Steelers have one of NFL’s most difficult schedules in 2026

TL;DR

The Pittsburgh Steelers are projected to have the 18th most difficult schedule in the NFL for 2026. The full schedule will be released between May 12 and 14, with leaks expected beforehand.

Key points

Steelers ranked 18th in projected strength of schedule
Top five easiest schedules include Lions and Saints
Full schedule release expected between May 12 and 14

Pittsburgh SteelersArizona CardinalsMiami DolphinsCarolina Panthers

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 06: A detailed view of a Pittsburgh Steelers helmet during the regular season NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 06, 2024 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The schedule release is the next tentpole date on the NFL calendar, with the schedule set to release between May 12 and 14 with leaks all but certainly happening in the days before that. Ahead of the full schedule release, though, Warren Sharp released his projected strength of schedule rankings. In his 1-32 ranking from easiest to hardest schedule, the Steelers rank 18th. Based on Sharp’s projections, the top five easiest schedules are the Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets. The top five teams with the most difficult projected schedules are the , , , Dallas Cowboys, and . The Steelers’ full list of opponents are as follows:

Q&A

What is the Pittsburgh Steelers' projected strength of schedule for 2026?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are ranked 18th in projected strength of schedule for 2026.

Who are the top five teams with the most difficult schedules in the NFL for 2026?

The teams with the most difficult projected schedules are the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Rams.

When will the NFL schedule for 2026 be released?

The NFL schedule for 2026 is set to be released between May 12 and 14.