Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been under a ton of heat since the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season. The Steelers had started off the year riding pretty high with Aaron Rodgers, but his wrist injury has caused a major disruption, and the offense has struggled ever since.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The run game has been inconsistent, and even with three talented tight ends in Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington, the Steelers can’t seem to sustain drives or stay on the field. DK Metcalf hasn’t been ineffective, but like George Pickens during his time as the team’s WR1, he hasn’t been put in positions to truly shine. The pieces are there, but the results simply aren’t coming.
Former Steelers great quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went on his podcast, Footbahlin, on Tuesday to weigh in on what has been a frustrating season for fans. He pointed to a recurring theme throughout the team’s struggles, noting that the offense still looks like Matt Canada’s.
"We have had the same head coach in Coach Tomlin," Roethlisberger said while speaking on his podcast Footbahlin on Tuesday night. "We have had different offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators, but it has kind of been the same story. We have had a few different offensive coordinators now and the offense looks a lot the same. This looks a lot like Matt Canada's offense."
Canada, the Steelers’ controversial offensive coordinator who was fired in the middle of the 2023 season, had been widely criticized for his play-calling and scheme, but Roethlisberger’s comment suggests that maybe Canada wasn’t entirely to blame. Instead, it raises questions about Tomlin’s role in the offensive struggles and whether his leadership on that side of the ball has been a limiting factor.
Tomlin, known for his steady hand and strong leadership, now faces the toughest criticism of his career. Fans and analysts alike are dissecting the Steelers’ offensive shortcomings, from a lackluster run game to questionable third-down efficiency and underutilized talent at wide receiver.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers rolls out with the football while Head Coach Mike Tomlin watches on during training camp.
The optics of the team still looking like a Canada offense, even two years after his departure, have made Tomlin a central figure in the scrutiny. As the season heads toward its final stretch, the pressure is mounting not just to win games but to prove that the Steelers’ identity under Tomlin can adapt and succeed in the post-Roethlisberger era.
The pressure on Tomlin isn’t just coming from the media or fans, it’s coming from the scoreboard. The Steelers are at a point where their playoff hopes depend on figuring out the offense while keeping the defense playing at a high level. With Rodgers’ injury still affecting the team and the offense struggling to find a rhythm, every game feels like a must-win. How Tomlin adjusts his methods and gets the most out of his players could define the rest of this season and have a lasting impact on the team’s future.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Tells Fans To "Keep Watching"
The question of how the Steelers are using their talent is more obvious than ever. Players like Metcalf and the tight ends have the ability to make big plays, but the offense hasn’t put them in positions to succeed. Many are pointing the finger at Tomlin for not changing the scheme to fit the players, while others say the quarterback situation and injuries make consistency nearly impossible.
Erin Hooley / Associated Press
Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks shocked as he speaks with the media after a loss in the 2025 season.
Either way, it’s clear the team has struggled to find a way to make the offense work, and now the spotlight is squarely on Tomlin. The defense has a ton of work to do, as does the offense. Tomlin told fans to "keep watching" and that is all they can do now.
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