'Huge Problem' Exposed Within The Steelers' Organization That Contributes To Constant Mediocrity

The Pittsburgh Steelers have unfortunately become stuck in NFL purgatory. Year in and year out the franchise is on the fringe of the playoffs, and if it does clinch a spot, it gets embarrassed on Wild Card weekend. There is never any hope for the Steelers to go on a meaningful run in the postseason, and the fan base has been clamoring for some major changes. Many fans want to see impactful changes implemented on the coaching staff, as countless heartbroken fans were calling for Head Coach Mike Tomlin's job after the postseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens. However, firing coaches might not be the change the Steelers need.

The NFL is constantly evolving, and the Steelers have shown that they have some issues adapting to the ways of the current NFL. There are times where Pittsburgh looks like it is decades behind the rest of the league, and that is something that needs to be fixed. Teams around the NFL continue to add positions to their coaching staffs to specialize in one specific area of the game. 

Most successful teams have pass-game coordinators and run-game coordinators, while the Steelers don't pay much attention to that. Team reporter Brooke Pryor spoke about the coaching staff and why it is the way it is on the Locked On Steelers podcast.

"I think that that has been a huge problem the Steelers have had across the board." Pryor said. "They are just unwilling to spend the money to make meaningful changes. When Art Rooney I| says, 'We don't anticipate any significant coaching changes, not gonna be a bunch of big shakeups', and then is pretty resistant to the idea of hiring other assistant coaches, it tells me the Steelers say, 'We're fine being stuck in the past. Everyone else is hiring more assistants, but we don't need this.' That's fine, but then you're not going to change. You're not going to move out of this cycle of mediocrity."

This is the type of thing that gets the fan base so frustrated. It is ridiculous that the Steelers keep going into every season with the same approach while expecting different results. The best teams in the league are constantly bringing in new, often younger assistants to help grow the offense as the NFL changes. Other teams go out and hire former head coaches or other coaches with a ton of experience, which is something the Ravens did with Chuck Pagano. 

The coaching staff in Pittsburgh is one of the smallest in the league, and it is also far too vague. Pittsburgh has one defensive backs coach and an assistant, meanwhile other teams have coaches for safeties, outside cornerbacks, and slot cornerbacks. This is really nitpicking the organization, but Pittsburgh has not been able to get over the hump. Changes are needed, and in order for that to happen, Team President Art Rooney II is going to have to open up his wallet just a little bit.

If an individual is worried about money as an owner and operator of a professional sports team, then he or she is in the wrong business. The Steelers have one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in all of sports, money is going to come in. However, spend some to show an effort is being made to improve.

Steelers Need To Hire A Specific Coach To Help Mike Tomlin

It is clear to nearly every fan that Tomlin struggles with some of the decisions he is forced to make in the middle of the game. This can mean a variety of things, but mainly timeout usage, when to challenge a call, and when to go for it on fourth down. Tomlin almost always makes the wrong decision or struggles to manage the clock. Some of the best coaches in the NFL have this issue as well, but they make an attempt to fix it. 

Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay hired an in-game coordinator ahead of the 2024 season to help him with these decisions, which he spoke about on Pardon My Take over the Summer.

"So, it's John Striker." McVay said. "He's been in Tennessee. I think [Mike] Vrabel and those guys over the last handful of years did as good a job of understanding the nuances of the rules, clock management, timeout usage. Thats something that, shoot, I got to be better at."

McVay is widely regarded as one of the best offensive geniuses in the NFL, and even sought out some outside help to improve the team. Tomlin needs to take notes and present some changes to Rooney, because adjustments are needed.