The Steelers have their initial 53-man roster — but some of the moves they made to get there raise bigger questions about the direction of the organization.

In Episode 9 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, I break down the ongoing contract standoff between Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers as the clock ticks toward the start of the regular season. With Porter activated from the PUP list and Pittsburgh expecting healthy players to practice, who actually has the leverage now? What happens if Porter continues to hold out and starts accumulating fines? And if he returns without a new contract, does that give the Steelers the upper hand?

More importantly: if the Steelers aren't willing to find a way to extend a young, homegrown player like Porter after successfully drafting and developing him, who exactly are they willing to pay?

Then, I dig into the trades of Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys and Kaleb Johnson to the Green Bay Packers. While Pittsburgh managed to get draft capital in return for two players who may not have had significant roles this season, both trades highlight a troubling trend.

Jones was the No. 14 overall pick in 2023. Johnson was the No. 83 overall pick in 2025. Now both are gone — joining a growing list of premium Steelers draft picks who failed to become long-term building blocks for the franchise.

Topics include:

• The latest on Joey Porter Jr.'s contract negotiations
• The leverage Porter and the Steelers each have
• Why the start of the regular season creates a critical deadline
• What happens if Porter practices without a new contract
• Pittsburgh's win-now approach and why Porter should be part of it
• What the Broderick Jones trade says about his development
• Why the Kaleb Johnson trade is more concerning than it might appear
• The Steelers' troubling recent history with first-round draft picks
• Why drafting, developing AND retaining talent has become such an important issue

The regular season is almost here! Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for Steelers and Pitt football coverage throughout the 2026 season.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:48 - Is Joey Porter Jr. Going to be a Steeler in 2026?
20:15 - Broderick Jones and Kaleb Johnson Traded

Football season is finally here!

Pitt opens the 2026 season against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, and if you haven’t been following every twist and turn of the offseason, this episode is designed to get you completely caught up before kickoff.

We go through the biggest developments since Pitt’s bowl loss to East Carolina, including the major roster departures, what Pitt did — and didn’t do — in the transfer portal, and the biggest questions that remain at positions like offensive line, wide receiver, tight end and special teams.

We also break down the chaos surrounding college football’s new 5-for-5 eligibility rule and what it has meant for the possibility of players like Desmond Reid returning to Pitt.

Then we turn our attention to what happened on the field this offseason. There’s been a lot of positive buzz coming out of spring practice and training camp, particularly surrounding Mason Heintschel and the Pitt offense. Pat Narduzzi has been unusually effusive in his praise of that group, while players like Ja'Kyrian “Boozie” Turner, Censere Lee and freshman running back Damon Ferguson have generated plenty of excitement.

On defense, Pitt has major production to replace after losing Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles, but there are reasons to believe the Panthers can reload once again under new defensive coordinator Cory Sanders.

Plus, we discuss Pitt’s new UPMC jersey patch, changes coming to Acrisure Stadium, what stood out from the annual kickoff luncheon, Pitt’s health entering Week 1, and why I’m sticking with my prediction of a 9-3 season and a Pitt team that can contend for a spot in the ACC Championship Game.

If you tuned out after last season ended and are just getting back into Pitt football, this is your primer for the 2026 season.

The wait is over. Let’s play football!

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro
04:48 - Comings and goings on Pitt’s roster
13:25 - The 5-for-5 rule and a crazy summer of legal rulings
23:15 - News and notes from spring ball and summer training camp
33:04 - What’s “In The News”

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The 2026 Pitt football season is almost here, and the reports coming out of training camp have been overwhelmingly positive — particularly on offense.

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, I break down everything we’ve heard from Pitt training camp and what I think actually matters as the Panthers prepare for the season.

The biggest story is Mason Heintschel. After bursting onto the scene as a freshman last season, Heintschel appears to have taken another significant step forward. Pitt’s offense has performed extremely well in camp, Heintschel has drawn rave reviews from both local and national media, and there’s growing reason to believe Pitt could have one of the better quarterbacks and offenses in the ACC.

We also dive into Ja'Kyrian Turner’s development at running back, the emergence of true freshman Damon Ferguson, Censere Lee and Pitt’s speedy wide receiver room, why the offense winning Pitt’s training camp scrimmages is noteworthy, and why I’m not particularly concerned about Pat Narduzzi’s defense despite some significant personnel losses.

Finally, we break down one of the strangest stories in college football: the new 5-for-5 eligibility rules and whether former Pitt players could return for another season.

Could Desmond Reid actually return to Pitt after spending time with the Buffalo Bills? Is Justin Holmes a more realistic option? And if Pitt has an opportunity to bring back a player who can immediately make the team better, should they do it?

We break it all down as Pitt gets ready to kick off the 2026 season. Subscribe to the Pittsburgh Football Podcast for more Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers coverage throughout the football season.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 — Intro
03:37 — Mason Heintschel’s impressive training camp
13:57 — Other intel on the offense
22:15 — intel on the defense
26:02 — Could Desmond Reid & Justin Holmes be coming back to Pitt?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are running out of time to answer some major questions before the 2026 regular season begins.

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris Gates breaks down the increasingly complicated quarterback situation after Will Howard and Drew Allar took a step backward in the Steelers' second preseason game. Did their performances solidify Mason Rudolph's spot as Aaron Rodgers' backup? Should Pittsburgh carry four quarterbacks? And how should the Steelers balance developing Howard and Allar for the future with building the best possible 53-man roster right now?

Chris also dives into the growing Joey Porter Jr. contract saga after Mike McCarthy described negotiations between Porter and the Steelers as being at an "impasse." How concerned should Steelers fans be about Porter missing the start of the season? Is there a realistic middle ground on a new contract? And if the two sides truly can't reach an agreement, should Pittsburgh actually consider trading Porter for draft capital that could eventually help the franchise find its next quarterback?

