Player Buy In A Huge Problem For Steelers: "That Belief Is Not There Yet"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have entered a new era of football under new head coach Mike McCarthy. This change stemmed from legendary coach Mike Tomlin stepping down in early 2026. Tomlin was the team's head coach for nearly two decades and was the face of Pittsburgh during his tenure. The Steelers have seemingly struggled without him through two weeks of the 2026 regular season.

This begs the question that many Steelers fans thought they had answered for years: Was Tomlin the problem?

While Pittsburgh sits at 1-1 through two weeks, the team's offensive scheme has looked as flat as it did for the last few seasons, an issue that many fans figured Tomlin was to blame for. For the last eight seasons of Tomlin's tenure, the Steelers did not win a playoff game. This was largely due to the offense's inability to remain consistent and put up points efficiently, especially in crucial situations. Tomlin was criticized heavily during the back half of his time in the Steel City, resulting in many Steelers fans developing a negative perception of him when he finally stepped down.

The hiring of McCarthy was supposed to bring juice to the offense, as that is his area of expertise. McCarthy has a great resume, winning a Super Bowl as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers with legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm. So far, Pittsburgh's offense has looked extremely inefficient, scoring only one touchdown through two games. The unit ranks among the worst in the NFL, something that many fans did not expect.

NFL insider Tony Pauline believes that Pittsburgh is dealing with a Tomlin "hangover" and has not adjusted to the absence of his mannerisms. 

"Per source, I am told the energy, edge and passion that Tomlin brought with him is not there yet with McCarthy," Pauline explained. "A player said when Tomlin led the Steelers onto the field, there was a belief that the team was going to win. Even if they fell behind, they believed Tomlin would find a way to bring them back. That belief is not there yet with McCarthy."

While McCarthy is a very decorated coach, especially on the offensive side of the ball, Tomlin is not easily replaceable. Because of the sour end to his tenure, most fans do not want to admit it, but Tomlin is a true Pittsburgh legend. 

One factor that is not discussed enough is the effect that Tomlin had on the players personally. A plethora of current and former NFL players have the utmost respect for Tomlin, with many Steelers still supporting their former head coach. Tomlin was beloved by almost every player that he coached, regardless of season results. While McCarthy is a Pittsburgh native and has plenty of connections to the city, it is impossible to replace an almost 20-year impact that one individual had on the city and the organization.

McCarthy Needs To Make A Lasting Impact 

While many Steelers players have spoken highly of McCarthy over his first few months of being the new head coach, the love and passion is not yet there like it was with Tomlin. The entire organization, including players and staff, would have gone to war for Tomlin and it does not seem like that relationship has been built yet with McCarthy. If the Steelers begin to click and win some games, the connection should grow strong quickly, but the on-field performance has not even been close to accomplishing that. 

McCarthy has it in him to win this team over, as he did with Green Bay. He has been at the head of many great offensive seasons, mainly with Rodgers as his quarterback. McCarthy might not be the answer to the Steelers' troubles and the problem could be much deeper-rooted. It will take the rest of the 2026 NFL season to make this judgment and see where the organization turns depending on the results of this season.

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