The Pittsburgh Steelers as of late haven’t been legitimate Super Bowl contenders. With Mike Tomlin at the helm, the Steelers have never had a losing season. Every single year, Tomlin finds a way to keep the team competitive and finish with a .500 record or better. But while consistency is admirable, the lack of playoff success has become impossible to ignore. The Steelers haven’t won a postseason game since the 2016 season, and for a fan base used to championship glory, that drought feels longer and more painful with each passing year.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a snowy game in Cleveland.
When the Steelers had Mel Blount patrolling the secondary, they were the gold standard of the NFL. Blount was part of arguably the greatest dynasty of all time, helping Pittsburgh capture four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. That level of dominance defined what it meant to be a Steeler — tough, disciplined, and relentless. Today, the bar remains sky-high, and anything short of postseason excellence feels like failure to fans who grew up on championship memories.
Blount recently joined Ben Roethlisberger on his Footbahlin podcast, which airs on the Channel Seven YouTube page. During the conversation, the Hall of Famer didn’t hold back when asked about the current state of the team. Blount shared what he believes is missing from today’s Steelers and pointed to what he sees as the root of their struggles. His brutally honest assessment reflects the frustration of a legend who knows exactly what greatness looks like — and doesn’t see enough of it right now.
"I am kind of like a Hawk," Blount said. "The needs are so great when I look at the Steelers. I think the Steelers right now could use help at every position. This offensive line, secondary, wide receivers, quarterback, obviously. Our defense is good, but it’s not where it should be. If you take TJ [Watt] off of that defense, you don’t have a whole lot."
Blount explained that, from his perspective, the Steelers’ current roster simply isn’t good enough. He pointed out several glaring holes and believes the team is falling behind many of the NFL’s top contenders.
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Steelers' Mel Blount roaming the secondary during a game in the 70s.
While he acknowledged that Tomlin is a great coach, Blount didn’t shy away from saying that Tomlin hasn’t done enough in recent years to elevate the team.
"I just think it’s like a race, man," Blount said. "Once you get behind, it’s very hard to catch up… The fan base, at some point, just winning seasons aren’t good enough. When you have had the best and you know what the best look like, feel like, and taste like, you don’t want to just, year after year, get subpar stuff. That’s the dilemma with Mike Tomlin. He’s a great coach and has had a great career, but a great saying is, 'What have you done for me lately?'"
Blount emphasized that the Steelers need significant upgrades if they want to return to true Super Bowl contention. In his eyes, the talent gap between Pittsburgh and the league’s elite is too wide to ignore. He made it clear that patching minor issues won’t cut it — the roster needs bold, impactful additions.
Steelers Legend Shares The Frustrations Of The Fan Base
Ultimately, Blount’s message was one of tough love. He respects the legacy of the franchise and Tomlin’s success but believes the standard in Pittsburgh has always been about more than winning records. It’s about championships — and right now, he doesn’t see a team built to reach that level. That’s a sentiment many fans can relate to and wholeheartedly agree with.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers legends Mean Joe Greene, Andy Russell, Lynn Swann and Mel Blount sit next to one another.
The frustration within the fan base has been building for years, as playoff shortcomings continue to overshadow regular-season success. Blount believes the Steelers are still falling short of true contender status due to several missing pieces on the roster.
Despite his criticism, Blount remains hopeful. He expressed trust and confidence that Tomlin has the ability to right the ship and make the necessary changes to push Pittsburgh back into deep postseason runs — where the franchise and its fans expect to be.
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