Lower than 24 hours after one other disheartening wild-card loss, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin knowledgeable the staff he could be stepping down after 19 seasons.
Employed to interchange Corridor of Famer Invoice Cowher after the 2006 season, the then-34-year-old Tomlin rapidly proved as much as the duty, main the franchise to its sixth Tremendous Bowl title in simply his second yr on the helm. Led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and one of many league’s greatest defenses, the Steelers would stay a juggernaut for the primary decade of Tomlin’s tenure, profitable a minimum of 11 video games six occasions and making one other Tremendous Bowl look in 2010.
Although Tomlin famously averted a shedding file throughout his complete Steelers tenure, the wheels slowly fell off throughout his second decade. The abrupt decline of Roethlisberger and the struggles of first-round choose Kenny Pickett sunk the offense, because the unit completed within the backside 10 in complete yards in every of Tomlin’s ultimate seven seasons.
A stout protection and a constant potential to tug out shut video games allowed the Steelers to stay competent by way of the offensive struggles, however they have been by no means severe Tremendous Bowl contenders. Every of their 5 postseason appearances from 2020 to 2025 resulted in a double-digit wild-card loss, with the protection permitting a mean of 35.8 factors per recreation.
This season may need been the strangest of all of them. A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers was introduced in to play quarterback whereas the protection was each the oldest and the costliest within the NFL. Each models ranked within the backside 10 in complete yards, however thanks largely to accidents to Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, the Steelers have been in a position to sneak into the playoffs with a 10-7 file, the place they have been promptly overmatched by a dominant Texans protection.
As tough as it might be for a franchise that has identified nothing however success because the days of Chuck Noll, the departure of Tomlin ought to enable it to lastly decide to a full rebuild.
Why Steelers want to start out from scratch
Looking back, the Steelers most likely ought to have pulled the plug as soon as Roethlisberger known as it quits after the 2021 season, however Tomlin’s potential to maintain the staff aggressive compelled them to maintain pushing. They focused over-the-hill defensive stars like Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey whereas extending homegrown stars Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt properly into their thirties.
On offense, the Steelers introduced in bridge quarterbacks like Rodgers and Russell Wilson, every of whom possessed sufficient veteran savvy to run a middle-of-the-pack offense, however they weren’t practically adequate to compete with the AFC’s high signal-callers. Additionally they made the ill-advised resolution to commerce for and promptly prolong broad receiver DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the final two video games of the common season and had simply two receptions within the wild-card recreation.
No matter who they select to interchange Tomlin, the Steelers should acknowledge that one other season pushing for mediocrity will do extra hurt than good. A part of the rationale the Steelers lack younger expertise is that they’re all the time selecting within the second half of the primary spherical, and one other season hovering across the .500 mark might value them a possibility at a franchise quarterback in what is predicted to be a loaded 2027 draft.
This offseason is all about constructing for the 2027 and 2028 seasons fairly than 2026. Meaning shifting on from their high-priced defenders like linebacker Patrick Queen and exploring trades for each Watt and Metcalf. It means not trying to re-sign Rodgers and as a substitute taking a shot on a low-risk, high-reward choice like Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
With 5 picks within the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers lastly have the chance to inject some youth into an ageing and declining roster. After years of pushing their chips into the center of the desk, the departure of Tomlin provides the Steelers an excuse to take a step again and work towards constructing a roster that may obtain sustainable, long-term success.
