Steelers owner Art Rooney II persuaded the NFL to move Ravens fans behind Steelers fans at the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh.
Rooney said on WDVE that when he saw the initial layout for where each of the 32 teams’ fans would be told to congregate, there was an area where Ravens fans had better seats than Steelers fans. Rooney got the NFL to change that.
“I did ask that, you know, on the normal seating chart, I noticed that the Ravens fans were sitting in front of the Steeler fans in one section of the draft theater. So I asked them to make that change, and they agreed to make that change,” Rooney said.
Rooney said that the draft will be a celebration of the city of Pittsburgh, the Steelers and football’s rich history in Western Pennsylvania, and that the league has been very good about allowing the Steelers to have a voice in running the event.
“When you’re hosting the draft the league lets you do some things you don’t normally do during the draft,” Rooney said.
And that includes veto power over the seating chart.
All the Steelers’ veteran players have played only for head coach Mike Tomlin during their time in Pittsburgh, but new head coach Mike McCarthy says he’s impressed with how the players have responded to a different approach this offseason.
The departure of Tomlin after 19 seasons left McCarthy with the job of having to work with veteran players on a new way of doing things, and he said those players have accepted his coaching and appear eager to get to work.
“The buy-in is excellent,” McCarthy said. “You have to make changes, there’s things you’re going to adjust, and there’s things you’re going to emphasize. . . . I think the buy-in has been excellent.”
As a new head coach, McCarthy is allowed to start his offseason program two weeks earlier than teams retaining the same head coach from last year, and McCarthy said that’s valuable time to get to know his players.
“I think this is awesome that they give you the extra two weeks,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy wants all the time he can have to teach the Steelers his way of doing things, and so far he likes how they’re responding.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II said last month that he expected to know quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s plans for the 2026 season by the start of the draft, but all indications out of Pittsburgh this week have been that Rodgers will be taking a little longer before making up his mind.
On Tuesday, Rooney confirmed that Rodgers has not informed the team of his decision about playing this year and declined to offer any details about when a final answer might be coming beyond saying that it was “warm” to say that the team would expect to have more clarity by the time OTAs start on May 18.
“I wish I could tell you we’re at the end of the discussion, but we’re still talking to Aaron and he’s still deciding what he wants to do,” Rooney said on WDVE. “I think we’re close. He’s kind of told us his time frame and what he’s going to be up to over the next couple of weeks. I think we’ll have an answer soon, let’s put it that way.”
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Tuesday that he doesn’t think it will take long for Rodgers to be up to speed if he does decide to play. Until then, it will be Will Howard and Mason Rudolph at quarterback during Pittsburgh’s offseason program.
To this point, Aaron Rodgers has not revealed whether or not he will be back with the Steelers in 2026.
That means Will Howard and Mason Rudolph are getting the bulk of the work at quarterback early on in the offseason program under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
But should Rodgers make that choice to return for a 22nd pro season, McCarthy said on Tuesday that he’s confident it won’t take Rodgers long to get up to speed.
“I think Aaron is probably more in tune than we would realize,” McCarthy said, via Mike DeFabo of TheAthletic.com. “But I have confidence in where he would be the day he would arrive, if that’s his decision.
“What l’ve learned through instituting an offseason program, there are benefits of periods where your veterans aren’t here. When we’re talking about the quarterback position, this is a very beneficial time for Will and Mason right now. They split all the reps the last two days.”
With Rodgers obviously familiar with McCarthy from their shared time with the Packers, Howard and Rudolph are benefiting from more time with the coaches to get comfortable with the offensive system.
We’ll see if the Steelers add another quarterback to the mix with this week’s draft and whether or not that factors into Rodgers’ decision.
In Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin wanted volunteers, not hostages. He has now volunteered for a new assignment.
Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports that Tomlin will join NBC’s Football Night in America.
Tomlin resigned from the Steelers after 19 seasons on the job, two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl win, and never a losing record. Many will assume it’s a short-term stint in TV before a return to coaching. Time will tell whether Tomlin has made a more permanent career change.
He’ll be great on TV. He has always been a master communicator, with a long list of catchphrases — some of which seemingly were crafted in the moment. If so, that will serve him well on NBC.
Tomlin’s arrival comes at a time when the NBC pregame show is in flux. Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy will not be returning. NBC has made no announcements regarding other possible changes. (And they don’t tell me anything.)
Marchand notes in his article that yours truly “is expected” to return. I can state a little more clearly that I’ll be back for a 17th season. Unless and until I show up and my ID won’t scan. Which is something I’ve been bracing for throughout most of the first 16 seasons.
