Insider Hits Steelers' Mike Tomlin With Huge Wake-Up Call Amidst Questionable Roster Decisions

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in a state of mediocrity since the beginning of the 2017 season. While the team has consistently been in the playoff conversation with Head Coach Mike Tomlin, some have questioned if his message is running stale in the Steel City. The organization can't seem to find success late in the season, which has led to a great deal of criticism for the man who has been in charge dating back to 2007. Pressure will be at an all-time high in 2025, but it's not currently looking too great as the franchise's quarterback situation is all over the place.

Fans have been critical of Tomlin, but so have analysts and former players. Ryan Clark knows what it's like to play for Tomlin, and he mentioned recently that he believes the head coach's voice is running stale in the locker room. The player-turned-commentator hasn't been in the locker room in some time, however. Others who are up close don't necessarily believe that Tomlin is losing his team.

Mark Kaboly currently covers the organization for the Pat McAfee Show and has been around Tomlin since the head coach was hired nearly two decades ago. Kaboly took to social media so he could defend Tomlin's messaging, but isn't quite sure that he is excelling in a different area that is imperative if teams want to be competing for a Super Bowl year-in and year-out.

When you lead a franchise for almost 20 years, it's expected that you will get some kind of say in the roster construction. It appears, however, that Tomlin has too much of a say and isn't putting together the proper unit that is necessary to win the AFC North, let alone postseason games. The last time the Steelers won the division was in 2020, and the season ended with an embarrassing home playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns. Before that, it was back in 2017.

When Tomlin first began his tenure as Pittsburgh's head coach, he inherited an incredible roster that was strong defensively, and formidable on the offensive side of the ball. Once those players began to leave in free agency or retire, things quickly started to turn. Dating back to a Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers have only been victorious three times in the postseason, and two of the wins came during the 2016 campaign.

Overall, the Steelers only have one of their first selections in the each NFL Draft from 2013 to 2022 still on the roster. That would be TJ Watt, but there has been poor play otherwise (aside from Ryan Shazier). Most of Pittsburgh's free-agent signings haven't been anything to write home about, and the development of several positions that were targeted in drafts has been questionable at best.

Another concern for fans is the simple fact that Tomlin has never properly developed a quarterback. He was gifted Ben Roethlisberger when he took over the head coaching job, and then didn't have to worry about the position until the 2022 season. Since then, five different signal-callers have been under center to start a game. That number will increase in 2025 if Aaron Rodgers elects to sign with Pittsburgh.

Steelers Leadership Needs To Have A Tough Conversation With Tomlin

Many fans would agree with Kaboly's comments on X. There is a great deal of respect for Tomlin within Pittsburgh's building, and rightfully so, but the approach has simply not been working recently. It's been almost a decade since the team has won a playoff game, and the rosters just have been up to par with what they were early in Tomlin's tenure. Art Rooney II and Omar Khan may have to have an extremely difficult dialogue with the head coach in the next year or so.

Do you think that Tomlin's messaging is still resonating, but he needs to give up control of the roster construction? Let us know in the comments below!

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