Steelers vs Jets Tonight: How to Watch Every Preseason Snap
Steelers vs. Jets Preseason Game: Everything You Need to Know
What’s Happening Tonight?
It’s football night in Pittsburgh! The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting ready to host the New York Jets for their second preseason game of the year. The action takes place at Acrisure Stadium right here in the Steel City.
Quick Note: Preseason games are like practice games before the real season starts. They help coaches decide which players make the final team.
Meet the New Coach
This is a big year for the Steelers! They have a brand new head coach named Mike McCarthy. He took over after Mike Tomlin stepped down in January after 19 years with the team. That’s a really long time—almost two decades!
How the First Game Went
In their first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers looked great! They won 28-9.
Rookie quarterback Drew Allar (that means he’s a first-year player) had an amazing game:
- He scored three touchdowns
- The team looked strong and ready
Drew Allar #16 scoring against the Packers. Photo by Joe Sargent / Getty Images
Who’s Playing Tonight?
Here’s the quarterback situation for tonight’s game:
- Will Howard – Expected to start the game
- Drew Allar – Will back him up and get playing time
- Mason Rudolph – NOT playing tonight (coach saw enough from him last week)
- Aaron Rodgers – NOT playing tonight (he said this will be his last season)
Important Point: Both Howard and Allar will get "chunks of playing time." This means the coach wants to see both of them in action to help decide who plays when the real games start.
Game Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets |
| Where | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh |
| When | Tonight at 7:00 PM |
| Pre-game Show | Starts at 6:30 PM |
How to Watch on TV
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, you can watch the game on KDKA-TV.
Channel Numbers Might Be Different
The channel number depends on:
- Your TV provider (Comcast, Verizon, DirecTV, etc.)
- Whether you watch over-the-air (antenna) or through cable/satellite
Pro Tip: Check your local listings or your TV guide to find the exact channel number for KDKA-TV.
Broadcast Team
- Bob Pompeani – Play-by-play announcer
- Charlie Batch – Color commentator (former Steelers player!)
Full TV Schedule Tonight
- 6:30 PM – Steelers Kickoff (pre-game show)
- 7:00 PM – Game starts
- After game – The Extra Point (post-game show)
- Then – Nightly Sports Call (special edition)
- 11:00 PM – KDKA-TV News
Note: Regular CBS shows like CBS Evening News, Family Feud, Sheriff Country, Fire Country, and Boston Blue will air on KDKA+ instead of the main channel tonight.
Steelers 2026 Season Schedule
Here’s the complete schedule for the rest of the year:
Preseason
- Week 3: Thursday, Aug 27 @ Buffalo Bills, 7:00 PM
Regular Season
- Week 1: Sunday, Sept 13 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM
- Week 2: Sunday, Sept 20 @ New England Patriots, 1:00 PM
- Week 3: Sunday, Sept 27 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 PM
- Week 4: Thursday, Oct 1 @ Cleveland Browns, 8:15 PM
- Week 5: Sunday, Oct 11 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 PM
- Week 6: Sunday, Oct 18 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 PM
- Week 7: Sunday, Oct 25 vs. New Orleans Saints in Paris, 9:30 AM
- Week 8: Sunday, Nov 1 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM
- Week 9: BYE WEEK (no game)
- Week 10: Sunday, Nov 15 @ Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 PM
- Week 11: Sunday, Nov 22 @ Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 PM
- Week 12: Friday, Nov 27 vs. Denver Broncos, 3:00 PM
- Week 13: Sunday, Dec 6 vs. Houston Texans, 8:20 PM
- Week 14: Monday, Dec 14 @ Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 PM
- Week 15: Sunday, Dec 20 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 PM
- Week 16: Date/Time TBD vs. Carolina Panthers
- Week 17: Sunday, Jan 3 @ Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM
- Week 18: Date/Time TBD @ Baltimore Ravens
Fun Fact: Week 7 is in Paris, France! The Steelers will play the Saints internationally.
Summary
Tonight the Steelers host the Jets at Acrisure Stadium for their second preseason game. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM with pre-game coverage starting at 6:30 PM on KDKA-TV. New coach Mike McCarthy will give playing time to quarterbacks Will Howard (starting) and Drew Allar (backup), while veterans Mason Rudolph and Aaron Rodgers sit out. The Steelers won their first preseason game 28-9 behind rookie Allar’s three touchdowns. The full 2026 schedule includes 17 regular season games plus a trip to Paris!
FAQ
What time does the Steelers vs Jets game start tonight?
The game kicks off at 7:00 PM at Acrisure Stadium. Pre-game coverage starts at 6:30 PM on KDKA-TV.
What channel is the Steelers game on in Pittsburgh?
KDKA-TV is carrying the game in the Pittsburgh market. The exact channel number varies by provider—check your local listings.
Is Aaron Rodgers playing tonight?
No. Aaron Rodgers (who said this will be his last season) will not play in tonight’s preseason game.
Who is the Steelers’ new head coach?
Mike McCarthy is the new head coach. He replaced Mike Tomlin, who stepped down in January after 19 seasons with the team.
When is the Steelers’ next game after tonight?
Preseason Week 3: Thursday, August 27 at Buffalo Bills, 7:00 PM.
Regular Season Week 1: Sunday, September 13 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM.