The Pittsburgh Steelers re-worked some significant positions on the roster during the 2025 season, with a key focus being on the secondary. The organization traded for Jalen Ramsey while parting ways with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the franchise also signed Darius Slay in free agency. Both players were expected to be major contributors on defense, and that has been the case so far in 2025. The expectations were high for the new look secondary in Pittsburgh, but it has taken a while for the group to gel together as the defense has dealt with injuries and some rough performances.
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Steelers' Jalen Ramsey during a practice outside of Dublin, Ireland, during the 2025 season.
The Steelers' defense has the talent and the potential to be one of the best units in the league, but there has been plenty of trials and tribulations to begin the 2025 season. The group has struggled against both the run and the passing game, with its worst performance coming in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh really found it difficult to stop Joe Flacco and the Bengals' passing game, as he was able to move the ball at will. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked about his secondary during his weekly press conference and whether or not the group has lived up to his expectations.
"It certainly hasn't met my vision to this point, but I'm not discouraged," Tomlin said. "We got good people there, good players, good people, guys that got good relationships with the game, and so we're just gonna keep working."
Pittsburgh has poured a lot of resources into the secondary, and it was clear that Tomlin was confident in the group going into the 2025 season. The group has crumbled multiple times during the year, as busted coverages have become a weekly occurrence and veteran quarterbacks have been able to tear the group apart.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin unhappy during a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2025 season.
The expectations were high for the Steelers' defense due to the potential of the secondary, along with the talent the group has up front. However, in the loss to the Bengals, the pass rush could not make much of a difference in the game because Flacco seemed to have his first read on most drop backs. That says more about the secondary, and it completely nullifies the pass rush.
Through six games, the Steelers are near dead last when it comes to defending the pass, and the defense ranks 28th when it comes to yards allowed per game in general. These numbers need to turn around if the franchise wants to have any chance of making noise in the playoffs, especially against some of the high-powered offenses within the AFC.
Pittsburgh's defense was the team's downfall at the end of the 2024 season, and it seems like that could be the case again in 2025. The only difference is that the Steelers now have a more competent group on the offensive side of the ball that seem to be able to score with anybody.
Steelers' Defense Will Be Tested Over The Next Stretch Of Games
Over the next stretch of contests, the Steelers will take on the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Chargers. Those are some high-caliber teams, as the Packers have countless weapons, and the Colts look like the best offensive unit in the league. Pittsburgh's defense will need to turn things around fast if the team is going to have any chance to win in the next two games.
Steelers.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers' starting offensive line in 2025.
Pittsburgh still has the lead in the AFC North, but that lead will seriously dwindle if the defense can't get it together. Pittsburgh needs to find a way to win over its next stretch of games, because the Bengals or the Baltimore Ravens can easily put up a fight for the AFC North crown throughout the rest of the year.
What do you think about Tomlin's comments on the secondary through six games? Let us know in the comments below!
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