Steelers Legend Calls Out Mike Tomlin For Making Poor Decision And Passing On Jaxson Dart

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still stuck in quarterback purgatory, which is the place the franchise has been in ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger following the 2021 season. Now, Roethlisberger is eligible for the 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame class as he is five years removed from his playing career, and the Steelers are still struggling at quarterback. Veteran Band-Aids have been the solution at the position in recent years, but what the organization plans on doing for the 2026 season is still up in the air. Aaron Rodgers could return, but that doesn't really move the needle for most fans.

Pittsburgh had a chance to take a real step forward as a franchise by drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The organization had the 21st overall pick in the event and chose defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. He was solid during his rookie year and seems to be worth the selection, but the Steelers had a chance to draft Jaxson Dart with that pick. The franchise has been mildly criticized for passing on Dart, who was drafted with the 25th overall pick by the New York Giants. Steelers legend Rod Woodson recently appeared on 105.3 The Fan, where he questioned the Steelers' process in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

"I think last year was a perfect opportunity 'cause Dart dropped in the draft," Woodson said. "And I was a huge fan of his athletic abilities. He makes plays in the pocket, out of the pocket. He can throw, he can spin the ball. He dropped right to them, and they took a defensive lineman and I'm like, 'Oh man,' but then I'm not surprised because it's a defensive-minded, run-first team, even though not with Aaron Rodgers, so to speak, being the quarterback."

Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, Rodgers coming to Pittsburgh was still just a rumor, although he was expected to sign with the franchise eventually. Fans wanted a quarterback, and Dart fell right into the team's lap after there was some speculation that he would go higher in the event. Pittsburgh opted to go the defensive route, which was necessary as the defensive line needed some work.

By no means should Pittsburgh be regretting the pick of Harmon, but when a franchise has a chance to take a quarterback like Dart with real upside due to his athleticism, it has to take him. The Steelers didn't, and Woodson believes that might have something to do with Mike Tomlin making the decisions.

"I would think in Mike's case, Mike had probably more sway than a general manager," Woodson said. "In most places, the personnel person, the general manager has more sway than a head coach normally. But in the best places, it's guys working together, right? Because they're on the same team, so there's no reason to fight inside of that. Normally when they can find that nice balance, that's where you're gonna find teams that get good draft choices yearly. The only question is like, I think we've all been asking that question. Who's been making the picks in Pittsburgh for such a long period of time?"

It is no secret that Tomlin had a heavy say in the draft process for the Steelers towards the end of his career. He certainly deserves some of the blame for Pittsburgh passing on Dart, especially when the team was in dire need for a quarterback.

Steelers Must Figure Out Approach At Quarterback

After passing on Dart, Pittsburgh is no man's land at the position. The only two players under contract at the position currently are Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, and the franchise isn't necessarily in a position to take a quarterback high in the draft come April. Barring some rare hit on a under appreciated quarterback prospect later in the event, the Steelers will be in this same position during the 2027 offseason.

Are you mad the Steelers passed on Dart? Let us know in the comments below!

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