Insider: Steelers' Legendary And Late Owner Dan Rooney "Wouldn't Like" What's Going On With Organization

Some are saying that the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently in football purgatory. The standard in the Steel City has become finishing above .500, and more than likely as a participant in the playoffs as well. Being a participant, however, is different than being a contender. Dating back to a 2016 AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots, the franchise has lost six postseason games in a row. Head Coach Mike Tomlin's job is safe for now, but his seat is becoming warm for maybe the first time in his career. A fan base that has been spoiled for decades is growing restless.

After the 2023 campaign ended, President Art Rooney II made sure to acknowledge that he was growing tired of not having postseason success. He spoke for the entire organization when he made those comments. Nothing changed in 2024, though, but there have been little to no changes as February approaches. The Steelers have fallen behind in a league that requires having a top-scoring offense to win, which is why playoff success has been nonexistent.

There are no excuses, but it's also fair to mention that the last three playoff appearances, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson were the quarterbacks that Pittsburgh had to face. That doesn't mean such a proud franchise should accept mediocrity, especially when it comes to competing for Super Bowl rings.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted a fan chat on Wednesday and fielded a ton of questions from the black and gold faithful. A contributor decided to bring up the late, great Dan Rooney. The question posed was about if the now-deceased former owner would be unsatisfied with the direction of the team and lack of postseason success. Dulac's reply was simple.

"I'm sure it would be like his son's -- he wouldn't like it," Dulac wrote.

Art's brother, Jim, recently stated that the entire franchise is responsible for what has happened in recent years, but that kind of accountability doesn't make anything less disappointing. Things have been different since Dan passed away in 2017, and no one can deny that. Ironically, his death came shortly after the loss to the Patriots in the AFC Title Game, and the Steelers haven't been victorious in the postseason since.

Pittsburgh seems to keep things tight-lipped when it comes to the inner-workings of the franchise, but it's fair to wonder if Art is operating the organization in a different fashion than his dad did for so many years. The fan base has been quick to criticize Art, especially during the playoff win drought.

Some like to blame Tomlin for not making enough adjustments throughout his coaching career, but ownership deserves to take some responsibility as well. It will be interesting to see what the team does in free agency and the draft, as it is likely to spend up to the salary cap, but other changes might be necessary. It could start with Art realizing that it's time to move on from Tomlin after the 2025 campaign if another season passes without a playoff win.

Steelers Losing Reputation Year Over Year

Pittsburgh has been known for a long time to be a model of consistency in the NFL. That has not particularly changed, as the team hasn't had a losing season since 2003. With that comes the realization that the Steelers have been in the middle of the pack for almost a decade, and that's unacceptable in the Steel City. If Dan were around today, fans have to wonder if anything would be different about the internal operations of the franchise.

Do you think Art is at fault for some of the lack of postseason success in recent years? Let us know in the comments below!

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