Mike Tomlin became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers all the way back in 2007.
Since then, the Steelers have been a model of consistency in the league, and Tomlin has cemented himself as one of the best head coaches of his generation. Tomlin and the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals and have made the playoffs 12 total times.
One of the most impressive feats of Tomlin’s career is the fact that his team has never finished with a losing record. The Steelers have gone 8-8 three times, but they’ve never slipped below the .500 mark under Tomlin.
However, Jared Dubin of CBS Sports thinks that streak could finally come to an end in 2025.
Dubin identified five AFC teams that could fall short of their projected win totals this season, and the Steelers unfortunately made that list. Regarding the Steelers’ 2025 projection, Dubin offered the following:
The Steelers, similarly, do not have a quarterback. Even if you want to say their quarterback will be Aaron Rodgers, well, Aaron Rodgers just led the Jets to a 5-12 record with an offense that ranked 24th in both yards and points, as well as a mere 18th in expected points added per play. It’s not like he nets you a top-10 offense through his mere presence anymore. And if you want to say their quarterback will not be Aaron Rodgers, well, that’s a pretty significant problem because their other options are, to be kind, not good. Pittsburgh also has one of the 10 toughest schedules in the league, complete with games against the Bills, Ravens, Lions and Ravens again in the final six weeks of the season. I know Mike Tomlin has never finished under .500, but between the offensive questions, the schedule and more questions than usual on the second level of the defense, this feels like the first time the Steelers finally dip below the line.
As Dubin pointed out, the Steelers don’t currently have a starting-caliber option on the roster at quarterback. Mason Rudolph and sixth-round rookie Will Howard are currently the top options, and neither should inspire much confidence.
Even though the team continues to be linked to Aaron Rodgers, the veteran isn’t the player he once was, and is coming off a 5-12 season with the New York Jets. Sure, the Steelers have a better roster than the Jets, but there’s no guarantee the quarterback would elevate the team.
Without even factoring in the quarterback situation, the Steelers are slated to have one of the tougher schedules in the league. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals both appear set to contend in 2025, and the Steelers have to play both teams twice as usual.
FanDuel sportsbook has the Steelers’ win total set at 8.5. If the Steelers can’t hit that number, then Tomlin would indeed finish with a losing record for the first time in his illustrious career.
However, it’s far from a certainty that the Steelers will struggle. After all, this team just won 10 games with a mediocre quarterback duo of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. One would think Rodgers could at least get the team to nine or 10 wins if they made the playoffs with a very similar roster last season.
