Steelers Legend Ben Roethlisberger Delivers Alarming Take On Pittsburgh's Future

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team used to high expectations. Under former head coach Mike Tomlin, they have a history of consistency and being competitive. After all, the team had an impressive 19 straight winning seasons under the previously longest tenured head coach. Despite the Steelers and Tomlin parting ways however, the franchise's legacy and expectations of winning will remain. The question is, what is the best direction to go for the long-term future of the organization? 

The Steelers will look very different next season. Their 2025 quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, led the team to an AFC North title. However, Rodgers had his ups and downs throughout the season, as did the offense as a whole. Inconsistent play left the franchise with a 6-6 record after 12 games, before they rallied to win the AFC North title in a thrilling Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers were a tight-knit group that came together around Tomlin and Rodgers, and played their best football when it mattered most.

Despite the highs of the 2025 season, the lows were very low. After winning the AFC North, the Steelers were gifted a home playoff game against the Houston Texans. It was a winnable game, with Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud struggling mightily, with 2 fumbles lost and an interception. Despite this, the Steelers got thrashed, losing 30-6 despite being down just 7-6 at halftime. The Steelers let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers, and in the process, a new era in Pittsburgh has begun.

Steelers legend and future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gave his opinion on the direction the Steelers are going on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger this week.

"Seems like they're cleaning house. Sounds like a rebuild to me," Roethlisberger explained.

In the 18 seasons Roethlisberger spent as the Steelers quarterback, the only team he played with throughout his career, he never had a losing season. The Steelers' last losing season, in fact, was in 2003, an astonishing 23 years ago. The Steelers and their fans don't take rebuilding seasons lightly. However, there are several valid arguments for a rebuild. The team currently has a veteran-laden roster, but it's clear they're not good enough to contend for a Super Bowl with their current roster construction. 

The goal of every team is to have a Super Bowl-contending roster, but there are different routes and timelines in getting there. The Steelers and Tomlin parting ways signals that they are now on a different timeline. There'll be a new head coach next season, along with a new coaching staff. For long-term success, the Steelers may have to endure temporary hardships. 

Steelers May Begin First Rebuild In Two Decades

Rebuild success rates vary widely by team. For teams like Rodgers' former team, the New York Jets, they've been trying unsuccessful rebuilds for years now, while teams like the New England Patriots have needed only to hire the right coach: former Tennessee Titans head coach and former Steelers linebacker,  Mike Vrabel. The Patriots went from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to the 2 seed in the AFC and are currently the betting favorite to advance to the Super Bowl. 

The Steelers have the chance to do the same, although they may take some bumps and bruises down the road.

For the Steelers, they have a golden opportunity ahead of them. This may involve a transition year, maybe even two, however. While the non-losing season streak is impressive, the Steelers are also 0/7 in their last seven playoff games, something that cannot continue if the Steelers want to get back to the Super Bowl. 

Who do you want the Steelers' next head coach to be? Let us know in the comments!

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