Steelers' Mike Tomlin Hits Fans With Greatest Defensive Worry

The Pittsburgh Steelers made major moves to strengthen their secondary for the 2025 season. After the struggles of 2024, it was obvious changes had to be made. Pittsburgh went out and added proven veterans Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay to bolster the defensive backfield. On paper, that duo should have transformed the unit, but through the first two games of the season, the same defensive issues from 2024 have carried over. 

That reality has caused plenty of concern for Steeler Nation, who expected a noticeable upgrade with the new talent in place. Fans believed the secondary and overall defensive play would finally take a step forward. Instead, inconsistency has lingered, raising even more questions about whether the defense can be trusted to hold up. The situation wasn’t helped by the absence of starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, a game the Steelers lost 31-17 at home in frustrating fashion.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin addressed the concerns during his weekly press conference with the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday. Unsurprisingly, the secondary was a major topic of conversation, and Tomlin was pressed on their lack of cohesion. He went into detail about what he believes is the real root of the problem and why the defense has failed to meet expectations so far.

"You know, I think what you are referring to is the communication component of it," Tomlin said while speaking to the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday. "Last week for example, the four starters in our secondary were all new to us."

Tomlin made it clear that the biggest issue in the secondary is not talent, it is communication. With so many new starters on the field, timing and coordination have been off, leading to breakdowns and missed assignments. 

The Steelers have the pieces to be strong, but until the players get on the same page, the defense will continue to struggle. Building that cohesion, Tomlin said, will take time and repeated reps in practice before it translates to consistent results on game day.

"Most of my concerns are centered around that," Tomlin said. "Our level of cohesion and communication, given the fact that so many guys are new to us."

For Steelers fans, hearing the phrase "communication issues" or anything similar immediately raises concerns because of what happened at the end of the 2024 NFL season. The Steelers’ defense was supposed to be elite and started the season that way. But as the level of competition increased and they faced better offenses around the league, weaknesses were exposed, ultimately contributing to another playoff disappointment.

Steelers Still Have Time For Improvement

Many defensive players even admitted there were teammates not doing their jobs, which was a major red flag. So far, it sounds like communication problems are present again, but that is somewhat expected given the new faces in the secondary. That is what Tomlin is leaning on, but many fans are skeptical. They argue that these new players are seasoned veterans and should be able to transition smoothly without causing so many breakdowns.

Still, it is early in the season and there is time for improvement. Tomlin and his coaching staff clearly believe the players just need more reps and practice to get on the same page. Fans may not be convinced yet, but if the communication and cohesion improve, the defense could still be a strength. For now, Steeler Nation will be watching closely, hoping these new pieces settle in quickly and that last year’s struggles do not repeat themselves as the season moves forward.

What do you make of Mike Tomlin's greatest defensive worry after the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL season? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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