So, you’re looking for the kickoff time. Honestly, if you’re checking the TV guide today, January 14, 2026, I have some news that’s gonna sting a little. The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially off the clock for the season.
Monday night was supposed to be a classic Acrisure Stadium atmosphere—cold, loud, and intimidating. Instead, the Houston Texans came into our house and basically took the keys. The final score was a brutal 30–6. Because that game wrapped up two days ago, there is no Steelers game on tonight or this coming weekend. They’ve been eliminated from the Wild Card round, and the locker rooms are being packed up as we speak.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. After a 10–7 regular season and a gritty AFC North title win against Baltimore in Week 18, fans were hoping for a deep run. But the Texans, led by a defense that hasn't quit all year, put an end to those dreams pretty quickly.
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Right now, the "game" has shifted from the field to the front office. If you were asking what time is the steelers game on because you missed the Monday night result, the post-game post-mortem is happening 24/7 on sports radio.
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The biggest bombshell dropped just yesterday. Mike Tomlin is stepping down. After 19 seasons, the man who never had a losing record for nearly two decades is moving on. This isn't just a coaching change; it’s a tectonic shift for the city of Pittsburgh. We haven't looked for a new head coach since 2007. That’s a lifetime in NFL years.
Key Dates for the 2026 Season
Since there isn't a kickoff to catch this Sunday, your eyes should be on these dates instead:
- March 2026: Free agency begins. This is when the roster starts looking like a 2026 contender or a rebuilding project.
- April 23–25, 2026: The NFL Draft. With Tomlin gone, the draft strategy might look wildly different than what we’re used to.
- May 2026: This is the big one. The NFL will officially release the full 2026 schedule. That’s when we’ll finally know exactly what time the first game of the new era kicks off.
Why the Schedule Matters Moving Forward
Even though the playoffs are continuing without us (the Texans are heading to New England this Sunday, by the way), the 2026 opponents are already set. Because the Steelers won the AFC North this year, they’re stuck with a "first-place schedule" next season.
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That means it won't be easy. We’re looking at matchups against the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and a cross-state battle with the Philadelphia Eagles. We also have the usual home-and-away grind against the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns.
It’s weird to think about a Steelers Sunday without Tomlin on the sidelines. For a lot of us, he’s the only coach we’ve ever really known. The search for the next leader is already heating up, with names like Brian Flores and Chris Shula being tossed around in every bar from the South Side to the North Shore.
Watching the Rest of the Playoffs
If you’re a football junkie and just want to see some AFC action, here is what’s left of the Divisional Round. Since the Steelers are out, these are the games taking over the time slots:
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- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos – 4:30 PM ET on CBS.
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks – 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots – 3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN. (This is the slot the Steelers would have taken).
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears – 6:30 PM ET on NBC.
It’s definitely a "watch from the couch" kind of vibe now. The drought since the last playoff win in 2017 continues, and honestly, the focus has to be on finding a quarterback and a coach who can break that streak.
For now, keep your jerseys in the closet and maybe catch up on some sleep. The 2026 schedule release in May will be the next time we get to circle dates on the calendar. Until then, we’re just spectators in a very strange, Tomlin-less world.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Monitor the Coaching Search: Follow local beat writers for updates on interviews with candidates like Jesse Minter or Anthony Weaver.
- Check the Salary Cap: The Steelers have some big decisions to make regarding veteran contracts before free agency starts in March.
- Draft Prep: Start looking at the 2026 draft class. With a mid-to-late first-round pick, the Steelers will likely be hunting for offensive line depth or a cornerstone linebacker.