Tuesday marked the start of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ voluntary offseason program. Of course, it is the first voluntary offseason program for Mike McCarthy as head coach of the Steelers. So, it was going to be interesting to see which veterans would show up on a day that they didn’t have to.
According to DK Pittsburgh Sports, many veteran players have indeed shown up at the team facility on the first day of the voluntary offseason program. The most notable names include the likes of Joey Porter Jr., Jaquan Brisker, T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Pat Freiermuth, Nick Herbig, DK Metcalf, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Patrick Queen, Derrick Harmon, Asante Samuel Jr., and Jalen Ramsey.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Are Missing Their Quarterback
McCarthy has to be thrilled to see many of the Steelers’ biggest names showing up to work when they don’t have to. It shows how hungry these players are, and it shows how much they care about the process. Perhaps, after winning their first AFC North title in five seasons, the Steelers’ players are recognizing an opportunity that they have in front of them to win even more in 2026.
However, one big name is still missing from the team’s voluntary offseason program. That big name is none other than future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. While Rodgers is not allowed to be in the team’s facility because he is a free agent, his presence may very well be missed right now. Due to his leadership and consistency from a season ago, the Steelers surpassed a lot of expectations from the preseason.
While the odds of him returning for a 22nd NFL season could feel increasingly likely because of McCarthy being the head coach, an official answer on his future is still unknown.
Mike McCarthy Looks to Build Off of What Mike Tomlin Built
GettyMike McCarthy is heading into his 19th NFL season as a head coach.
Most NFL experts would likely agree that former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin built a Hall of Fame career in the Steel City. The Super Bowl-winning head coach guided Pittsburgh to a .500-or-better record in each of his 19 seasons (2007-2025) there. That is an NFL record. He coached plenty of Hall of Famers and some of the truly great players at almost every position.
Now, McCarthy is hoping to build off of that legacy. The Pittsburgh native has built a very strong NFL career as a head coach. In 18 combined seasons as head coach of the Green Bay Packers (2006-2018) and Dallas Cowboys (2020-2024), McCarthy has made the playoffs 12 times, won eight division titles, earned four NFC Championship game trips, and taken home one Super Bowl trophy.
Possessing the fourth-most wins among current active NFL head coaches, he is looking to stockpile more wins in his third go-around as an NFL head coach. With the list of veterans who have shown up on the first day of the voluntary offseason program, along with the potential return of his old quarterback, McCarthy may have a really good chance to add to what is looking like a Canton-bound career right away.
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