Steelers' Mike Tomlin's Unexpected Truth About The "Degrees Of Suck" Surrounding Winning Seasons

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a bumpy road to walk during the 2023 season. They seemed to light the world on fire during the preseason, winning all three games and looking extremely efficient while doing so. The team that we saw then however, was not the same team that we saw in the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That was really the start of the rollercoaster that would be the regular season, and according to Head Coach Mike Tomlin, "it sucks."

If you just looked at their record on paper, the Steelers had a solid season. They finished 10-7 and were awarded a playoff berth. But the Steelers seem to be in this weird holding pattern. Tomlin just finished his 17th winning season with the team. A big deal is made about the fact that Tomlin has never had a losing season as Pittsburgh's head coach. Still, for Tomlin, it's not enough.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Feels The Same Way As Many Fans

This has been a double-edged sword. While it is great to be on the right side of .500, the team also hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. 

Most fans realize this is like a supermodel complaining that she has a pimple, but some of the frustrations are valid. After all, we are here to hoist Lombardi Trophies, not rack up winning seasons. Many frustrated fans point their verbal darts at Tomlin and feel that he should be replaced. However, Tomlin announced that he will be returning to Pittsburgh in 2024, something that should surprise no one. He acknowledged during his end-of-season press conference that he is also not a fan of this middle ground the team finds themselves stuck on.

"It all sucks. It does. There's not degrees of suck, it all sucks. I'd rather be working. The thought of going to Mobile turns my stomach. Not that I dislike Mobile, but I know what it's like when you're working and you're not in Mobile, it's a really good feeling to be in that tournament as the road gets narrow and to be living out the things that you aspired to be living out over the last 12 months. It's not us and it sucks," lamented a frustrated Tomlin.

The "Mobile" he is referring to is the city in Alabama and the site of the upcoming Reese's Senior Bowl. 

Admittedly, making it to the Super Bowl, let alone winning one, takes more than just talent. It takes some serious luck. You need the things you cannot control to go your direction at least some of the time, and the Steelers certainly did not have that luck this season. 

The team replaced future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with veteran journeyman Mitch Trubisky, and then-rookie Kenny Pickett in 2022. Tomlin chose to start Trubisky in 2022 and allow Pickett time to develop. It did not work and by Week 4, Pickett found himself playing and then starting. 

Pickett seemed to have grown during the offseason as was evidenced by that spectacular preseason in 2023, but the offense was never able to get anything going. Out of those 10 games the team won, they owe a lot of gratitude toward the defense for keeping them in or helping them to win the games. When Pickett got injured during Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals, Trubisky found himself under center again.  

It wasn't surprising when the past began to repeat itself and Trubisky was a factor in losing three games that were winnable in a row. Tomlin made the bold choice to start longtime backup Mason Rudolph in his place. That seemed to be a large part of what saved the season. Rudolph managed to lead the team to victory in their final three games and they squeaked into the postseason.   

That wasn't the only bold choice Tomlin made either. After the team's loss to the Cleveland Browns during Week 11, he chose to fire Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. It seemed like the replacement duo of Mike Sullivan and Eddie Faulkner, along with Rudolph, helped. 

Of course, there were other factors the team couldn't control, such as injuries and some questionable penalties. Tomlin will have another shot at changing the fate of the Steelers during the 2024 season. He will have some big decisions to make this offseason, particularly regarding the starting quarterback and new offensive coordinator. 

All in all, Tomlin emphasized that he didn't want to "seek comfort" on Thursday about the things the team accomplished during the 2023 season. Rather he wanted to focus on how to improve to become "world champions" in 2024.

What do you think about Tomlin's comments on the situation "sucking?" Click to comment below!

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