The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense entered the 2025 season with very high expectations. Many respected pundits across the league predicted this unit to be one of the best in football, citing a talented roster loaded with proven playmakers. Through the first six games, the Steelers sit at 4-2, but their defense has been a major source of concern. When you have stars like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen, and several other high-level talents, seeing the unit struggle to stop opposing offenses is both surprising and worrisome.
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Steelers' Cam Heyward stands beside TJ Watt while watching a training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
Despite the individual talent, the defense has looked inconsistent and leaky in key moments. Big plays and breakdowns have allowed opponents to stay in games that the Steelers expected to dominate. The coaching staff has been forced to make adjustments, but the performance gaps persist, raising questions about whether this defense can truly live up to its preseason hype. For a team that prides itself on physicality and pressure, the inability to consistently execute has been glaring.
Steelers former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger addressed these issues on his podcast, Footbahlin, Tuesday night, delivering a blunt assessment. He warned fans not to expect a dramatic turnaround as the 2025 season progresses, emphasizing that improvements may be slower and more difficult than anticipated. Roethlisberger’s candid remarks serve as a sobering reality check for Steeler Nation, highlighting that while the offense may carry the team at times, the defense must find answers quickly if Pittsburgh hopes to compete deep into the season.
"What are you gonna do there, you have so much money?" Roethlisberger said while speaking during his podcast Footbahlin on Tuesday. "Like you already have so much money invested there."
Roethlisberger was answering a question about how this Steelers defense could improve. There’s been a lot of speculation about Pittsburgh making a trade for a wide receiver, but the real issues lie on defense.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger smile before a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in 2018.
The concerning part of Roethlisberger’s message is that the Steelers have already invested in premier talent, yet the unit continues to struggle. According to him, the only potential fix lies in schematics, and that’s something that has yet to be fully addressed in the 2025 season.
"You already have it," Roethlisberger said while speaking about adding extra talent via a trade.
The trade deadline is November 4th, and while most of the chatter has focused on adding a wide receiver, many fans and pundits are increasingly worried about the defense’s inability to stop the leaks. As the 2025 season progresses, the offense is no longer the primary concern. So far, it has performed well, but the highly paid defense has been holding the Steelers back, leaving the team in a precarious position if adjustments are not made soon.
Steelers' Defense Needs To Fix Something Fast
The frustration stems from the fact that the Steelers have already invested heavily in top-tier defensive talent. Stars like Watt, Heyward, and Queen were expected to make this unit dominant, yet breakdowns and big plays continue to plague the team. With little room to add more talent, the responsibility now falls on the coaching staff to fix schematics and execution, a challenge that has proven difficult to solve through the first half of the 2025 season.
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Steelers coaches Mike Tomlin (left), Karl Dunbar (middle) and Teryl Austin (right) stand on the sideline during a home game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
There has been a lot of debate about what the real issue is with this Steelers defense. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin has taken much of the blame, as has Mike Tomlin. Many consider Tomlin a defensive-minded coach, but he has not been able to figure it out for quite some time.
It is now on the coaching staff to put these talented players in positions to succeed. If they cannot do that, Pittsburgh’s chances of winning a playoff game in 2025 are slim to none. However, if the defense tightens up, this team could be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
In your opinion, what do you believe the Steelers need to do to fix their defensive issues in the 2025 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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