Steelers reward young offensive weapon with extension

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington. Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images

Steelers reward young offensive weapon with lucrative contract extension

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Jun 3, 2026 10:02 PM ET

Aaron Rodgers and future Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks will have a big weapon on offense for the next several seasons.

Pittsburgh extends Darnell Washington

As it was first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Pittsburgh and tight end Darnell Washington are in agreement on a contract extension.

According to Schultz, the deal is worth $42 million across four seasons, an annual value of $10.5 million per season. Washington was headed into the final season of his rookie contract but has now been extended past that. Washington's new contract guarantees $21 million.

Sources: The #Steelers and TE Darnell Washington have agreed to a 4-year, $42m extension.

The massive tight end has developed into a key piece of Pittsburgh's offense and has been everything the Steelers hoped for when they drafted him. pic.twitter.com/PVLVF5Qh8S
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 4, 2026

2025 was a breakout season for Darnell Washington

After collecting just 26 catches in his first two professional seasons, Washington broke out in 2025. With a future Hall of Famer in the aforementioned Rodgers at quarterback, Washington posted the best season of his young career.

He collected 31 catches for 364 yards with one touchdown. Besides matching his touchdown total from the previous two seasons, Washington posted career-high numbers in nearly every single basic and advanced offensive category.

Mike McCarthy will have a huge impact for Darnell Washington

The Steelers will head into 2026 playing for a coach not named Mike Tomlin for the first time in nearly 20 seasons. Mike McCarthy takes over and reunites with the quarterback who won him his lone Super Bowl.

McCarthy has long been considered an excellent offensive mind, and he may be able to get even more out of Washington. An even bigger breakout season for Washington may be exactly what Pittsburgh needs to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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