The Pittsburgh Steelers may have made the playoffs in 2024, but not everyone is convinced they’re moving in the right direction. Despite slipping into the postseason, skepticism lingers among fans and analysts about whether this team is actually progressing—or simply treading water.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Mike Tomlin speaks to the media.
The offense remains a glaring question mark, lacking clear identity and stability at quarterback. The ongoing shuffle under center has done little to inspire confidence. Add in a grueling schedule packed with AFC contenders, and it’s easy to understand why optimism is in short supply. From the outside, the Steelers seem stuck in limbo—not fully committed to a rebuild, yet far from proving they can truly contend.
NFL analyst Adam Schein has made a bold prediction on his Schein on Sports show for Pittsburgh's 2025 season. In a recent statement, Schein guaranteed that the Steelers will have a losing record this year, forecasting a finish of five to six wins. He expressed skepticism about the team's direction.
"I look at this roster, and I think this team is a mess. I look at the feel around this team, I think it's a disaster," Schein said. "Mike Tomlin is going to have a losing record this year. They are worse at quarterback, they don’t have a quarterback."
With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both gone, the Steelers’ quarterback room now centers around Mason Rudolph and Will Howard—a pairing that leaves plenty of uncertainty. Rudolph, a longtime backup in Pittsburgh, showed flashes of composure late in the 2023 season, even helping to push the team into the playoffs. But questions remain about whether he can lead the team over a full season.
On the other side is Howard, the rookie from Ohio State who brings size, mobility, and raw talent but has yet to take a snap in the NFL. Between Rudolph’s experience and Howard’s upside, the Steelers have options—but neither feels like a sure bet, and that’s exactly what’s fueling the outside skepticism.
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Steelers' Mason Rudolph talks with Mike Tomlin during a game.
Schein isn’t just predicting a down year—he’s predicting something Mike Tomlin has never done in almost two decades as head coach: finish with a losing record. So when Schein says this is the year the streak ends, he’s not just offering a prediction—he’s challenging the very foundation of what fans have come to expect from the Tomlin era.
Just days before Schein’s comments went viral, the Los Angeles Chargers released their 2025 schedule in a clever Minecraft-style video. Each opponent got its own animated moment, but it was the Steelers’ segment that stole the spotlight. In the clip, a labeled Steeler approaches two signs: "Contend" and "Rebuild." Instead of choosing either path, the cart derails and crashes off the tracks—a brutal but accurate metaphor that sums up how many view Pittsburgh’s current state.
Steelers every year deciding if they should rebuild or try to win pic.twitter.com/ehhZd7dZUe
— ChargersMuse (@ChargersMuse) May 15, 2025
Both the Steelers and Chargers head into the 2025 season with plenty to prove, but for very different reasons. Pittsburgh is coming off a 10-7 campaign that ended in a quick playoff exit, and despite making moves at quarterback, many analysts—like Schein—aren’t convinced they’ve improved. Meanwhile, the Chargers are entering their second year under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, with hopes of improving from last years 11-6 record.
While the Steelers are fighting to maintain their identity and stay above .500, the Chargers are looking to rebuild fast and compete behind Justin Herbert. Both teams face tough schedules and major questions, but the narratives feel flipped: Los Angeles is trending up with a long-term vision, while Pittsburgh is still trying to figure out what it wants to be.
Many believe Pittsburgh has become a picture of mediocrity in recent years — often finishing just above .500 and sneaking into the postseason only to exit early. It’s become a pattern. A routine. A frustrating cycle of being just good enough to avoid bottoming out, but never quite strong enough to seriously compete. Schein put it bluntly once again.
"Worse at receiver, worse at running back, schedule’s difficult," Schein said. "I think the Jets are gonna beat the Steelers week number one of the season."
One of the most talked-about matchups on the Steelers’ 2025 schedule is their Week 1 showdown against the New York Jets—and it’s already being circled for all the wrong reasons.
Ex-Steelers QB Justin Fields Predicted To Get Revenge On Pittsburgh In Week 1
Schein didn’t hesitate to say he thinks the Jets will beat the Steelers to open the season, citing Pittsburgh’s quarterback concerns and lack of offensive firepower. With former Steeler Fields as starting QB and a stacked Jets defense ready to pounce, this game could quickly expose any weaknesses in the Steelers' offense.
Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Justin Fields arrives at training camp in Latrobe ahead of the 2024 season.
It’s a statement game for both teams: the Jets looking to prove they’re legitimate AFC contenders, and the Steelers trying to show they’re not stuck in neutral. A slow start in Week 1 could fuel even more national criticism—and further validate Schein’s take.
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