The Pittsburgh Steelers could enter the 2025 season with yet another hole at wide receiver. Once again, that need came to be because the team could no longer deal with a highly talented player that was causing issues on and off the field. This has been a staple of football in the Steel City for many years now, and that is expected to continue as time goes on. The team did at least give trade for DK Metcalf and give him a nice extension, so he will be in the Steel City to stay for the long-term future. He still needs a running mate on the opposite side of the field, however.
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Steelers' George Pickens gets flagged for a gesture against the Bengals.
While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, legendary reporter Ed Bouchette was asked about this trend of Steelers receivers being a bit immature. He talked about how it was with wideouts way back in the past.
"I don't remember any other era where they had those kinds of receivers that were 'me me,'" Bouchette said. "You go back to Swann and Stallworth; those guys wanted the ball, but they didn't become malcontents. The one malcontent since [Chuck] Noll was Roy Jefferson, who was their one and only star... he just said, 'No, I'm not putting up with this guy anymore.'"
Roy Jefferson played for the Steelers from 1965 to 1969 at multiple positions. In his last two seasons in Pittsburgh, he had over 1,000 yards receiving, including a league-leading 1,074 yards in 1968. After achieving that stardom, he became somewhat toxic, and Head Coach Chuck Noll didn't hesitate to trade him to the Baltimore Colts, which was clearly the right decision in hindsight.
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Steelers' Terry Bradshaw talks with Head Coach Chuck Noll during a game in Pittsburgh.
Bouchette continued on and talked more about the receivers in the 2000s in comparison to what the Steelers have dealt with lately.
"I don't remember any other wide receiver -- including Plaxico Burress, who a lot of people want to knock once in a while," Bouchette said. "To me, he wasn't a malcontent at all. Santonio Holmes, he had a few problems off the field that, these days, wouldn't be problems. That's all I can remember, so this group that has come in the last going on 10 years now... I certainly don't remember nothing like this."
No team is perfect, and everyone has their bad apples once in a while, but as Bouchette talked about, the personalities of the Steelers' wideouts did not define the team like it does now. Santonio Holmes experimenting with marijuana didn't necessarily make him a bad teammate, and Pittsburgh could have kept him if it really wanted to, but the organization chose to trade him away and not deal with his suspension.
Steelers Wide Receiver Issues Fall On The Head Coach
Noll was known for being a no-B.S. kind of guy. Bill Cowher was the same. These issues did not start until Mike Tomlin started getting more comfortable as the head coach and getting more power. That's most likely the reason why the Steelers keep bringing in volatile players that cause issues within the locker room and on the field. If numerous players want George Pickens gone, there is nothing that the front office can do but give in and give up on trying to fix him.
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Steelers' George Pickens looks on during Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In fact, Hines Ward previously placed the blame on Tomlin for the culture surrounding the receiver room, saying that he is too lenient with the unit. Many people have praised the head coach for handling these toxic personalities, but there is a legitimate question about if he handles them or if he merely tolerates them.
He can't just keep saying "stop" every time they do something wrong and expect them to learn like that. Until Tomlin's mindset changes, the same thing will most likely keep happening.
What do you think about the Steelers' receiver rooms before and after Tomlin was hired? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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