Ben Roethlisberger Takes Hidden Shot At The 2025 Version Of Steelers' Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be coming out of their bye week with their first AFC North showdown of 2025. This contest will have the Steelers hosting the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 at Acrisure Stadium. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is coming off a solid first career start that ended in a loss but was still a productive performance. Gabriel impressed many by going on foreign soil and throwing for two touchdowns in his NFL debut against a tough Brian Flores defense. Now he faces a brutal test in the Steel City against a talented Steelers defense led by Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin.

Gabriel will be tested by a defense that is looking to make a statement after the bye week. The Steelers will focus on forcing him into difficult decisions and challenging his ability to read coverages, making this one of the toughest games of his young career. How Gabriel handles this pressure could reveal how ready he is to compete at a high level in the AFC North and whether he can adjust against TJ Watt and Cam Heyward.

Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger discussed the matchup on his Footbahlin podcast, explaining that he was not trying to take a shot at Tomlin or Austin. However, his comments about how the game would have been brutal for Gabriel if Dick LeBeau were still coaching clearly suggest he has some doubts about the current defense’s ability to dominate a rookie quarterback. This game will give Austin and Tomlin the chance to prove that they can make life difficult for Gabriel and assert the strength of the Steelers’ defensive unit.

"I think having Gabriel in this game, I predict it going one or two ways," Roethlisberger said. "The Steelers could have a hard time with him because he's doing just enough of escaping to make it difficult for the Steelers, or he will just be totally overwhelmed and they will just get after him."

Roethlisberger remembers the days when LeBeau was calling the defense. LeBeau would implement ruthless defensive packages designed to make life extremely difficult for rookie quarterbacks. 

It seems Roethlisberger does not have the same faith that this coaching staff is capable of challenging rookie quarterbacks with their schemes.

"This is no disrespect or slight to any of the coaches, but if Dick LeBeau was our coach and knowing what he does to rookie quarterbacks, it would be no chance," Roethlisberger said. "Again, that's just knowing how Dick LeBeau approached rookie quarterbacks. He would confuse them, get after them, not know where the blitzes are coming from, show one side and go on the other. I don't know what is gonna happen this week. It will be interesting as we get into it some more, but I think his escapability is gonna be beneficial for him."

It’s no secret that Roethlisberger has a strong dislike for the Browns, but he watched Gabriel play Sunday morning and was clearly impressed. As were many other pundits, Gabriel didn’t get the win for his team, but he looked much more comfortable than anyone expected.

Steelers' Defense Looking To Dominate Rookie QB

Though he only completed 57.6% of his passes, Gabriel threw for two touchdowns, no interceptions, and 190 passing yards. Not a bad day for a rookie quarterback thrown into an overseas contest in his first start against the Minnesota Vikings defense. That defense didn’t seem to give Gabriel a ton of trouble.

The Steelers defense, which has given up a lot of yards this season, now has a chance to overwhelm this rookie and reassert its claim in the league. This matchup gives Austin and Tomlin the opportunity to show they can challenge a young quarterback and set the tone in the AFC North. 

What do you think Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin’s defense will do to Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel on Sunday? 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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