ESPN predicts Steelers' incredible two-decade-long streak to end in 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers, under Mike Tomlin, were always around the mark, but in the last decade or so, they never truly challenged for the Super Bowl.

But Tomlin's 22 straight NFL seasons without a losing record almost felt like it was worthy of a trophy.

That is an incredible feat, but there's no trophy for that. Now, Tomlin is out, and Mike McCarthy is in, tasked with continuing Tomlin's streak. But with the roster the way it is currently, and the concerns at quarterback, it looks like a tall order.

And for ESPN's Dan Graziano, in his latest piece, thinks it isn't an overreaction to suggest Pittsburgh's 22-season streak gets snapped in 2026.

"First of all, it has to happen at some point," Graziano wrote. "Playing 22 straight seasons without a losing record is a stunning accomplishment and a testament to the culture and stability that have defined the Steelers over that time. But the reason this isn't an overreaction? It has kind of been on a knife's edge for a while now, and it's possible Tomlin was holding it all together.

"Mike McCarthy is a good, proven, competent head coach, and bringing him in to replace Tomlin tells us the Steelers' plan is to keep the train on the tracks. But the Steelers have had a really limited ceiling for a decade now, and at some point the floor is going to drop out."

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Can McCarthy keep streak alive?

Of course, he can, but we think Aaron Rodgers would need to return, and McCarthy would have to delve into his offensive bag of tricks a lot.

With Jaylen Warren at running back, D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. as Rodgers' two top weapons if he returns, that is something to work with.

The defense has to improve, which is odd for a Steelers defense, but it isn't a slam dunk that they fold and have a losing record. 

Of course, if there ever was a year for it to happen, 2026 feels like the one.

Time will tell if this is the year the streak gets snapped. But as Graziano wrote, it's got to happen sometime, right?

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