The 49ers don’t play any AFC North teams this season unless they meet one in the Super Bowl. Since it’s still August and February is a long way off, let’s take a look at how the AFC North has improved — and whether any of these teams could emerge as legitimate contenders — in this installment of 49ers vs. 49ers vs.
Key Additions:
Michael Pittman Jr., WR—Colts
Asante Samuel Jr., CB—Chargers
Mike McCarthy, HC
Key Departures:
Mike Tomlin, HC
Mike McCarthy enters his first season as the Steelers’ head coach, replacing Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons. Aaron Rodgers returns for his 21st NFL season and has already announced it will be his last. Pittsburgh added Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf, and running back Rico Dowdle gives them another solid option behind Jaylen Warren.
Defensively, the Steelers remain balanced. When T.J. Watt is healthy, they’re one of the top units in the AFC — his availability is the key to their success. If McCarthy can elevate the offense, Pittsburgh could become a threat, but age might not be on their side.
Key Additions:
Trey Hendrickson, Edge—Bengals
Jesse Minter, HC—Chargers
Key Departures:
Tyler Linderbaum, C—Raiders
Isaiah Likely, TE—Giants
John Harbaugh, HC—Giants
The Ravens enter 2026 with a new head coach in Jesse Minter, who arrives from the Chargers after serving as their defensive coordinator — and previously with Michigan. Adding Trey Hendrickson should give the defense a boost if he can stay healthy.
A healthy Lamar Jackson always keeps Baltimore in the mix. If he stays on the field, the Ravens could go far this season.
Key Additions:
Dexter Lawerence II, DT—Giants
Jonathan Allen, DT—Commanders
Boye Mafe, DE—Seahawks
Key Departures:
Trey Hendrickson, Edge—Ravens
The Bengals are always an interesting team because the offense is talented — they just get hit with injuries that derail their season. Dexter Lawrence II should help improve a run defense that ranked last in the NFL. A healthier offense should stabilize a defense that struggled last year.
Cincinnati could be one of those teams fighting for a playoff spot. They have talent — it’s just been unbalanced to this point.
Key Additions:
Jared Verse, DE—Rams
Todd Monken, HC—Ravens
Key Departures:
Myles Garrett, Edge—Rams
David Njoku, TE—Chargers
Devin Bush, LB—Bears
Kevin Stefanski, HC—Falcons
Is this the season the Browns finally give their fans something worth cheering about? Not sure — and not likely. Deshaun Watson returns after missing last season with a torn Achilles. They added KC Conception and Denzel Boston through the draft to pair with Jerry Jeudy, giving Cleveland a young receiver group with upside.
The real question is how this top‑five defense performs without Myles Garrett. Overall, the Browns have a strong defensive foundation — they just need a stable offense to compete for the division. But then again… they’re the Browns.
If the 49ers played the AFC North this season, the only team that would pose a legitimate threat would be the Ravens due to how balanced they are on both sides of the ball. The Steelers could put up a fight, but they don’t appear to be a powerhouse heading into the season, though they could be a suprise team. The Bengals look like a team that could be in a shootout every week, and the Browns look like a team that will lose games because of their offense. The AFC North went through three head‑coaching changes this offseason, adding another layer of intrigue to an already unpredictable division.
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