Steelers' First NFL Draft Without Mike Tomlin Was Hard to Watch

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered unfamiliar territory in the 2026 NFL Draft — their first without Mike Tomlin at the helm in nearly two decades — and the results were uneven at best.

Tomlin's departure after last season ended the longest active head-coaching tenure in the NFL and left a leadership vacuum that the draft did little to fill. The Steelers' new regime, led by head coach Aaron Glenn, made several picks that raised eyebrows among analysts and frustrated a fan base already skeptical of the post-Tomlin era.

The first-round selection was widely viewed as a reach — a player many scouts had rated as a second- or third-round talent taken well above projection. While reach picks can sometimes work out, the immediate reaction from draft analysts was harsh, with several calling it the worst first-round pick of the night.

Mid-round selections were more defensible, with the team adding depth at positions of need. But the overall draft class lacks the kind of impact player that would signal a smooth transition from one of the most stable coaching tenures in NFL history.

What This Means For You: If you're a Steelers fan, patience is the word. Transition years after legendary coaches are almost always messy — just ask the Patriots. The real test won't come in September; it'll come in November and December when the depth of this draft class is tested by injuries and the grind of a 17-game season. Bet accordingly, and don't overreact to preseason noise.