An Indictment Of the Pittsburgh Steelers

By Neel Madhavan on December 12, 2023

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I have been alive on this Earth for 31 years, and this is the lowest point that the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise has reached in that time. 

Sure, the team has had worse records during that stretch. But the dysfunction and discontent that presently exists is at an all-time high.

Here’s a list of what has transpired so far this season:

• The offense has been so putrid and inconsistent that it resulted in the firing of maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada. It was the first time the Steelers have made an in-season coaching change since 1941.
• After signing Mitch Trubisky in free agency and drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round before last season, it’s starting to look like the Steelers still don’t have their quarterback of the future on the roster. 
• With the quarterback and offense’s struggles, other players such as receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens and running back Najee Harris have made their displeasure public on more than one occasion.
• With every notable measurable on paper stacked against them, the Steelers somehow sat at 7-4 two weeks ago with one of the league’s easier remaining schedules. They then proceeded to lose to two 2-10 teams at home in back-to-back weeks.
• Jaylen Warren openly admitted after the loss to the Arizona Cardinals that the team may not have taken them seriously: “I guess just taking them lightly… Lighter than we should have.”
• Then, Steeler Nation practically booed the team off the field at Acrisure Stadium last week during their loss to the New England Patriots.

And I’m sure I’ve left a few more items off this calamitous list. That being said, the Steelers are still somehow in the AFC playoff picture. At 7-6, they are third in the AFC North yet still hold one of the three Wild Card spots. I honestly don’t know if I even want this team to make the playoffs at this point.

It’s hard to find any reason for optimism. 

Trubisky remains the starter, at least for a couple more weeks with Pickett out after surgery. The injury count on defense continues to climb and the team still has no identity on either side of the ball as we head into Week 15 with four games left.

Besides, even if the Steelers miraculously manage to scratch and claw their way into a playoff spot, they will almost certainly be bounced right away. 

What is certain at this point, however, is that the Steelers, from the front office all the way down to coaches, players, and support staff, will need to do some serious self-evaluation this coming offseason. 

“I share (the fans’) frustrations,” head coach Mike Tomlin said in his weekly press conference on Monday. “Our business is win. The last couple of weeks, we have not handled business. We understand that, so we’re working, and working with an edge.”

In the offseason, the Steelers will need to completely revamp the offense by finding a modern-day coordinator to oversee things and improve the offensive line — all while also determining how to move forward at the quarterback position.

The defense is mostly fine, but better depth at linebacker and in the secondary would be beneficial. 

The Steelers head to Indianapolis this week before returning home against the Cincinnati Bengals and closing out the season with back-to-back road games against the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens.

“We get ready for our next opportunity next week,” Tomlin said after the Arizona loss. “That’s what we always do.” 

Tomlin has earned a lot of goodwill for his prolonged success with the franchise over the years, but recent events have indicated that goodwill may be shrinking rapidly. 

Even so, Tomlin and the Steelers have a history of turning things around in the face of struggles and mounting adversity — even as recently as last season.

“Obviously this stings, but we’ll be back,” Tomlin said. “This is what we do. This is who we are.”

Let’s hope he’s right.

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