Plus, Chris explains why the emergence of Asante Samuel could change the equation, why Pittsburgh's quarterback decisions are as much about 2027 as 2026, and why NFL players' cryptic social media posts during contract negotiations need to stop.

With the final preseason game approaching and the regular season less than three weeks away, it's time for the Steelers to start finding some answers.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 — Introduction
03:22 — Will the Steelers Keep 3 or 4 QBs?
14:52 — Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers at an Impasse

Where does Pitt actually rank in the ACC heading into the 2026 season?

Forget the preseason hype. In this episode, I break down the entire ACC and explain where I think every team truly belongs entering the year.

I walk through my ACC tier rankings, discuss why I believe Pitt is being underrated nationally, and explain why I have the Panthers as legitimate contenders to reach the ACC Championship Game. Along the way, I also examine the preseason media poll, Pitt's 7.5-win over/under, and why preseason projections should always be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.

I also break down Pitt's best-case and worst-case scenarios for the season, identify the swing games that will define the year, and explain what has to happen for the Panthers to put themselves in the College Football Playoff conversation.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 — Intro
04:16 — Preseason Projections for Pitt
07:36 — Ranking the ACC by Tiers
20:17 — Best-Case/Worst-Case Scenarios for Pitt

In today's episode, I break down everything from the Pittsburgh Steelers' preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers to the major financial moves altering the landscape of the roster.

First, we do a complete game recap: evaluating the play-calling under Mike McCarthy, examining how young depth responded, and sorting out the "Good" and "Bad" from game one. From Will Howard and Drew Allar's QB play to standouts like Asante Samuel Jr., Germie Bernard, Robert Tonyan, and Kaden Wetjen, we look at who made a real case for themselves in August. Conversely, we address Troy Fautanu's left tackle struggles and Kaleb Johnson’s alarming lack of usage in the backfield hierarchy.

Then, we transition directly into front-office business: Keeanu Benton securing his new 4-year extension to stay alongside Nick Herbig long-term, Devon Witherspoon’s market-resetting $132M deal in Seattle, and what that means for Joey Porter Jr.'s high-stakes contract negotiations.

The 2026 NFL season is almost here, and it's time to preview what could be one of the most fascinating Steelers teams we've seen in years.

In this episode, I break down where my confidence level sits heading into the season and why my opinion of Mike McCarthy has changed dramatically since he was hired. What initially felt like an underwhelming move has slowly become one of the biggest reasons I'm optimistic about where this team is headed.

From there, we dive into the quarterback position. I explain why I think Aaron Rodgers is being underestimated, what a reunion with Mike McCarthy could mean for the offense, and why I believe the Steelers have done a much better job surrounding him with legitimate weapons. I also share my thoughts on the backup quarterback situation, including why I don't think the QB2 competition is quite what many people are making it out to be.

We also take a deep look at both sides of the ball, discussing the biggest reasons for optimism — and the biggest concerns — on offense and defense. From the upgraded receiving corps and offensive line depth to Patrick Graham's aggressive defensive philosophy and an improved secondary, there's plenty to like. At the same time, we discuss the areas that could ultimately determine whether this team reaches its ceiling or falls short.

Finally, I break down my best-case and worst-case scenarios for the season before making my official game-by-game predictions. I explain why I'm picking the Steelers to win the AFC North, finish 11-6, and finally end their playoff drought with a postseason victory.

If you're looking for an in-depth Steelers season preview before Week 1 kicks off, this episode has you covered!

Topics include:

• My evolving thoughts on Mike McCarthy as head coach
• Why I'm optimistic about Aaron Rodgers in 2026
• Breaking down the Steelers' quarterback room
• Offensive strengths and biggest question marks
• Defensive outlook under Patrick Graham
• Best-case vs. worst-case scenarios
• AFC North predictions
• Complete game-by-game schedule prediction
• Final record prediction and playoff outlook

Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a rating and review, and follow along for weekly Steelers coverage all season long.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction & Vibe Check
06:31 - Analyzing the Mike McCarthy Hire
12:37 - Steelers QB Discussion
20:44 - Roster Upgrades in 2026
28:23 - Best Case vs. Worst Case Scenarios for the Season
32:44 - Season Prediction

The 2026 Pitt football season is almost here, and it's time to dive into what to expect from the Panthers this fall. In this episode, I break down my overall outlook for the team, why I'm entering the season with cautious optimism, and what has to happen for Pitt to take the next step after finishing 8-4 a year ago.

In this episode, we discuss:

• My overall vibe check heading into training camp
• Why this feels like a pivotal season for Pat Narduzzi
• Whether the hot seat conversation is actually justified
• Why Mason Heintschel is the biggest key to Pitt's season
• Expectations for the offense, defense, and special teams
• The biggest strengths and question marks on the roster
• A complete game-by-game breakdown of the 2026 schedule
• My official season prediction and why I think Pitt has a real opportunity to win nine games

If the Panthers can stay healthy and their young core continues to develop, I think this team has every opportunity to be playing meaningful football in November again.

Do you agree with my predictions? Where do you think Pitt finishes this season? Let me know your thoughts!

If you enjoy the show, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes throughout the season. You can also visit PittsburghFootballPodcast.com to read articles, join the mailing list, and follow the show across social media.

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction
04:59 - My overall Pitt Vibe Check
13:09 - Pat Narduzzi and “Hot Seat” Discussion
22:09 - Previewing Pitt’s offense
29:21 - Previewing Pitt’s defense
33:41 - Previewing Pitt’s special teams
36:36 - Prediction time