Steelers May Be Forced To Make Massive Changes If Playoff Drought Continues

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been growing more and more frustrated with the state of the team and their lack of success in the playoffs in recent seasons. While it has taken more time for the team brass to show the same emotions, their frustrations have become more public as well. Their 2025 offseason has been classified by many analysts as an "all-in push" to at least win a playoff game and break the streak. There is a lot of uncertainty with the team still, so it is not a foregone conclusion that Pittsburgh loses in the Wild Card Round again. 

If that level of failure happens again, the fans will be demanding even bigger changes than what happened after the 2024 season. During a Q&A chat, insider Brian Batko explained exactly what kind of change would likely happen if the Steelers once again fail to get over the hump.

"Can't imagine any coordinator or position coach would feel safe," Batko explained. "Can't imagine it'd be much fun for Art Rooney II or Mike Tomlin to absorb another round of the negativity that would ensue. In my mind, more significant or simply more coaching changes are really the next step after all the personnel upheaval on the roster from last year to this year."

The Steelers had a massive roster overhaul, with numerous key players being traded away or let go this offseason. The biggest one was trading away star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in exchange for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Of course, there was also the big quarterback decision, waiting for months to let Aaron Rodgers sign in Pittsburgh. The team took a lot of gambles, and heads may roll if they don't work out. 

Steelers Coaches On The Hot Seat

Many reports suggest Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin is not the actual play-caller for that unit, as he reportedly only has a little bit of say in what goes on. Fans have expressed their displeasure with him, and his contract will expire after the 2025 season. He is a prime candidate to be scapegoated at the end of the season, even though he has shown great promise as a defensive back coach / mentor.

A lot of the defensive staff is relatively new, so if any position coach is expected to get canned, it perhaps could be Karl Dunbar, who has been coaching the defensive line since 2018. That position got annihilated during the 2024 losing streak, and especially in the Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. You don't give up nearly 300 yards rushing with any sort of quality defensive line play. Anything close to that kind of underachievement again could have his tenure end in Pittsburgh.

Fans and analysts alike have questioned why Offensive Line Coach Pat Meyer was retained after the 2024 season after his units consistently struggle to block well in both the passing and running game. If that unit continues to stagnate throughout 2025, he may be the first coach to be shown the door. The brass has put a huge emphasis on the trenches, so that is where failure is the least tolerable. His assistant, Isaac Williams, may not be far behind him. 

The lack of a consistent run game could spell the end for former co-offensive coordinator, Eddie Faulkner, who has been around since 2019. The Steelers have prided themselves on being a run-first team, so having your top running back only average about four yards per carry is not a good sign. With an almost-entirely new group at the position, the same problems could mean Faulkner gets replaced.

With the Steelers' recent fascination at tight end, more issues there could also lead to Alfredo Roberts losing his job. The hope is that having Rodgers on the field will unlock the potential of that group, as he will be allowed to use the middle of the field more often. If that doesn't work, then the team will likely be looking to find a new leader for tight ends to help the offensive coordinator out.

What do you think about many coaches being on the hot seat in 2025? Is there any we missed? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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