Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense underwhelmed at wide receiver, with DK Metcalf serving as the only true receiving threat.
Sure, running back Kenneth Gainwell and tight end Pat Freiermuth picked up the slack, but it ultimately wasn’t enough.
The 2025 Steelers had a receiving room of Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Adam Thielen, Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek outside the talent of Metcalf. Although Austin finished with 372 yards and three touchdowns, his production as a No. 2 option wasn’t enough to complement Metcalf.
Entering the 2026 offseason, the Steelers made two major moves with the Colts. First, they acquired Michael Pittman Jr., and then made a draft-day trade to land Alabama Crimson Tide receiver Germie Bernard.
The Steelers also traded picks 53, 135 and 237 in exchange for picks 47 and 249 from the Colts.
Bernard became the first Alabama player not coached by Nick Saban to be drafted since 2007, when defensive back Ramzee Robinson was selected as Mr. Irrelevant (last pick of the draft) by the Detroit Lions.
Bernard is slotted to be the No. 3 receiver behind Metcalf and Pittman and has drawn pro comparisons to the likes of Jarvis Landry. Former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. compared him to Deebo Samuel, showing just how high his ceiling is entering his rookie season.
College Career
Before arriving at Alabama, Bernard began his collegiate career at Michigan State in 2022, following a successful run at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where he won a state title in 2019. In his only season with the Spartans, he finished with seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Soon after, Bernard transferred to Washington in 2023, joining head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Despite being behind Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan, he still produced 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns. Odunze, Polk, McMillan, and Bernard all went on to become NFL wide receivers, proving just how talented that room was.
The No. 2 Huskies fell to the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the National Title, 34-13. After the season, Bernard followed DeBoer to Alabama, following the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban.
In two years at Alabama, Bernard developed into a key weapon for his team. In 2024, he finished with 50 receptions for 794 yards and two touchdowns. Bernard not only showed improvement but also consistency. This led him to a breakout campaign in 2025.
Last season, Bernard became a dual-threat player, used as both a receiver and a running back. As a receiver, he racked up 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns. On the ground, Bernard finished with 101 yards on 18 carries, scoring twice.
After his dominant 2025, Bernard accepted an invitation to the Panini Senior Bowl. Entering the league, his ability to constantly improve and get better could allow him to become a long-term staple in the Steelers receiver room.
What Can He Provide for the Steelers?
Under new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, versatility is the name of the game. For Bernard, his versatility allows him to play inside and outside as a wide receiver. He can also line up as a running back, which allows him to take advantage of playing opportunities early in his pro career.
McCarthy mentioned that football comes easily to Bernard and that his understanding is very high. He also mentioned how he feels that he’s been an excellent fit so far.
“Football comes easy to him. His understanding is very high, doesn’t blink. I love his demeanor. You can see why his versatility in college definitely carries over. So, I think he’s been an excellent fit for us,” McCarthy said during his May 9th media availability.
During his May 9 media availability, Bernard spoke on his thought process entering a new offensive system.
“When you first come into an offense, you want to learn everything. You want to be able to be versatile so you can have the most opportunities whenever that time comes,” Bernard said.
Outside of his versatility, Bernard also offers high character. Bernard is strong in his faith and wants to bring that same energy into the Pittsburgh community.
“First and foremost, I want people to know and understand that my identity is in Christ, and that’s something that I believe in the most and something that I want people to see within me, and I want to bring that to the community and have impact in any way I can through that,” Bernard said during his one-on-one sit-down with Missi Matthews.
Bernard also talked about the type of teammate he wants to be.
“I know that this organization is going to get a selfless teammate, a guy that’s going to do everything he can to help the team have success and win,” he said.
Dynamic Trio
Even without a confirmed starting quarterback, the Steelers have set themselves up with a trio of receivers that will allow them to spread the field. Their physicality and ability to make big-time catches will help Drew Allar or Will Howard succeed if veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return.
Between Metcalf and Pittman, they combined for 1,634 yards and 13 touchdowns in their 2025 campaigns for their individual teams, the Steelers and Colts. Adding almost 2,000 yards of offense to a team that struggled offensively could be a major upgrade. Add Bernard into the mix, and that’s 2,496 yards and 20 touchdowns between the three receivers. Though these are the combined stats from last season with other teams, it’s a sign that Steelers fans should be optimistic about what’s to come.
DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman are the perfect veterans to learn from, and for Bernard, this could pay off in the long term as he pursues a successful NFL career.
The post What Does Germie Bernard Provide for the Pittsburgh Steelers? appeared first on The Lead.
Login
