Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 season has ended in a very ugly fashion with yet another first round playoff loss, Steelers Nation begins to look forward to the offseason and what might be in the 2025 season. With a sixth straight playoff loss and fifth one and done exit for head coach Mike Tomlin, it’s been reported that he is returning for a 19thseason.
Tomlin has had a winning record for every season in his 18 years with Pittsburgh. However, his teams have not won a playoff game in eight years dating back to 2016. There are Steelers fans that claim embarrassment for how the Steelers lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild card round. I say no Steelers fan should ever be embarrassed by the Black and Gold. Angry? Yes indeed. Frustrated and disappointed with the season ending five game losing streak? Absolutely. But embarrassed? Hell no. There should be pride in being a Steelers fan win or lose.
I’m in favor of Mike Tomlin returning next season because I believe it is a talent problem and some coaching that has failed the team in its efforts to get past one game in the post season. In the loss to Baltimore, the score did not reflect how one sided the game was. Pittsburgh’s defense was a no-show. If I were Art Rooney II and Omar Khan, my first move in this offseason would be to fire Tyrel Austin, the Steelers defensive coordinator. The Steelers defense has some incredibly talented players so there is no excuse for their performance.
My biggest worry about next season is when the Steelers start winning games again, it is a sure thing that in the back of the minds of members of Steelers Nation as they will be thinking, “yea this is great we are winning but what good is it if we just get to the playoffs and get pushed out in one game?” For sure the Steelers will probably win more games than they lose in the 2025 season but the frustration of a long drought from winning playoff game is understandable.
Many wanted a change in the head coach, but Mr. Rooney has already indicated Coach T. is coming back. I’ve contended that the Pittsburgh Steelers will not reach another Super Bowl until they have an elite quarterback calling the signals. That is not Russell Wilson nor is it, Justin Fields. Before Sam Darnold’s disastrous two game skid to end the Minnesota Vikings season I believed they might move the injured rookie J.J. McCarthy to another team via trade. Now that the Vikings are also out of the playoffs given the nine sacks Darnold endured to the Rams, I think McCarthy stays and Darnold goes. I want nothing to do with Darnold. But the Steelers need to find that next Terry Bradshaw or Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers have a handful of free agents to deal with before training camp convenes and many Steelers fans are already expecting business as usual for next season…win a bunch of games then underperform in the postseason. There are some noticeably substantial changes I think that need to be made. As great as T.J. Watt has been, his diminishing skills are not going to save the team, so I would find value in a trade for him to another team. George Pickens? He may never grow up. Send him packing. A new defensive coordinator is a must.
Who can replace Austin to lead the defense? I’m not sure of the availability of the following men, but if I’m Omar Khan and team President Art Rooney II I certainly make a pitch to get one of these guys.
- Steve Spagnuolo
- Jim Schwartz
- Vic Fangio
- Mike Zimmer
- Brian Flores (yes, he was on our staff previously, but he is an outstanding defensive coach)
These are tough times being a Steelers fan, but as a fan since 1972, I’ve seen some lean years although fans older than I might remember the even worse years long before the “Immaculate Reception.” As the team was brought into the NFL in 1933, it took 40 years for the Steelers to get to the playoffs. Steelers fans are certainly spoiled with the success of the 1970s when the team won four Super Bowls in six years and then added another two later. But just imagine being a New York Jets fan. That team has won just one Super Bowl and hasn’t been to the post season in 14 years. The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons haven’t tasted a playoff game in seven seasons.
Therefore, I’d much rather have my team get to the post season and lose badly than not to have had that chance at all. Still, we Steelers fans are starving for at least one playoff victory. That’s not going to happen until we can have a stifling defense take the field again and an offense that scares somebody…anybody. The next six months will be very telling as to what direction the Pittsburgh Steelers are heading. From free agency to the draft and heading into training camp, something drastic must change if we are to ever get off the playoff snide.
