The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering the 2026 season with a revamped offensive line and a new offensive philosophy under head coach Mike McCarthy. According to former NFL center A.Q. Shipley, the transition could create some significant problems.
Shipley, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL, joined The Pat McAfee Show this week to discuss Pittsburgh’s offensive line and expressed concern about how the group will adapt to McCarthy’s system.
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“I’m concerned about the Steelers offensive line,” he said. “I think they’re going to take a step back.”
Shipley believes the issue goes beyond individual talent. Instead, he pointed to the schematic transition from former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to McCarthy as a potentially significant challenge.
“Scheme and fit are everything,” he said. “I think they were built to run in Arthur Smith’s wide-zone scheme, and now Mike McCarthy is a more pro-style, downhill, gap-scheme.”
That change could be particularly important for a young offensive line that was beginning to develop familiarity with Smith’s system. McCarthy, who is also calling the plays in Pittsburgh, has brought a different offensive philosophy with him, including a greater emphasis on power/gap concepts and physicality up front.
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The Steelers have also undergone considerable personnel changes along the line.
Zach Frazier remains the anchor at center after establishing himself as one of the league’s better young centers. Troy Fautanu is taking over at left tackle, while Mason McCormick has moved to left guard. Rookie Max Iheanachor is also in the mix on the right side, but Dylan Cook will likely start the season at right tackle.
The Steelers recently traded former first-round pick Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys, further changing the complexion of the unit heading into the regular season.
That leaves Pittsburgh with a group featuring plenty of youth and athleticism, but also a significant amount of responsibility in a new system.
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Shipley believes that transition could expose the Steelers, particularly if the offensive line struggles to generate the necessary movement in a more physical scheme.
“I think they struggled handling that a little bit,” he said.
There are reasons for optimism, however. The Steelers have spent plenty of draft capital in the group in recent seasons, with Frazier and Fautanu establishing themselves as foundational players for the future.
Still, Shipley’s pessimism highlights one of the biggest questions surrounding Pittsburgh entering the McCarthy era: Can a young offensive line quickly adjust to a completely different offensive identity? The group’s rough preseason didn’t do much to alleviate those concerns
With Aaron Rodgers entering the season behind center and Pittsburgh hoping to compete immediately, the answer could have a major impact on how successful the new-look offense becomes.
