The air in Pittsburgh is usually thick with stability, but this week, it feels like the floor just dropped out. If you’ve been scrolling looking for exactly who did the Steelers cut today, you’re seeing the fallout of a franchise-altering week.
Mike Tomlin is gone.
That sentence still doesn’t feel real to a lot of us who grew up with him as the only face on the sideline. But after that 30-6 thumping by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round on January 12, the "standard" apparently wasn't good enough anymore. Tomlin stepped down on Tuesday, and since then, the roster has been in a state of absolute flux.
While the team hasn’t dropped a massive "cut list" of active roster players this morning—mostly because they are currently in the middle of head coaching interviews with guys like Nate Scheelhaase and Chris Shula—the moves they did make over the last 48 hours tell the real story of who is out.
The Quiet Exodus: Veteran "Cuts" in All But Name
In the NFL, a "cut" isn't always a pink slip on a Tuesday morning. Sometimes it’s the silence of a contract not being renewed or a player being told to stay home.
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The biggest name effectively "cut" from the future of this team is Aaron Rodgers.
Honestly, the Rodgers experiment ended in that Texans game. At 42, his pocket presence was basically non-existent. He looked every bit his age, finishing the season with his lowest average time-to-throw since PFF started tracking it back in 2011. Reports indicate he’s leaning toward retirement, but even if he isn't, the Steelers are moving on. With Tomlin out, the shield that protected Rodgers’ one-year tenure is gone.
Then you have the "soft cuts"—the guys whose lockers were essentially cleared out as the team pivoted to the offseason.
- Adam Thielen: The veteran receiver was a late-season addition that just didn't work. He’s essentially done in Pittsburgh.
- Darius Slay: Already cut earlier in the season, his absence is now permanent as the team looks to younger corners like Asante Samuel Jr.
- Jalen Ramsey: While technically still on the roster, his $19.5 million cap hit for 2026 has "cap casualty" written all over it. There is zero guaranteed money left on his deal. If the new coach wants to rebuild the secondary, Ramsey is the first financial domino to fall.
The 13 Who Just Got a Lifeline
While the veterans are packing their bags, the Steelers actually added a huge group to the 90-man offseason roster through reserve/futures contracts. This is how the team replaces the guys they just let go.
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On Wednesday, the team signed 13 players who will compete for the spots left behind by the recent cuts. These are the guys who survived the "practice squad purge."
The Names You Need to Know:
- John Rhys Plumlee (WR/QB): A fan favorite who mimicked Caleb Williams in practice this year. He's back.
- K.J. Henry (DE): A significant depth piece they wanted to keep away from other teams.
- Cal Adomitis (LS): The local Pittsburgh kid gets another shot at the long snapper job.
- Daequan Hardy (DB): Another local product (Penn State) staying in the system.
The rest of the list includes Kyler Baugh (DT), Cole Burgess (WR), Anthony Goodlow (DE), Jack Henderson (DB), Max Hurleman (RB), Steven Jones (OG), Lew Nichols (RB), Julius Welschof (LB), and Aiden Williams (OT).
Basically, if you were a veteran depth player on the 53-man roster who didn't contribute much this year, these 13 guys are the reason you're looking for a new job today.
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Why the "Purge" is Different This Time
Usually, the Steelers are the masters of the "calculated exit." They let a guy walk a year early rather than a year late. But this week feels more like a gutting.
Without a head coach, the front office is cleaning the slate. They have 25 players hitting free agency. When you ask who the Steelers cut, you have to look at guys like Kenneth Gainwell and Jabrill Peppers. While they haven't been "waived" on the transaction wire today, the team has made it clear through their recent futures signings that they are prepared to let the majority of their mid-tier free agents walk.
It’s a youth movement. It’s scary for a fanbase used to seeing the same faces for a decade.
What Happens Next?
The next 72 hours are going to be dominated by the coaching search. You aren't going to see a 10-man cut list today because the team needs a coach to decide who fits the new scheme. However, the writing is on the wall for any veteran over 30 who isn't named T.J. Watt.
If you're tracking the roster, keep an eye on Cole Holcomb and Jalen Ramsey. Their contract situations are the next big hurdles.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans:
- Don't buy an Aaron Rodgers Steelers jersey: He is effectively finished in Pittsburgh.
- Watch the Futures signings: Players like John Rhys Plumlee and K.J. Henry are the "new" depth that replaced the veterans cut this week.
- Expect a Cap Casualty Wednesday: Once a new coach is hired (likely within the next week), expect a wave of veteran releases to free up the nearly $40 million needed for a potential Malik Willis trade or a high-end free agent pursuit.
The "Standard" is being rewritten in real-time. It’s messy, it’s loud, and for the first time in 19 years, nobody's job is safe.