For a lot of people around the league—both fans and otherwise—the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming season is as much about 2022 and beyond as it is this year. A lot of that has to do with the simple fact that there isn’t a lot of optimism outside of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that this is a Super Bowl-caliber team right now.
There are other factors, but the biggest is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whom most assume is in his final season, and whether or not he has what it takes to lead another postseason run, especially in one of the most competitive divisions in football.