The Pittsburgh Steelers will wrap up Wild Card weekend when they host the Houston Texans on Monday night. And while Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs many times in recent years only to falter horribly, this one feels a little different.
And the entire city is behind them, even out to the distant suburbs of the City of Pittsburgh.
The Steel City is a football city. They are one of the most infamous and fervent fanbases in the sport. But this time there is some real belief that the team can snap their near-decade-long streak of playoff futility.
The Steelers’ last three playoff games were all on the road, and they were underdogs of 9.5, 10.0, and 12.5 points in those games. This time, they’re at home, and the Texans are favored by just three points. No Lamar, no Mahomes, no Allen.
They have a real chance even with weather conditions expected to be rough. And the Yinzers know it. They are preparing for the possibility that they may party and celebrate all night. But how do we know this, you ask?
A local Pittsburgh school district sent out a letter on January 11 to inform their residents that all district schools and offices would be opening on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 13—the day after the Steelers’ Monday night Wild Card matchup. And Donald L. MacFann, the McKeesport superintendent, didn’t even pretend like the delay was for any reason other than their beloved Steelers.
“Dear McKeesport Area School District Parents/Guardians and Community Members,” MacDann wrote. “I am writing to share, due to the Steelers’ playoff game, all district schools and offices will operate on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
“We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we make this adjustment. Thank you for your continued support of our schools.”
McKeesport is a small city of about 18,000 at the confluence of the Monongahela (one of the three rivers of the Steelers’ old stadium name: Three Rivers Stadium) and Youghiogheny rivers. It serves as a suburb of Pittsburgh, sitting about 30 minutes southeast of downtown where the Steelers play.
If kids in McKeesport didn’t already like their hometown Steelers, they’re going to love them even more on Tuesday morning when they get to scoot off to school two hours later than usual thanks to the boys in Black & Gold. Win or lose.
A win and a rare spot for the Steelers in the Divisional Round would surely be very much appreciated, though.