The Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin hasn't been the most loved figure in the Steel City as of late. Of course, at one point in the 2024 season, Tomlin was flying high and had his name as a favorite to win Coach of the Year. That quickly changed when his team lost five straight games to finish out the 2024 campaign. Many Steelers fans admire Tomlin for always doing more with less, but they are tired of not winning playoff games. Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 NFL season, and this ongoing drought has raised questions about his ability to adapt.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a snowy game in Cleveland.
With each passing season, Tomlin’s inability to lead the Steelers beyond the first round of the playoffs has become a growing frustration. Fans are starting to believe that he is too stubborn and stuck in his ways, unable or unwilling to make the necessary adjustments to stay competitive in the modern NFL. His reliance on outdated schemes and philosophies has made him a target for critics who want to see change, especially when other teams around the league evolve with the times. The cries for Tomlin to modernize his approach have only grown louder.
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is very familiar with this thought and he would agree. On his podcast Tuesday, Edelman once again roasted Tomlin and the Steelers’ defensive schemes for never changing, despite their lack of success. He pointed out how the Steelers’ defense remains stuck in the past, running the same systems that haven’t worked for years. Edelman’s sharp criticism serves as a stark reminder that while Tomlin may have had his glory days, the game has passed him by unless he can make adjustments.
"You knew exactly what they were doing," Edelman said when speaking about the Steelers defense. "And they still do what they did. They still do the same God d*** s*** [as] when I was playing [Mike] Tomlin's defense. I'm like, 'We still have linebackers covering the three slot?’ Every time we play Steelers, I have at least nine catches. You would think that they would change it but no, they do what they do."
Former Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia joined Edelman on the podcast, and the two agreed that the Steelers are well-coached. They both acknowledged that Pittsburgh's simplistic defensive approach has been a cornerstone of their success, as it allows players to play fast and minimize mistakes. However, they also pointed out that this same simplicity might be limiting the Steelers' ability to adapt and evolve, preventing them from becoming a truly dominant force on defense.
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A duo of Steelers try to tackle New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman in a 2018 game.
Patricia made sure to give the Steelers credit where it was due, recognizing their consistent competitiveness. However, he couldn’t resist a subtle jab, noting that his Patriots teams always found a way to beat the Steelers in the most meaningful games—at least from his perspective. This light-hearted dig highlighted the respect and competitive spirit that existed between the two sides, showing that while they may have been rivals, there was an underlying mutual admiration.
Steelers Fans Are Upset About The Truth
The most frustrating part for Steeler Nation is how painfully true this is. Fans have had to watch their defense repeatedly get exposed in the same ways, despite the star power and talent on the roster. The Steelers continue to implement a soft coverage scheme that simply doesn’t work. Playing too far off wide receivers has allowed strong offenses to easily pick apart the defense, with quarterbacks freely tossing the ball around.
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Steelers' Teryl Austin smiles while talking to the media.
This approach has been ineffective in critical moments, and it's a major reason the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Yet, former players from several years ago continue to sit on podcasts, lamenting that the same defensive problems persist. For fans, this is unacceptable. It's a major source of frustration and a key reason for their growing anger toward Tomlin and the organization as a whole.
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