So, you’re looking at the standings and trying to figure out exactly what place are the Steelers in right now? It’s been a chaotic month in Pittsburgh. If you just woke up from a nap that started around Christmas, you might be surprised to see that the Pittsburgh Steelers actually finished the 2025-26 regular season in first place in the AFC North.
They took the crown.
But there is a massive asterisk next to that "first place" title because, as of this morning, January 18, 2026, the Steelers aren't actually "in" any place anymore. Their season is over. They won the division, earned the home field for the Wild Card round, and then... well, things went south. Fast.
How the Steelers Finished 1st in the AFC North
It came down to a "win or go home" thriller on Sunday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens on January 4th. Before that game, the North was anyone's guess. The Steelers were sitting at 9-7, feeling the heat. They went into that finale and pulled off a gritty 26-24 win at Acrisure Stadium.
That victory did a few things:
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- It pushed their final record to 10-7.
- It gave them their 25th division title in franchise history.
- It officially locked them into the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs.
The AFC North standings ended up looking pretty lopsided compared to previous years. While Pittsburgh took the top spot, the Ravens stumbled to an 8-9 finish. The Bengals (6-11) and Browns (5-12) weren't even in the conversation by the time Week 18 rolled around. Honestly, 10-7 isn't exactly a dominant record for a division winner, but in the AFC North, a crown is a crown.
The Playoff Disaster: Where They Are Now
If you are asking what place the Steelers are in regarding the current playoff bracket, the answer is "out."
Last Monday, January 12th, the Steelers hosted the Houston Texans. It was supposed to be the moment the playoff win drought finally ended. Instead, it was a nightmare. The Texans—led by a surging defense—absolutely dismantled the Steelers in a 30-6 blowout.
Pittsburgh’s offense looked totally lost. Aaron Rodgers, who had been the focal point of so much hope this season, threw a costly pick-six and was sacked four times. The defense, which usually keeps the team in games, fell apart in the fourth quarter, giving up 23 unanswered points.
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Because of that loss, the Steelers are officially eliminated. While the Divisional Round is happening right now (January 17-18), the Steelers are already looking at draft boards.
The Mike Tomlin Era Ends
This is the part that most people are still processing. On January 13, 2026, just one day after the blowout loss to Houston, Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach.
After 19 seasons and never having a losing record, the legendary coach decided it was time. He tied Chuck Noll for the most regular-season wins in team history (193), but that seven-game playoff losing streak clearly weighed heavy. The Steelers might be the "AFC North Champions" on paper for 2025, but they are currently a team without a head coach and a lot of questions at quarterback.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Since the 2025 campaign is dead and buried, "what place" the Steelers occupy is now more about the 2026 NFL Draft. By winning the division but losing in the Wild Card round, they have been assigned the No. 21 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
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The 2026 opponents have already been set based on their first-place finish:
- Home Games: Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Texans, and Colts.
- Away Games: Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, Patriots, Saints, Eagles, Buccaneers, and Titans.
It’s a tough draw. Facing the Texans again at home will be a grudge match, and traveling to Philadelphia for the "Battle of Pennsylvania" is never easy.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're a member of Steelers Nation trying to keep up with this transitional period, here is what you should be watching over the next few weeks:
- Monitor the Coaching Search: With Tomlin gone, Omar Khan is looking for only the fourth Steelers head coach in nearly 60 years. Names like Dan Quinn or even some hot-shot offensive coordinators will be flying around.
- Check the Salary Cap: The Rodgers experiment hasn't yielded a playoff win yet. Watch for news on whether the front office restructures his deal or looks toward the draft for a young signal-caller.
- Draft Scouting: Since the Steelers are picking at 21, keep an eye on interior defensive linemen and wide receivers. With the George Pickens trade to Dallas now a reality, they desperately need a playmaker to pair with DK Metcalf.
- Playoff Watching: Even though Pittsburgh is out, keep an eye on the Texans vs. Patriots game today. It’ll show you just how far the Steelers were from being true Super Bowl contenders this year.
The Steelers might be the reigning AFC North champs, but "first place" feels like a long time ago. Now, the real work of rebuilding the culture begins.