With Pittsburgh Steelers training camp starting this week, one major question looms over the franchise as the 2026 season is about to begin:
Is new head coach Mike McCarthy’s connection with Aaron Rodgers going to elevate the Steelers to a level better than nine or 10 wins and a first-round playoff exit? Or is bringing back Rodgers at age 42 going to plummet the Steelers to the organization’s first losing season since 2003?
During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X went a different route.
“Can I choose option C? I want to see the young guys play as soon as possible. I’m not convinced that (Will) Howard or (Drew) Allar couldn’t post as good of a record as Rodgers,” Madden retorted. “I just have no faith in a 42-year-old guy. I have no faith in Mason Rudolph to get them some place good.”
Madden has previously expressed some faith in McCarthy taking over for Mike Tomlin. However, the extent to which that belief manifests in a better end-of-year result is still up for debate.
“I’m more optimistic because Mike McCarthy really wants to win. Mike Tomlin wanted to win nine games,” Madden explained. “Tomlin just kept games close and wanted to gut out .500. I think McCarthy will take more risk to try to reap more reward. Whether he does or not, I do not know.”
The age and general inertia of the Steelers roster is what gives Madden pause.
“It’s still an old team with a bunch of guys who don’t win big games and don’t win playoff games, especially,” Madden said. “I think it’s a good change. I think it gives a better chance, even if that chance is not realized.”
Madden isn’t scared at the prospect of a cratered season even if Rodgers is injured early.
“If you ended up with Howard as the quarterback, you might go 4-13. But that’ll be OK, too (from a draft-choice perspective). I’m not thinking about this year. I’m thinking about long-term, big picture, which they never do,” Madden said. “But maybe that happens organically if Rodgers gets hurt.”
With two decades’ worth of NFL experience eroding his body, that’s entirely possible.
Also during the podcast, Madden and I talk about Jason Robertson’s contract in Dallas, some recent Pirates missteps, the ESPN layoffs, WNBA controversies, curling, soccer and more.
