Pittsburgh, PA — The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a powerful new era, and the latest wave of veteran departures shows just how serious the organization is about reshaping its roster under new head coach Mike McCarthy.

The Steelers officially introduced McCarthy as the 17th head coach in franchise history on January 27, 2026, marking only the fourth head-coaching hire for Pittsburgh since 1969.

Now, as McCarthy begins building his version of Steelers football, the franchise is making painful roster decisions that reflect a clear shift toward new structure, fresh energy, and long-term flexibility.

According to Pittsburgh’s offseason movement, several familiar veteran names have already exited or been released as the Steelers adjust their roster for the 2026 NFL season.

The players who have exited Pittsburgh this offseason are:

• Kenneth Gainwell (RB) — Signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Isaac Seumalo (G) — Signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
• Miles Killebrew (S/ST) — Signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Jonnu Smith (TE) — Released by the Steelers.

These departures send one painful message to Steelers Nation: Pittsburgh is no longer simply trying to preserve the old core.

The Steelers are rebuilding the identity of the team.

Gainwell’s exit may be one of the most frustrating losses for fans. After giving Pittsburgh valuable production as both a runner and receiver, he became the kind of versatile offensive weapon McCarthy could have used in multiple packages.

But his move to Tampa Bay shows how difficult it can be to keep productive veterans when the market rises quickly.

Seumalo’s departure cuts even deeper. Veteran guards are not always the flashiest names on a roster, but they often define the toughness, communication, and stability of an offense.

Losing Seumalo to Arizona creates a major challenge inside the offensive line, especially as Pittsburgh tries to build a cleaner, more disciplined attack under McCarthy.

Killebrew’s exit is another emotional blow. He was not just a defensive depth piece — he was a special-teams leader, a tone-setter, and one of the respected veterans who understood the physical standard of Steelers football.

For years, Pittsburgh has valued players who do the dirty work without demanding the spotlight. Killebrew fit that mold perfectly.

Jonnu Smith’s release also signals a clear change in offensive direction. The Steelers are adjusting their tight end room and offensive personnel, looking for pieces that better fit McCarthy’s system and the new play-calling structure.

At the same time, Pittsburgh has already begun adding new faces. The Steelers’ official transactions show moves including Michael Pittman Jr., Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., Sebastian Joseph-Day, Cole Holcomb, and Cameron Heyward’s new two-year deal.

That tells fans this is not a quiet rebuild.

This is a full roster recalibration.

McCarthy is trying to build a Steelers team that can be more explosive on offense, more balanced in personnel, and more consistent in late-season football.

But change always comes with a price.

For Pittsburgh fans, saying goodbye to players like Gainwell, Seumalo, Killebrew, and Smith is not easy. Each one represented a different piece of the previous Steelers identity — toughness, versatility, protection, leadership, and veteran experience.

Still, the direction is clear.

The Steelers are choosing the future over comfort.

They are choosing flexibility over familiarity.

And under Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh is betting that these difficult goodbyes can help create a tougher, sharper, and more dangerous team for the 2026 NFL season.