The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 season ended with a quiet whimper in the Wild Card round, with a disappointing loss to the Baltimore Ravens on the road. It’s been nearly a decade since the city of Pittsburgh has experienced the thrill of a playoff victory, a long stretch of time for a franchise that was once the epitome of success, winning four Super Bowls in just six years during the 1970s. The contrast between the Steelers’ glorious past and their recent struggles is undeniable and disheartening.
As a long-time Steelers fan, my journey with the team began in the 1970s, a decade that stands as a golden era for Pittsburgh football. I remember those years with fondness, as they were defined by dominance and a consistent winning mentality. As a young fan, I assumed that once the team reached the playoffs, a Super Bowl victory was almost a certainty. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case since the 2008 season. The frustration from the 2024 season is immense, but the truth remains: here we are again, discussing yet another “one and done” playoff exit. While I didn’t necessarily expect the Steelers to make a deep playoff run this season, once they made it to the postseason, I hoped they could at least get past the Wild Card round.
What makes this loss particularly frustrating is the way the team performed in the Wild Card game against the Ravens. The Steelers were nearly non-competitive, and that’s a stark contrast to the team’s usual approach, especially during the regular season. The Steelers are known for their resilience, toughness, and ability to compete in high-pressure situations, but those traits were nowhere to be found in the playoff loss. It’s clear that changes need to be made, and there are several key adjustments that must happen this offseason if the Steelers are to avoid a similar fate in 2025. Here are five essential changes that should be made to improve the team’s chances going forward.
1. Finding Balance on Offense
In 2024, the Steelers’ offense was anything but balanced. The final offensive statistics paint a grim picture: the team ranked 23rd in total yards per game, 27th in passing yards per game, 11th in rushing yards per game, and 16th in points per game. The contrast between the run game and passing attack is stark. While the running game was relatively effective, the passing game was virtually non-existent, which severely limited the offense’s ability to move the ball and score consistently.
When Arthur Smith was hired, there was hope that the team would re-establish the run game, and to some extent, that goal was achieved. However, the passing game was neglected. In today’s NFL, a team cannot afford to be one-dimensional. While I understand that personnel plays a significant role in shaping a team’s scheme, at some point, the Steelers need to develop a passing game to complement their rushing attack. The inability to move the ball through the air in several games this season made the offense predictable and easy to defend. In the modern NFL, balance is crucial. The Steelers need to ensure that they have the capability to both run and pass effectively, regardless of the situation.
2. Finding a Franchise Quarterback
It has now been over two decades since the Steelers had the luxury of a Hall of Fame quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger, following his retirement after the 2021 season. In the years between the retirements of Terry Bradshaw and Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh endured 21 long years without a true franchise quarterback. The team cannot afford to wait another two decades for the next great quarterback. The current quarterbacks, including Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, have not performed well enough to justify the Steelers making a significant investment in either.
While there may be attempts to re-sign one or both of these players, the Steelers must look elsewhere for their next franchise quarterback. The most likely path is through the draft, but as history has shown, drafting a franchise quarterback is no easy task. Whether through the draft or free agency, the Steelers need a plan to secure a long-term solution at the quarterback position. Hope alone is not a strategy. It’s time to put a concrete plan in place to find the next leader of this team.
3. Moving On from Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin
Although Mike Tomlin has a strong involvement in the defense, the unit’s disappointing performance during the five-game losing streak should be enough to prompt a change at the defensive coordinator position. While the defense did not get much help from the offense, it was supposed to be the strength of the team in 2024. The Steelers’ defense ended the season with decent rankings—12th in total yards allowed, 25th in passing yards allowed, 6th in rushing yards allowed, and 8th in points allowed. However, the reality of the defense’s performance tells a different story. The defense failed to stop the pass, and the reliance on man coverage, especially on third downs, became predictable and easy to exploit.
The defense’s inability to stop the run during the Wild Card loss to the Ravens is particularly alarming. It’s clear that a change in leadership is needed to ensure the defense performs at a higher level. The Steelers cannot afford to continue with a defensive coordinator whose unit consistently underperforms in critical situations.
4. Reconsidering the Defensive Scheme
The need for a change at defensive coordinator also points to the broader issue of the team’s defensive scheme. While the base 3-4 defense should remain intact, the Steelers must consider tweaking their approach, especially in specific situations. One area of concern is the team’s lack of success in covering opposing tight ends, running backs, and wide receivers. The Steelers’ linebackers, particularly Patrick Queen, struggled in pass coverage throughout the season. Queen, in particular, gave up 58 completions at a staggering 76% completion rate, and nearly 10 yards per completion. This type of performance is unacceptable from a key defensive player.
Additionally, the Steelers must develop a more flexible defensive scheme, including the option to implement a true 4-3 defense when facing teams that prioritize a “ground and pound” style of offense. A good example of this is the Ravens, a team the Steelers play twice a year. The Steelers need to be able to stop the run and force opponents to rely on their passing game. Adjustments like this could be the key to getting the defense back on track.
5. Mike Tomlin’s Flexibility and Accountability
Finally, Mike Tomlin must be more willing to adapt and make quicker decisions. Tomlin’s season-ending press conference was candid and introspective, but it echoed a sentiment heard after many of the Steelers’ playoff exits in recent years. As a supporter of Tomlin, I understand that he is constantly analyzing the team’s shortcomings, but the reality is that the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade.
During the five-game losing streak, there were glaring issues on both sides of the ball that were not addressed swiftly or effectively. As Tomlin himself put it, sometimes you have to “paint the barn red” because it’s the best option, not because it’s the way things have always been done. The Steelers need to be more willing to make changes, even in the middle of the season, if necessary. Tomlin must be flexible in adjusting his strategies to reflect the changing needs of the team. The days of sticking rigidly to tradition without adapting to the current landscape of the NFL need to be behind us. If the Steelers want to avoid another early playoff exit in 2025, embracing change and adapting quickly will be critical.
The 2024 season may have ended in disappointment, but it also provides an opportunity for the Steelers to reassess, make the necessary changes, and set a course for a brighter future. With the right adjustments, there is still hope that Pittsburgh can return to its rightful place among the NFL’s elite teams.
