Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mitch Trubisky in a game against the Patriots
The Steelers faced a 21-3 deficit at one point during the game, giving up three early touchdown drives (including the opening drive). From there on, the boos increasingly got louder and more obvious after each offensive drive ending in three and out. One player took notice, and that was Najee Harris.
"Was I aware? Yeah, there was like 66,000 on that board. But since I've been here I've been hearing boos, to be honest with you. It's not like it's gonna change. The fans are just eager to see their team win. That's something we should give to them."
It is good that players such as Harris recognize how displeased Steelers fans are with the overall product on the field and sidelines. Many others would either brush it off or not care in the slightest as to why their fan base continues to rage on. Oftentimes, it is your fans who help to understand the next best direction of a franchise, as they'll be the first to tell you the hard truth.
In recent memory, Pittsburgh has trotted out consistently subpar, mediocre, and insufficient teams that either fall just short of a playoff birth or lose in the first round of the postseason, only to hang another season's banner of a .500 or better record. The results have not quite lived up to the timeless mantra in Pittsburgh: "The Standard is The Standard."
Since their 2008-'09 Super Bowl victory, the Steelers have won just five playoff games and appeared in eight playoffs spanning over 14 years. Their last playoff win was January 15th, 2017, a Divisional Round road win versus the pre-Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs. Outside of two seasons, they've been nothing more than a team that wins awards for a winning regular season winning percentage, a feat many love to adore current Head Coach, Mike Tomlin over.
Harris is correct in the view that Steelers fans perpetual booing won't end and for good reason. Until the Steelers can start winning playoff games and playing like a complete team that doesn't fold against lesser opponents, the fan base and city will remain angry. Zero playoff success and coaching ineptitude over almost a decade will do that to you.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will either sink with Matt Canada or face reality in 2023
Is Steelers' Tomlin Mainly Responsible For The Boos?
Taking over as the newest head coach of an iconic franchise and arguably the best in NFL history, Tomlin quickly came onto the scene, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in only the second year. And a little while after that, he led the Steelers to another appearance in the Super Bowl, this time facing off against the Green Bay Packers in what was a close defeat. Things were looking bright for the young-ish man in charge, or so everyone thought.
Since then, it has increasingly become an uphill battle to maintain the standard in its truest form along with keeping the trust of Steeler Nation from plummeting. For what has felt like a decade's worth of defensive shortcomings, assistant coach issues, in-game situational decision-making, poor clock management, locker room divide, lack of self-accountability, and offensive purgatory, Tomlin has continually reinforced such ideas and criticisms of his more time goes on without winning when it matters most.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' George Pickens makes a catch on the sideline against the Patriots
Losing historically to teams that are far worse than you is something to behold, yet it's also nothing unfamiliar. Winning seasons are great, but how much has it been devalued in Pittsburgh nowadays? There can't be a more difficult coach to understand than Tomlin himself, as he has always toed the line between success and failure. Thursday night's game at home versus the Patriots exposed many of the deepest flaws holding this roster back from elevating itself to playoff contender status again.
Tomlin is and should be held responsible, at least to some degree, for how woefully unprepared, out-coached, and out-schemed his teams are. It's a recurring theme that never ends, so at what point does Art Rooney II force his hand or decide to take matters into his own hands? Significant changes must be prioritized because 2024 is the last year remaining on Tomlin's contract. It's either you go all in making Tomlin change or talk about termination. There is no in-between or middle option anymore, and rightfully so.
What do you think, Steelers fans? Are you in support of allowing Tomlin to coach into the next season or should he get the axe? If retained, what all has to change? Let us know your thoughts below!
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