It has been a week of transition for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the news cycle is just beginning to heat up. On Saturday, April 26, former head coach Mike Tomlin made his first media appearance since stepping down from the sideline, using the platform to drop a significant prediction about the team's quarterback situation. Meanwhile, the front office has been quietly working, officially signing its first wave of undrafted free agents following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Let's break down both storylines and what they mean for the Steelers as they enter a new era without Tomlin on the sideline.
Tomlin's Take: Rodgers Will Be Back
In his debut as a studio analyst for NBC's Football Night in America, Mike Tomlin appeared on the network's broadcast on April 26 and made a statement that will ripple through Steelers Nation. According to the retired head coach, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be back in Pittsburgh for the 2026 season.
"He's got a love affair with the game," Tomlin said during the broadcast. "He hasn't lost that spark. He has a lot of football left, and he wants to prove he can still do it at a high level. I anticipate him being in Pittsburgh in 2026."
It is important to note that Tomlin is no longer formally connected to the Steelers organization in a coaching capacity. Now a media analyst, his comments represent his own opinion. However, Tomlin spent 19 years as the Steelers' head coach, and his connections inside the building remain strong. When he speaks about a player's mindset or a team's plans, people listen.
Rodgers' 2025 season in Pittsburgh was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of the brilliance that defined his Hall of Fame career but struggled with consistency at times. The turnover issues that plagued his final years in Green Bay resurfaced occasionally, and the Steelers finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, just missing the playoffs. Despite those struggles, Rodgers never publicly entertained retirement this offseason. He has been a regular presence at the team's practice facility, participating in voluntary workouts and staying engaged with the offensive install meetings. Multiple reports from Pittsburgh-based beat writers throughout the spring suggest that Rodgers has been more vocal than ever in the locker room, taking on a mentorship role with younger receivers.
Tomlin's prediction carries weight because it reflects the sentiment that Rodgers believes he can still win in Pittsburgh. The quarterback has not made any official announcement about his future, and technically, his current contract still has time remaining. The uncertainty that typically surrounds Rodgers' offseason decisions -- the "will he or won't he" drama that has become an NFL tradition -- may finally be subsiding. Tomlin essentially took the mystery out of the equation by going on national television and saying what many around the team have suspected: Aaron Rodgers is not done, and he wants to run it back with the Steelers.
For Pittsburgh, this is good news. The Steelers did not draft a quarterback in the 2026 class, a clear signal that the organization is comfortable with its options under center. With Rodgers returning, the team can avoid the uncertainty of relying on a rookie or a journeyman bridge quarterback. Instead, they keep a veteran who may be on a redemption arc. The offensive coordinator, Brian Angelichio, who remains in place from last season, has already tailored much of the passing attack to Rodgers' preferences: quick reads, play-action bootlegs, and deep shots off RPO concepts. The continuity alone should be a benefit.
It is also worth noting that Tomlin's prediction comes just hours after the Steelers officially added their first wave of undrafted free agents. The timing might be coincidental, but it reinforces that the front office is building a roster designed to win now, not rebuild. A veteran quarterback like Rodgers would be the centerpiece of that plan.
The UDFA Class: First Wave Arrives
On April 26, the Steelers announced the signing of their first group of undrafted free agents, a necessary step following the 2026 NFL Draft's conclusion on April 25. According to multiple team-affiliated trackers, the confirmed additions include: tight ends Chamon Metayer (Arizona State) and Lake McRee (USC), defensive lineman Kevin Jobity Jr. (Syracuse), kicker Laith Marjan (Kansas), and defensive back Devan Boykin (Indiana).
These five players will join the Steelers' seven-man draft class for rookie minicamp, which begins later this week.
Let's take a closer look at each player and what they bring to Pittsburgh.
TE Chamon Metayer (Arizona State) -- Metayer is an intriguing developmental piece at a position where the Steelers have invested heavily over the past few seasons. Standing at 6'5" and 250 pounds, he has the frame to be an inline blocker, but his best trait is his ability to stretch the seam. In his final season with the Sun Devils, he posted 38 receptions for 462 yards and four touchdowns. He needs work on his route tree and his consistency as a blocker, but his size and speed combination make him a candidate for the practice squad with a chance to develop into a red-zone threat. Given that the Steelers' tight end room already features established veterans, Metayer will need to prove his value on special teams to earn a roster spot.
TE Lake McRee (USC) -- The Steelers are doubling down at tight end. McRee is a more polished pass-catcher than Metayer, coming from Lincoln Riley's offense at USC where he caught 54 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns in his final season. He is a fluid route runner who can separate from linebackers, but his blocking leaves something to be desired. It is unusual for a team to sign two undrafted tight ends in the same year, which suggests the coaching staff wants to create competition for the TE3 role behind the starters. McRee has a legitimate path to the 53-man roster if he can show he is a reliable safety valve in the passing game.
DL Kevin Jobity Jr. (Syracuse) -- Jobity is a big-bodied interior lineman (6'4", 310 pounds) who plays with excellent leverage and power. He was a disruptive force for the Orange, recording 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in his senior season. The Steelers have a deep defensive line rotation, but Jobity has the kind of burst off the snap that defensive line coaches love. He projects as a rotational 3-4 end or a nose tackle in sub-packages. If he can stay consistent with his pad level, he could push for a spot on the active roster or at least the practice squad.
K Laith Marjan (Kansas) -- The Steelers are bringing in competition for their incumbent kicker. Marjan had a breakout 2025 season at Kansas, connecting on 20 of 24 field goal attempts, including a long of 56 yards. He also handled kickoff duties and showed a strong leg with touchbacks on over 70% of his kickoffs. The Steelers' special teams coordinator, Danny Crossman, will put him through a rigorous evaluation in camp. Marjan's accuracy from 50-plus yards is his calling card, and if he can show consistency in training camp, he has a real chance to steal the job.
DB Devan Boykin (Indiana) -- Boykin is a versatile defensive back who played both safety and nickel corner for the Hoosiers. He has good instincts in zone coverage and is a willing tackler in the run game. His 40-yard dash time was slightly below average for his position, which is why he went undrafted, but his football IQ and ball skills (four interceptions, 11 pass breakups in 2025) could earn him a role as a depth piece in the secondary. The Steelers' defensive backs coach values versatility, and Boykin's ability to play multiple spots gives him a path to a roster spot or a practice squad designation.
What It All Means
The combination of Tomlin's public prediction about Rodgers and the arrival of these undrafted rookies paints a picture of a Steelers team that is not in rebuild mode. They have an aging but still-capable quarterback at the helm, and they are supplementing his supporting cast with young, hungry talent. The UDFA class might not produce a star, but it provides inexpensive, motivated depth that can push veterans in training camp.
The biggest headline, of course, is Rodgers. If Tomlin is right, the Steelers will enter the 2026 season with a Hall of Fame quarterback under center, a defense that remains among the league's best, and an offensive coordinator who has a full year of experience working with his veteran signal-caller. The pieces are in place for a playoff run.
But as always in the NFL, nothing is official until the pen is put to paper. For now, Steelers fans have reason to be optimistic -- and a few new names to track when minicamp opens.
Stay tuned. The offseason is far from over.