Steelers' Mike Tomlin Will Definitely Keep Unpopular Defensive Role In 2025: "It's Not Omar Khan's Choice"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are embracing some unique changes in 2025. The front office made an exciting move by trading for star wide receiver DK Metcalf and signing him to a pricey five-year contract, in addition to revamping the quarterback room for the second year in a row. The Steelers are seemingly making an effort to adapt to the new era of football. Pittsburgh's defense struggled horrendously in the final stages of 2024. They fixed the personnel factor through the draft for the defense, but it could be time for the head honcho of the defense to step down on his duties.

Many Steelers fans know better than others that Mike Tomlin will voice his opinion when need be. Pittsburgh's head coach has the strongest voice within the Black and Gold locker room, and if he wants to call the shots on defense, then that will be the case. It's been notoriously known that Tomlin is a defensive minded head coach and that he's always had control over the play-calling in the Steel City. Despite the fact that they have a defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, Tomlin reportedly makes the final decisions for the defense. 

In 2022, Austin was promoted to the team's defensive coordinator position to replace Keith Butler, who later publicly admitted that Tomlin called the shots for the defense. Initially, Tomlin was supposed to take a step down as the defensive play-caller once Austin was hired.

It's been glaringly obvious that Tomlin is the top dog of the defense over Austin. After last year's collapse, changes were promised by Tomlin and the rest of the front office. Unfortunately, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac sees no way that Tomlin would step down and let Austin call the plays for the defense, even after making such big upgrades to the defensive line. In a recent chat, a fan told Dulac that Omar Khan must make a switch so Tomlin doesn't "ruin" Pittsburgh's new defense. 

"It's not Omar Khan's choice, but I get your point," Dulac said in his weekly chat on Wednesday. "I don't think we're going to see that happen."

Khan and the Steelers very much reshaped the defensive front during the 2025 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh drafted three new additions to the line - Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, and edge rusher Jack Sawyer. The Steelers found three beasts that should help them avoid allowing two-hundred plus yards to Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens again. This particular fan in Dulac's chat wished the Steelers would let Austin call the shots with this group in 2025, but it seems unlikely that Tomlin will step down in that regard.

Tomlin has previously noted that the weekly gameplans are always a group effort, but he ultimately has final say on gamedays. With the exciting new additions, though, it seems like a defensive group that will have Tomlin excited, and likely not want to give up much control in 2025.

Steelers' Defensive Struggles To End 2024 Season Beg The Question Who Is To Blame?

As the Steelers, and the defense specifically, got destroyed by the Ravens twice in Baltimore last season, much blame was to be passed around. While the defense may have faced some adversity dealing with injuries, like to TJ Watt, the gameplan and efforts from the coaching staff seemed poor. 

Tomlin and the Steelers also losing their final five games on the year did not do the coaching staff any favors as far as looks go. Changes and adjustments didn't seem to be made, but it could simply be at the fault of the players failing to execute properly. Regardless of where the blame is put, the 2025 defense needs to be light-years better than what fans were forced to watch for the final month of football in 2024.

Who do you think should be calling the plays for the defense this season? If Tomlin remains as the play-caller, will that be a good thing or a bad thing for the Steelers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

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