Steelers Are 'Pretty Much Screwed' In 2025 With Unfixable Failure

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 2024 season like they usually do: by getting dominated in the playoffs after a terrible losing streak at or near the end of the year. This time, the 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens capped off a five-game losing streak to end the 2024 campaign, with four of those coming in the regular season. This has become the standard for the Steelers, and it is obvious that things need to change. The only question is what needs to change, and what needs to happen for that to occur. 

Even though the offense has not been great, the defense has been the primary reason that the Steelers have lost five in a row. Since the bye week, there have been only two games where gave up less than 24 points. There obviously needs to be some change on that side of the ball.

However, there is not much change that can be made there. Everyone has talked about how the Steelers have the highest-paid defense in the NFL. Because of that, there are not many ways to get out of most of these contracts without taking an insane amount of dead cap. Mark Kaboly brought that up as well, saying that there is nowhere for the defense to go.

"The Steelers are pretty much screwed," Kaboly said. "The talent on that side of the ball is off the charts yet they continue to underachieve year after year. They add players and still nothing. It’s concerning and it’s put them in a corner where there’s no real place to go. There is no fix let alone quick fix for a unit that is the highest paid in the entire NFL, yet they have been bad … really bad over this losing streak."

The Steelers have roughly $168.5 million invested in the defense for 2025. What moves could they realistically make? Could they trade away the face of the franchise in TJ Watt? Could they designate Minkah Fitzpatrick as a post-June 1st cut? Sure, moves like that would help Pittsburgh's salary cap, but what would it actually accomplish? 

Steelers May Need To Look To Coaching

Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has taken some heat as of late. However, he might just be the scapegoat. While he has the title, Head Coach Mike Tomlin is actually the one running that unit. Firing Austin would accomplish nothing, as Tomlin would just hire another yes-man to the fake position.

With that in mind, the Steelers may have to take a long, hard look at Tomlin. His defenses keep underachieving, yet he is still in full control of everything. His way of doing things just doesn't work, and it has shown time and time again. A change needs to be made, and the head coach position needs to be the first one to be evaluated for that. 

However, he's not going anywhere, as Kaboly also mentions. Tomlin signed a three-year extension in the 2024 offseason, and the first year of that will be 2025.

"Tomlin is signed through the 2027 season and according to Sportico, he’s making $16 million a year. So, you are telling me that Art Rooney II and the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to fire a head coach for the first time since Bill Austin more than 50 years ago and eat [roughly] $48 million in the process?"

The Steelers refuse to fire coaches, especially head coaches. Tomlin will be around until either the end of this deal or his resignation, if he chooses to go that route. The only change that will happen is maybe some deck chairs being shuffled around and more depth players or yes-men being hired.

The core of the defense can't be broken up realistically. Replacing pending free agents like Elandon Roberts and Donte Jackson won't move the needle. Tomlin won't go anywhere because the Steelers have no interest in paying him to go away. Kaboly is right: this team is screwed.