Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) running with the ball during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
For the twenty-first year in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers have finished the regular season with at least a .500 record. Chances are, you’ve heard about this streak before. It’s often used to exemplify Mike Tomlin’s excellence as Pittsburgh’s head coach. Tomlin was again praised for finding a winning record with a middling roster this season, and rightfully so. This roster, especially on offense, had no business winning ten games. Tomlin has consistently outperformed expectations during his time with the Steelers. But to what end? You may not have heard that Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Despite all of their regular season success, the Steelers have consistently fallen short of the ultimate goal: a championship. So, are the Steelers a successful franchise?
Branding Mediocrity as Accomplishment
The Steelers’ streak of seasons without a losing record is one of the most celebrated accomplishments in football. It’s the longest streak in the NFL by a wide margin. On the surface, it looks like a clear marker for success. The goal is to win, right? When you look closer, you see that Pittsburgh has actually hovered at or just above .500 for the majority of that stretch. The Pittsburgh Steelers have finished the regular season between eight and eleven wins in eleven of the last thirteen years. Eighteen NFL franchises have had more playoff wins in the last eight years than the Steelers. In many ways, this franchise is performing below league average. It’s time to start thinking of them this way.
How Does Pittsburgh Define Success?
Allow me to reiterate: I believe Mike Tomlin to be a quality head coach. He has consistently produced wins with subpar rosters. The consistency of the subpar rosters is the problem. It seems that the Steelers define success as winning games while spending as little as possible at key positions. Last offseason serves as the perfect example. After moving on from Kenny Pickett, the Steelers had an opportunity to either pursue a high-dollar quarterback like Kirk Cousins or start a full rebuild. Instead, they chose to fill the quarterback position with cheap veterans Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Both players (Wilson especially) raised the floor for the Steelers’ offense but didn’t affect the ceiling. Yes, Pittsburgh won ten games by choosing this option, but they are left without any clear direction moving forward.
What’s Next for the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will both be free agents this offseason. Pittsburgh will be faced with the same decision they had going into 2024: take a big swing or play it safe. Most of the key players on this team, especially on defense, are nearing the end of their careers. The wise path may be to begin a complete rebuild. The Steelers may need to allow their sacred streak to end if it leads to true success in the long run.
For more from Michael Haney, check out The Football Ranker
