Pittsburgh Steelers fans have become a bit spoiled. That can be true, but let's also be fair to Steelers fans. The Steelers have underachieved for quite some time, and just because they’ve recently exceeded their projected win totals doesn’t mean fans should be satisfied with mediocrity.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a snowy game in Cleveland.
Winning more than half of their regular-season games is expected in Pittsburgh, not something to celebrate. Mike Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and while his streak of never having a losing season in 18 years is impressive, Steelers fans care about championships. That’s why Tomlin has faced heavy criticism from Steeler Nation, despite his regular season consistency.
Former Steelers linebacker and member of Tomlin’s coaching staff, Joey Porter, recently appeared on NFL Network and didn’t hold back when discussing the expectations in Pittsburgh. Porter acknowledged the frustrations of the fanbase but also pointed out how difficult sustained success is in the NFL. Porter swiftly came to the defense of Tomlin.
"That's just the price of doing business in Pittsburgh," Porter said. "I'm sorry that we're not sorry that we're spoiled to a point to where 10 games ain't good enough. So he's been on a hot seat in their mind, the city's mind. Not Mr. Rooney's. Mr. Rooney knows exactly what they have in a good coach like Mike Tomlin, but the city do this to him every year."
Porter reminded fans that while playoff wins have been lacking, the Steelers are still a competitive team year in and year out—something many other franchises can’t say.
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Steelers former linebacker Joey Porter Sr. hoists his sons after winning Super Bowl XL.
Porter’s message was clear: Steelers fans may be frustrated, but they also need to recognize the stability and consistency that Tomlin has provided.
"Did we finish the way we want to finish? Absolutely not," Porter said. "The five-game losing streak hurts. But are we that disappointed? Because I don't think they had us winning 10 games and being close to winning the division. Because we had a chance to win a division before it was over. At the end of the day, we didn't finish where we wanted to, but [Tomlin] being on the hot seat is just a Pittsburgh thing. They do this to him every year."
Porter’s point makes sense. The cost of being a head coach in Pittsburgh is heavy. The Steelers don’t fire head coaches, which means that when inevitable droughts happen, frustration lingers, and fans demand change. Unlike other franchises that cycle through coaches, Pittsburgh sticks with its leaders for the long haul, making every postseason failure feel even more agonizing.
Reality is that Art Rooney II still believes Tomlin can end the playoff drought. His faith in Tomlin hasn’t wavered, even as the team continues to fall short in January. That’s what Porter is trying to show fans—despite an ugly finish to the season, Tomlin once again exceeded expectations.
While fans are justified in their frustrations, Porter’s message is a reminder that success isn’t always linear. Tomlin has kept Steelers competitive year after year, even when the odds were stacked against them. The question now isn’t whether Tomlin is a great coach—it’s whether he can finally turn regular-season consistency into postseason success.
Steelers Fans Are Tired Of The Excuses For Mike Tomlin
Another thing fans argue about Tomlin is that the idea of him consistently doing more with less is ultimately his fault. He’s the one picking out the groceries, so when the team falls short in the biggest moments, why was the roster lacking in the first place? If he’s always overachieving, that means expectations were too low to begin with.
That’s why fans are growing tired of the excuses. Year after year, they hear about how Tomlin maximized what he had, but many believe he’s responsible for the shortcomings that put the team in that position. At some point, overachieving shouldn’t be the goal—winning when it matters most should be.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a tough game against the Ravens.
Hearing Porter’s perspective on such a hot-button topic is certainly interesting. As someone who played for the Steelers and even coached under Tomlin, his insight carries weight. But no matter how strong the argument, fans won’t be satisfied until Tomlin proves he can deliver when it counts.
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