Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth posted underwhelming numbers during the 2025 season, but the 2026 campaign could produce the best year of his career. A graphic from OTL highlighting Freiermuth’s struggles last season tells only part of the story. The full picture reveals a pass catcher who was buried in a system that never prioritized him, and who now finds himself in a drastically different situation heading into this fall.

Why was 2025 so frustrating for Freiermuth?

The truth is, Freiermuth was essentially invisible for long stretches of the Steelers’ 2025 offense, and it had almost nothing to do with him. Arthur Smith’s play design funneled targets toward Jonnu Smith, and the connection between Smith and quarterback Aaron Rodgers never materialized the way Pittsburgh hoped.

Rodgers and Smith simply could not get on the same page. The timing was off, the chemistry was nonexistent, and the Steelers’ passing game suffered for it. Freiermuth, meanwhile, sat in a secondary role, watching targets go elsewhere despite being the more reliable option in the middle of the field.

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The late-season evidence that matters

What stood out down the stretch of 2025 was what happened when Rodgers went off-script. In 2-minute drills and high-leverage situations against teams like the Cleveland Browns, Rodgers abandoned the designed concepts and looked for Freiermuth. Throws down the seam, in-cuts, in-breakers. When the game was on the line and Rodgers needed someone he trusted, Freiermuth was the target.

That late-season connection is the foundation for optimism heading into 2026. Rodgers showed a clear preference for Freiermuth when the play-caller’s influence faded and instinct took over. Now that dynamic shifts from being an occasional occurrence to the baseline expectation.

What changes in 2026

Smith is gone, both Jonnu and Arthur. The target share at tight end now belongs to Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, with Freiermuth as the clear primary pass-catching option. On top of that, the Steelers have a new offensive system in place. Mike McCarthy’s West Coast scheme is built to feature tight ends in the short-to-intermediate passing game, and a new offensive coordinator should bring fresh concepts that put Freiermuth in advantageous positions.

Add another year of experience between Rodgers and Freiermuth, and the pieces are there for a significant jump in production. The chemistry that showed up in crunch time last season now has an entire offseason and a scheme designed to maximize it.

The bottom line

Freiermuth is positioned for a breakout. The obstacles that limited him in 2025 have been removed. The quarterback who sought him out in the biggest moments will have a full season of designed opportunities to find him. Pittsburgh’s tight end room is simplified, the scheme fits his skill set, and the trust with Rodgers is already established. Freiermuth spent 2025 locked away in an offense that refused to use him. In 2026, he should finally get the chance to show what he can do when the system works in his favor.