Pittsburgh Steelers / NFL
At 62, Mike McCarthy questioned whether Steelers job ‘was well past me’
Mike McCarthy knew the Pittsburgh Steelers’ history of hiring young head coaches, making him think his job chances maybe passed him by. Chuck Noll was 37 when the Steelers hired him, while Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were 34. And unlike those first-time head coaches, McCarthy, who turned 62 in...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers should give deadline to Aaron Rodgers
NFL free agency starts March 11. The legal tampering period begins March 9. The Pittsburgh Steelers should insist that Aaron Rodgers decides whether or not to play by then — preferably a week before — and in writing. The Steelers should not trust Rodgers. The citizens (and perhaps the organization)...
Tim Benz Podcasts
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Steelers head to NFL combine for 1st league event under new coach Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy has said he is impressed with the composition of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Next week, for the first time as the team’s coach, McCarthy will get a first-hand look at players who could upgrade that roster. The annual NFL combine in Indianapolis gets underway Monday with prospect interviews...
Mike McCarthy prepares for ‘both scenarios’ as Steelers await Aaron Rodgers’ decision
As the Pittsburgh Steelers await a decision from Aaron Rodgers, coach Mike McCarthy is making plans for an offense with and without him. The first-year Steelers coach didn’t reveal any news about Rodgers’ future while appearing on a Wisconsin radio station Friday. But McCarthy said he is building variables into...
NFL Draft analyst: Trading picks might be right move for Steelers
As the owners of 12 draft picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers can add premium players to the roster, but those newcomers might not all arrive in this April’s draft. General manager Omar Khan could trade some picks, possibly to add a veteran player or additional selections in a deep 2027 draft,...
First Call: Aaron Rodgers decision ‘could take months;’ draft analyst questions QB idea for Steelers at No. 21
Friday’s “First Call” tells Pittsburgh what it may not want to hear about Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One draft analyst has some advice for the Steelers when it comes to the idea of picking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. A Duquesne basketball player just set an individual mark that reflects team...
Beyond the Bylines: Joe Starkey, Tim Benz on Sidney Crosby’s injury, NHL in the Olympics, Steelers PodcastgateVideo
This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” streamed on Thursday instead of Friday because Joe Starkey already needs a vacation, and he’s only been back at TribLive for about a month. So he is going to Florida to play golf on Friday. We did not discuss Joe’s golf game. We did, however,...
First Call: Trade rumors about Minkah Fitzpatrick in Miami; questions about Aaron Rodgers’ return
Thursday’s “First Call” includes rumors about a former Steelers star who may get traded. Apparently, there are some who doubt that Aaron Rodgers will return to Pittsburgh. A Hall of Fame wide receiver doubts Hines Ward’s credentials for induction to Canton. And the Robert Morris women’s hockey team begins postseason...
U mad, bro?: Ex-Steelers players are mad at each other, and Steelers fans are mad at them
In case you lost track, James Harrison got mad at Mike Tomlin’s coaching late last season. Ben Roethlisberger seemed to agree that it was time for a change. Joey Porter fired back at Roethlisberger and Harrison. Maurkice Pouncey launched a volley back at Porter. Steven Nelson reignited the debate and...
Former Steelers safety Mike Wagner, key member of Steel Curtain defense, dies
Four-time Super Bowl champion Mike Wagner, a ballhawk at safety and a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor, has died. He was 76. The Steelers, for whom Wagner played all 10 of his NFL seasons, announced his death Wednesday night. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of...
Derick Harmon eager to ‘attack’ his 1st full offseason after solid rookie year for Steelers
The past two football offseasons for Derrick Harmon featured no shortage of emotion, ranging from horrible grief to gut-wrenching uncertainty to proud gratification. Finally, in 2026, Harmon has something of a sense of normalcy in how he can approach his spring. “Most definitely,” the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle said soon...
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger takes a familiar approach to handling Joey Porter’s comments
Ben Roethlisberger was the king of two things during his career as quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. One was extending a play by warding off or eluding would-be tacklers in the offensive backfield prior to connecting on a huge passing play. The other was passive aggressiveness. No one could throw...
Mark Madden: Costly personnel blunders have buried the Steelers in mediocrity
As the Pittsburgh Steelers look to break a string of nine seasons with no playoff wins, there still seems to be an underlying faith among the citizens that the Steelers have a great organization and will ultimately get it right. But nine years is a pretty big sample size to...
First Call: Mike Tomlin shows up at a college hoops game; Steelers linked to former WPIAL, Penn State safetyVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” reveals efforts by many of Mike Tomlin’s former players to lend their support to him in the wake of his decision to step down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Penn State and WPIAL standout is linked to the Steelers in free agency....
Ex-Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger discusses personal ‘transformation,’ avoids podcast feud with Joey Porter
There was no mention of the criticism he faced from a former teammate, but Ben Roethlisberger briefly touched on his own maturation process in the latest episode of his podcast. The retired Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback steered clear of the controversy stirred up last week by ex-linebacker Joey Porter Sr., who...
Joey Porter Jr.’s play foretells likely massive contract extension from Steelers this summer
In the aftermath of his son limiting perennial 1,000-yard receiver Nico Collins to a mere three catches for 21 yards during last month’s Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game against the Houston Texans, Joey Porter Sr. had a message for him the following morning. “He said,” the younger Porter relayed, “I made...
Tim Benz: Having the draft in Pittsburgh won’t make the Steelers take a QB … but it might make it harder to pass upVideo
When it comes to the notion of the Steelers taking a quarterback in Round 1 of this year’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, TribLive’s Mark Madden had this to say during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “Ain’t no pop like the quarterback pop,” Madden said. “Art (Rooney II) wants to get...
First Call: Pittsburgh mentioned as possible destination for Tyreek Hill; ex-Steelers OL also released by MiamiVideo
Tuesday’s “First Call” discusses the potential of Tyreek Hill joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Steeler was also released with Hill from the Miami Dolphins. Young Steelers linemen are getting acknowledgement from their high-profile predecessors. And we tell you how much the Steelers racked up in league fines for 2025....
