The 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers are a complete mystery in a lot of ways. There probably hasn’t been a tougher season to predict in the last decade. We have not seen Aaron Rodgers, or DK Metcalf take a snap in black and gold. TJ Watt was the highest paid non-quarterback for a minute, despite being over thirty. Cam Heyward may, or may not suit up for week one. Despite all this, we are going to attempt seven bold Steelers predictions for this upcoming season:
1. No playoffs this year:
There is lots of hype, and optimism surrounding this team as we head into week one. Omar Khan has added several aging veterans in the hopes of making one final run before his core players like Cam Heyward and TJ Watt get too far past their prime. The problem with this strategy is too much must go exactly right for this team to be successful.
They need Aaron Rodgers to be the old Aaron Rodgers, Cam and TJ to stay healthy, and all the new players to gel in a short period of time. It’s just too much to expect to go right in one season. Unfortunately for the Steelers it won’t, and they will fall short of the playoffs this year.
2. Yahya Black will be the most impactful rookie:
Derrick Harmon is already hurt, and Mike Tomlin has banished Kaleb Johnson to RB3 status. Since the day he was drafted, the Steelers coaching staff has struggled to hide their excitement over Yahya Black. He did nothing to disappoint this preseason. Look for him to have the biggest impact of any of the rookies in 2025.
3. Kenneth Gainwell will have a big year:
We all got a little too caught up in the Kaleb Johnson hype. Everyone that is, accept for the Steelers coaching staff. Everything we are hearing out of camp is the back the Steelers are really happy with is Kenneth Gainwell. Look for the Steelers to use him a lot more than anyone expected. He will have his best year as a pro this upcoming season.
4. This will be the last year for Arthur Smith:
There will be enough success by the Steelers offense to make Arthur Smith a head coaching candidate once again. Nothing earth shattering, but just enough to make him attractive to another team. We’re betting he probably ends up taking over a mid to high end college program.
5. Brandin Echols takes over for Darius Slay at some point:
I’ve been pretty negative about the Darius Slay signing from the get go. Thirty four year old corners just don’t excel in the NFL. Especially ones already planning on retiring after the season ends. Brandin Echols on the other hand is just entering his prime. He had a fantastic preseason, and is well on his way to securing a starting job. It’s not if he replace Slay this season, its when.
6. Tyreek Hill will be a Steeler by the trade deadline:
Two things are inarguably true going into the 2025 NFL season. The Miami Dolphins are a bad football team, and the Steelers wide receiver room is in dire need of an upgrade. I’ll give it to around week three before the first Tyreek Hill trade demand. By that time the Steelers will have realized the mistake they’ve made not acquiring a legitimate second wide receiver. There was already buzz that the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade was originally supposed to involve Hill, so there is definitely interest here from the Steelers. https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/analyst-floats-pittsburgh-steelers-trade-nick-herbig-tyreek-hill
7. Drew Allar will be the Steelers starting quarterback in 2026:
I’m swinging for the fences with this last one. I can totally see the Steelers falling in love with everything that is Drew Allar. He goes to school up the road at Penn St. for starters, and we know how much the Steelers like that stuff. Allar is big and mobile, kinda like the guy that won them two Super Bowls not all that long ago. If Drew Allar improves at all over his 2024 season, the Steelers will move heaven and earth to go get him. How’s that for a bold Steelers prediction??
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