Steelers See Special Teams Boost Against Saints

Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy reports progress in special teams efficiency following a call for improvement.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Football

Steelers See Special Teams Boost Against Saints

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy publicly requested better production from the team's special teams unit on October 26, 2026. The group subsequently showed improved results in their recent performance against the New Orleans Saints.

Why it matters

The team sought to address a slow start to the 2026 season under coordinator Danny Crossman by emphasizing fundamentals in practice. Consistency on special teams remains a core focus as the Steelers work to improve their overall field position and scoring efficiency.

Kaden Wetjen recorded a 13-yard punt return and averaged 30 yards across two kickoff returns against the Saints. The kickoff unit successfully held New Orleans returners to under 100 total yards while the field goal unit converted three attempts.

The players

Mike McCarthy

He serves as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and is responsible for managing the team's overall performance.

Kaden Wetjen

He is a Pittsburgh Steelers player who was selected in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Chris Boswell

He is the placekicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a central component of the team's field goal unit.

Danny Crossman

He serves as the special teams coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The details

The unit executed a successful fire drill to convert a field goal before halftime during the game against the New Orleans Saints. Coach McCarthy expects continued growth as players focus on fundamental execution and specific special teams drills during the week.

April 2026: Kaden Wetjen was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
2025 season: Chris Boswell missed five kicks throughout the year.
October 25, 2026: The Pittsburgh Steelers played against the New Orleans Saints.
October 26, 2026: Mike McCarthy issued his request for improved special teams production.

Season Trajectory

This recent performance marks a potential turning point for the Steelers after early season struggles in the kicking and return games. These adjustments aim to stabilize the unit's impact on game results and improve the team's standing within the competitive landscape.

The unit's ability to convert all three field goal attempts against the Saints provides immediate stability for scoring drives. Kaden Wetjen's increased involvement in returns suggests a shifting rotation that may impact special teams fantasy utility and field position strategies.

The takeaway

Focusing on fundamental drills and fire-drill preparation helped the unit improve its execution under pressure. Maintaining this discipline in practice will be critical for the Steelers to avoid late-season field goal inaccuracies.