The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a lot of pressure to compete at a high level in 2025. The offseason was one of change and mystery, with several different storylines developing regarding the organization. The one constant that has been in place for nearly two decades is Head Coach Mike Tomlin. He is the longest-tenured coach in the four major professional sports, and it appears as if he has a lifetime contract in the Steel City until he decides to walk away. That doesn't mean he won't face pressure once the regular season begins, as will Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A6812-544x306.jpg "Steelers Teryl Austin")
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Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin watches the team's players practice while he stands on the field during a 2023 training camp workout at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Having a good coaching staff is important in the NFL, and some may believe that the Steelers have one of the best trios in the league, all things considered. That's not exactly what Ben Solak thinks over at ESPN, however. The journalist put together a list and ranked all 32 coaching staffs throughout professional football, and Pittsburgh was right in the middle of the pack at 15. Solak praised Tomlin to start, but docked him for still not having a long-term answer at quarterback.
"Tomlin's influence on the Steelers' disinterested approach to the quarterback position is impossible to ignore," Solak noted. "It is unfeasible to win in the modern NFL without treating quarterback as what it is -- an exceptional position that must be given exceptional resources. For his (however small) part in the Steelers' organizational direction toward stopgap quarterback options, Tomlin gets dinged."
In the 2024 version of Solak's analysis, the Steelers had the seventh-best coaching staff in the league. Without any turnover, it's pretty interesting for the group to drop down eight to 15. The writer mentioned that Austin has been good (which fans in the Steel City may disagree with), but then wrote that Smith is the real issue for Pittsburgh.
"The last time we saw his offense excel relative to its personnel was in the late 2010s/early 2020s with the Titans," Solak wrote. "That offense was an under-center, run-heavy, play-action oriented system -- the exact opposite of the offensive style Aaron Rodgers prefers. A massive offensive overhaul has occurred since last season -- a new WR1, a new TE1, an entirely reimagined line and potentially a new RB1. Smith has to make something from scratch here, and my faith in his ability to do so is only moderate."
It's possible that the Steelers were ranked seventh back in 2024 because Solak expected much more from Smith, but the reality is that some injuries and inconsistencies at quarterback hurt the team throughout the season. It's fair to criticize a lot of Solak's list, as he has the Las Vegas Raiders at ninth, but Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly's last stint in the NFL was a disaster.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith looks down at his play sheet while players work out during 2025 rookie minicamp at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Detroit Lions lost both of their coordinators to head-coaching jobs, but still somehow were given the 11th spot by Solak. There are certainly some intriguing points to bring up regarding Solak's thoughts, but the main one is the fact that people are starting to seriously lose some trust in Tomlin and co. This is a little bit of uncharted territory when it comes of the national media, because Tomlin rarely ever faces backlash.
A combination of Smith's unit not being consistent enough in 2024, and Tomlin's overall ineffectiveness in finding a new franchise quarterback are why Solak has the staff ranked where it is. The only thing the group can do now is prove him wrong.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith as he stands near Head Coach Mike Tomlin during a 2024 practice at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Have To Be More Bought In On The Field During 2025 Season
A coaching staff needs to send a strong message to all of the players on the roster. Tomlin is known for motivating quite well, but the team as a whole fell off at the end of the 2024 campaign and didn't seem to be fully locked into the tasks that were presented to it. That must change right off the bat in 2025 if the organization wants to snap a near-decade long postseason win drought.
Do you think the Steelers have a middle-of-the-pack coaching staff? Let us know in the comments below!
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