This story is an editorial and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Campus.
The 2025 Steelers felt like a different team — for the first half of the season at least. At this point, the team has gained a notorious reputation for being good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to advance in the playoffs. In the previous seven seasons, the team topped 10 wins only once, yet never dipped below .500. It is an infuriating cycle that left many fans questioning whether long-time head coach Mike Tomlin could bring the team the same playoff success they enjoyed in the late 2000s and early 2010s when they won two Super Bowls. Their last playoff win was nine seasons ago, which simply does not satisfy fans of a storied franchise where football, and by extension winning, is a major aspect of Pittsburgh’s identity.
A large reason for the Steelers’ woes stems from instability at the quarterback position and the team’s offense as a whole. In the 2010s Pittsburgh operated one of the league’s most explosive offenses, headlined by the “Killer B’s,” consisting of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. After the 2018 season, both Brown and Bell were gone following a myriad of controversies between them and the organization. Big Ben Roethlisberger steadily declined until the 2021 season, which would be his last. Since then, the team has been in quarterback purgatory after the likes of Mason Rudolph, Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson all failed to bring any playoff success while fielding a bottom-15 offense in each of those seasons. The team remained competitive because of its outstanding defense, led by superstar pass rusher T.J. Watt. Changes would need to be made on the offensive side of the ball if the team wanted to take the next step and become an American Football Conference powerhouse again. These changes came in the form of four-time league Most Valuable Player quarterback Aaron Rodgers and superstar wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Fans were excited about a potentially explosive offense, with Rodgers finally paired with two of the league’s most gifted receivers: Metcalf and the inconsistent George Pickens. That duo was separated after the draft when the Steelers traded Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for third and fifth-round draft picks. Still, fans would get to see one of the most talented quarterbacks in National Football League history lead their team, which brought some higher expectations.
The Steelers opened up the season on the road against the New York Jets, and everyone was wondering how Rodgers would perform against his previous team, which flailed during his two seasons there. Rodgers had the offense rolling with four passing touchdowns in a 34-32 thriller win, leaving fans wondering if the 41-year-old signal caller had discovered the fountain of youth. They lost to Seattle in week two, but then rip off three straight victories against the Patriots, Vikings and Browns. The Steelers were sitting at 4-1 with aspirations of winning an unusually weak AFC North.
The team then went 2-5 in its next seven games, even losing a shootout in a game dubbed by social media as the “Unc Bowl,” featuring 40-year-old Joe Flacco and the rival Bengals. The two elder millennials combined for seven passing touchdowns and 591 yards.
After being dominated by the Bills on Nov. 30, the Steelers ripped off another three victories against the Lions, Ravens and Dolphins, setting up a battle for the division against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. The Steelers ended up edging out the Ravens 26-24 after a botched field goal by Ravens kicker Tyler Loop. The Steelers had won the AFC North and Mike Tomlin secured his 19th straight non-losing season. They would be taking on the Houston Texans at home during NFL Wildcard Weekend and have wide receiver Metcalf back after he was suspended the previous two games for punching a fan.
The stage was set for Rodgers to make one last playoff run. Early on, the game was competitive, with the Texans being up 7-6 until the early third quarter. Things then spiraled out of control as the Texans scored 23 unanswered points with two defensive touchdowns off Rodgers’ turnovers. First, Rodgers fumbled the ball and the Texans recovered it for a touchdown. The Steelers punt in the ensuing drive, and then the Texans offense drove down the field and scored another touchdown to make the score 23-6. Rodgers had one final shot to bring the Steelers back into the game, and he threw a pick-six in what was likely his final NFL pass attempt.
After the game, there were many questions regarding the future of the team. Rodgers will most likely retire, and many fans were calling for coaching changes. Fans got that wish, as Tomlin stepped down as head coach after 19 seasons and 191 victories, including Super Bowl 43. He had been the longest-tenured head coach in the league — and for many young Steelers fans, the only coach they had known. The Steelers are not the only team in the AFC with uncertain futures, with the Ravens firing long-time head coach John Harbaugh, the Browns firing two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski and the Bills firing head coach Sean McDermott. The Steelers may look to snag a franchise quarterback in the draft, but that may be difficult without trading up and giving up significant capital, as they currently possess the 21st overall pick. For the first time in nearly two decades, Pittsburgh stands at a crossroads, hoping that the end of one era can be followed up by a better one.
