The question hanging over Pittsburgh in 2025 is not just whether the Steelers can reach the playoffs, but whether they can matter once they get there. They went 10–7 in 2024, finished second in the AFC North, and lost 28–14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round, extending a postseason drought that stretches back to their last playoff win in January 2017 against the Miami Dolphins. Now they sit at 6–6 in 2025, level on record with Baltimore, but behind on tiebreakers in a division that remains unforgiving.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) and Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh (left) talk during warmups before a game at then-Heinz Field on September 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
2025 Reset
The 2024 season underlined both Mike Tomlin’s reliability and the limits of that dependability. Pittsburgh reached 10 wins for the second straight year, but a collapse down the stretch and a Wild Card defeat in Baltimore pushed their playoff losing streak to five games. Owner Art Rooney II admitted early in 2024 that the franchise had “had enough” of failing to win in January, framing the drought since 2016 as unacceptable for a team with six Lombardi Trophies. Yet the organization doubled down on continuity, extending Tomlin through 2027 and entering 2025 with the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach. The reset would come not on the sideline, but under center.
A Rebuilt Offense
The central event of the 2025 offseason was the decision to import Aaron Rodgers. In June, the Steelers signed a future Hall of Famer to a one-year deal worth about $13.65 mln. Rodgers arrived from the New York Jets after a 2024 season in which he threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, prompting ESPN and others to grade the move as a calculated swing at short-term contention. Through 12 games with the Steelers, he has produced 2,086 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions and a fracture to his non-throwing wrist forced him to the sideline briefly.
Behind him, Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard provide a mix of experience and developmental upside, but the plan is clear: if Rodgers is healthy, this is his offense. Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, hired from Atlanta in early 2024, has leaned into heavy usage of tight ends like Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith. As of Week 12, Pittsburgh ranks 11th in points per game at 24.9, a clear improvement over some of the Ben Roethlisberger twilight years and the transitional seasons with Kenny Pickett.
The Defensive Identity
If the offense feels newly ambitious, the defense is wrestling with the weight of expectation. Teryl Austin remains the defensive coordinator, now in his fourth year in the role and 21st season in the NFL as a coach. The Steelers still rely on TJ Watt and Cam Heyward, but the 2025 unit has been inconsistent. Tomlin backed Austin publicly, telling reporters he’s “largely pleased” with his coordinator’s work. Yet, both of them acknowledge that the current level is not where they want it to be.
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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.
How Do Fans Do Globally
For supporters in Pittsburgh and abroad, the rhythm of Steelers football has spilled far beyond Acrisure Stadium. Some international fans who follow both the NFL and global soccer mix regulated wagering into their viewing experience through multi-purpose betting, and many of them log into the Melbet website (Arabic: melbet موقع) to keep everything in one place. There, they can track pre-game and live odds for league matchups.
Whilst the Steelers’ reach has long extended past western Pennsylvania, that shows up on the phones in fans’ hands as much as in their jerseys. Many supporters who want a dedicated mobile client rather than a browser often search for the Meldbet APK download (French: melbet apk télécharger) to find an installable version of the same sportsbook ecosystem. Fans from all over the world who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers discuss the convenience of checking Steelers lines, AFC futures, and live props.
So, Is It Possible?
The pieces are at least plausible: an all-time quarterback trying to squeeze one more run out of his career, a head coach whose streak of non-losing seasons now stretches to 18, and coordinators in Smith and Austin who know exactly where this roster still falls short. The Steelers’ success in the competition depends on three things: Rodgers’ health, defense, and winning in December. If even two break in their favor, the narrative may finally change, returning the Steelers to the AFC contention this season.
