dowdle are all specific signings he thinks "should improve the roster." Sounds pretty solid, right? But then there's the absolutely massive question mark at quarterback. The Steelers are banking hard on Aaron Rodgers, reuniting him with McCarthy after their Super Bowl XLV win in Green Bay. The history is undeniably there, but Schwab is seriously skeptical about Rodgers' age. He believes expecting any kind of bounce-back season is a "risky proposition," pointing out their last season together was eight years ago. Think about that gap! "If Rodgers improves upon last season, at an age in which only one quarterback has had any success, it would be a surprise," Schwab stated. And yet, the Steelers "happily signed up for this plan." What a massive gamble! So, where does that leave Pittsburgh? Schwab wrapped things up with a pretty pessimistic outlook for the season. He noted the defense "could be better," but immediately added that's "far from a guarantee after a big step back" last year. Not exactly a vote of confidence. And for the AFC North? Schwab was blunt, predicting they'll be "better than the Browns, that seems safe." But here's the kicker: "A third-place finish in the AFC North, and their first losing season in a while, seems to be firmly on the table." Yikes! Schwab clearly sees a team loaded with more questions than answers heading into 2026. Steelers fans, what do you even do with that kind of projection?This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.