Ben Skowronek did enough in 2025 to make himself hard to ignore. He led the Steelers with 21 special teams tackles, a total that ranked fourth in the league and helped him earn a 53-man roster spot. But the part that got him onto the team in the first place may not be enough to keep him there in 2026.
That is the tension in his case now. Skowronek’s path with the Steelers has been built on value away from the spotlight, and that mattered after he signed to the practice squad in 2024. In 2025, he turned that opportunity into a role by becoming one of the team’s most productive special teams players. The problem is that roster spots are not awarded for what happened last season alone.
Why the roster question is real
The Steelers changed their wide receiver room this offseason, and that is where Skowronek’s future becomes less certain. Special teams production can keep a player in the conversation, but it usually works best when a player can also contribute on offense. If Skowronek is going to remain valuable enough to keep his roster spot, he may need to improve as a wide receiver.
That does not erase what he already proved. A player who leads his team in special teams tackles is clearly doing something useful, and finishing fourth in the league is not a minor note. It shows trust, consistency and the kind of effort coaches usually want on game days. It also explains how he went from the practice squad in 2024 to a roster spot the next season.
Still, the Steelers are not deciding whether Skowronek was useful in 2025. They are deciding whether his current value is strong enough to survive the next round of roster math. That is a different test. Special teams can open the door, but wide receiver production may be what keeps it open.
Skowronek’s career with the Steelers has already shown that he can earn his way onto the 53-man roster through work that often goes unnoticed. The question for 2026 is whether that role can grow beyond coverage units. If it can, he has a real chance to stay. If it cannot, even an excellent special teams season may not be enough.
