Steelers Struggle to Find Their Footing
The current iteration of the Steelers seems caught in a loop, almost like they’re jogging in place. The last time a Pittsburgh team really made it to the Super Bowl was back in 2017, and even then, they faced a disappointing end in the divisional round against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who boasted a strong 13-win season. Since that year, the Steelers have seen a mix of mediocre records—sometimes just above .500—and an unfortunate 12-4 finish that crumbled after a promising 11-0 start, culminating in a painful loss to the Cleveland Browns in the wild card. Over the past five seasons, they’ve mostly lingered around nine or ten wins.
There’s a possibility that Mike Tomlin’s long tenure as head coach, which has lasted 19 seasons, might end soon, and that could be warranted given the team’s poorest playoff showing in over a decade. But really, how far should Tomlin be expected to go with a roster that includes a fading Rodgers, an out-of-sync Russell Wilson, the evolving Justin Fields, Kenny Pickett, and the increasingly fragile Ben Roethlisberger? The core issue with Pittsburgh right now seems to be the organization’s reluctance to recognize it’s not in a “win-now” mode, regardless of who sits behind center. They had the most expensive defense in the NFL in 2025, yet their efficiency was merely decent, ranking 19th in EPA/play and dropping to 22nd without turnovers. The offense was also average, but surprisingly, statistical measures showed that their running game was stronger than their passing.
Then there’s Aaron Rodgers, who ranked at the bottom among starting quarterbacks in air yards per attempt. His fit with big-play receiver DK Metcalf has been far from smooth, resulting in Metcalf’s least productive season since his rookie year after being traded to the Steelers from Seattle.
Above all, the Steelers are, well, aging. They have some young talent, sure, but there’s definitely a surplus of veteran players. Four of the six highest cap hits for 2025 come from 31-year-old TJ Watt, 36-year-old Cameron Heyward, 31-year-old Jalen Ramsey, and 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. And let’s not forget the ill-fated $10 million contract handed to 35-year-old Darius Slay, who was waived after appearing in just ten games. While Watt and Heyward still make significant contributions, time isn’t on their side, and it doesn’t look like the Steelers are just a couple of pieces away from a playoff victory, let alone a Super Bowl run.
Historically, the Steelers have represented stability within the NFL. They have had only three head coaches since 1969, and during that time, they’ve experienced more than ten losses in a season just once. Yet, with an aging, costly defense struggling to make turnovers and an offense lacking both depth at receiver and a future quarterback to succeed Roethlisberger, this version of the Steelers has only managed to maintain stability through stagnation.
This isn’t to suggest that Pittsburgh’s front office should tank for draft picks, but it is clear that a franchise once known for its playoff prowess is growing weary of treading water. General manager Omar Khan has made some significant moves recently, including the acquisition of Metcalf, while trading away notable players like George Pickens and Minkah Fitzpatrick, alongside signing Rodgers. However, 2025 seems unlikely to resemble a continuation of that plan. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh has repeatedly been misled by quick-fix strategies aimed at a “win-now” approach, while lacking any long-term vision. The Steelers need to face the truth: a comprehensive overhaul might be necessary, possibly involving bold moves like trading TJ Watt, in order to focus on cultivating a younger, more dynamic team. Unless they change their approach and stop applying band-aids to existing problems, they’ll likely remain far from being true contenders.
