The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 season started off fairly decent, but once again, the bottom has fallen out in the Steel City. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin entered this season desperate to turn the tide and finally secure a playoff win. He hasn’t won a postseason game since the 2016 season, and that drought is growing louder and more noticeable among fans. “Fire Tomlin” chants have reached new heights, and now many are left wondering what the organization will do if Tomlin can’t get this team back on track.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Former Steelers defensive back Steven Nelson, who played with the team in 2019 and 2020, didn’t hold back on his podcast Wednesday when discussing the state of the Steelers. Nelson went on a passionate rant, taking several hard shots at Tomlin and voicing his frustration with the current direction of the team. He made it clear that the struggles aren’t just about the head coach, but also about how the team is being managed on the defensive side of the ball.
Nelson specifically called out Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, making no attempt to sugarcoat his criticism. He articulated just how poorly he views Austin’s performance and questioned whether the defense is capable of turning things around under his leadership. His comments have sparked a renewed debate among fans about the future of the coaching staff and whether major changes are needed to salvage what remains of the season.
"The problem to me, with the Pittsburgh Steelers, I don't really think it is all on the players," Nelson said while speaking on his podcast on Wednesday night. "I believe it's at least on the defensive side, Teryl Austin. That defensive coordinator. I mean just pack it up bro. His time has been up."
Nelson’s words carry a ton of weight, as he played two seasons with the Steelers. He highlighted that Austin wasn’t even the defensive coordinator during those two seasons, but just the defensive backs coach.
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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.
Nelson wasn’t impressed with him at that time, and now, in 2025, Austin has been in charge of a very talented defense for too long. In the mind of Nelson, this defense has far too much talent to continue to be this poorly coached. He puts all the blame on Austin's shoulders.
"He was a defensive back coach when I was in Pittsburgh in 2019 and 2020," Nelson said. "He wasn't even a good DB coach man. Now this guy has been running the defense for how many years? Come on man. You have Jalen Rasmey, Joey Porter Jr., TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Herbig, Patrick Queen, I mean the list goes on... and you can't do nothing with that?"
Former Steelers Players Can't Stay Quiet Any Longer
While Nelson wasn’t a superstar player in the league, his words carry weight because two former Steelers legends, Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison, have echoed the same exact sentiments about this coaching staff. Both have openly criticized aspects of the team’s leadership and questioned whether the current staff is maximizing the talent on the roster.
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Steelers' star edge rusher TJ Watt and Head Coach Mike Tomlin communicate with one another on the sideline during a professional football game on the road.
With fans growing increasingly frustrated and Tomlin’s playoff drought looming larger, the pressure to make changes is mounting. The Steelers’ coaching decisions in the coming weeks will be critical, and how the organization responds could shape the team’s direction for years to come. One thing is certain: a defense with TJ Watt and all the other talent should not be playing this poorly.
If the Steelers do part ways with Teryl Austin, who would you like to see become their next defensive coordinator? Let us know in the comments below! Feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and don’t forget to follow me — I’ll make sure to respond!
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