Who is the Steelers' 2026 First-Half Offensive MVP?

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Who is the 2026 Steelers first-half offensive MVP? We make the case for three players who have helped the Steelers get to 6-2 at the bye week.

Center Zach Frazier

• He told me the other day he didn’t want to answer a question about his play because he just feels uncomfortable talking about himself. It’s refreshing. Since he won’t talk about himself, we all should. He’s been a difference-maker and clearly not only the leader of the offensive line in his third season, but one of the leaders overall. A few of his teammates the other day were chirping ‘All Pro’ at him, they aren’t wrong. Historically this franchise has had generational centers, they got another.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers

• Whatever the offense does can be attributed directly to the quarterback. He is top 10 in NFL passing yards and touchdowns with only six interceptions, two of those picks were handed to opposing players by a pair of receivers. Rodgers led the huge comeback win at Tampa Bay and got them even in Cleveland late. So much focus has been on his spat with head coach Mike McCarthy on national TV, but it’s been a prosperous relationship for both. He’s better this year than last while overcoming injuries at receiver. Without Rodgers, the Steelers are not 6-2.

Running back Jaylen Warren

• The spark to the offense, named the AFC Offensive Players of the Week, first Steelers player since Ben Roethlisberger, for 101 yards rushing and 87 yards receiver in a huge, bounce-back win over the Colts. Warren went from playing 37% of the offensive snaps in the season opener to 97% a couple of weeks later after the Rico Dowdle injury. As a running back, Warren leads all NFL ‘receivers’ in broken tackles with eight and Yards After Catch with 346 despite only 25 receptions. Warren has the third-longest reception in the NFL this season with no recorded drops. Meanwhile, he leads the NFL in yards per attempt with 5.9 and is the league’s seventh-leading rusher with 704 yards.

Quarterback is the most important position in sports, but the offense is different because of Warren. For years Mike Tomlin went to a podium and discussed needing, and the importance of, chunk plays. The 28-year-old undrafted running back is providing that as the Steelers first half offensive MVP.