Steelers' Mike Tomlin Makes Crazy Comments About Defense: "Keep Doing What We Are Doing"

The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped their second straight contest of the 2025 season, losing 35-25 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. Now the Steelers sit at 4-3, but still hold first place in the AFC North. The offense hasn’t been the issue, as Aaron Rodgers has been productive and efficient for the most part. 

Instead, it’s the defense that has become a growing concern. Once viewed as the team’s strength, the Steelers' defense has struggled badly through seven games, ranking among the worst in the NFL. Missed tackles, blown coverages, and a lack of consistency have all contributed to their recent slide.

On Tuesday, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin met with the media to address the team’s struggles. When asked if he would consider taking over defensive play-calling duties from Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, Tomlin didn’t hesitate in his response. He made it clear that he has no plans to take over the defense and continues to have full faith in his staff. 

"No, that is not on the table as we sit here today," Tomlin said confidently while speaking with the media on Tuesday. "We just got to keep doing what we are doing and do it better."

The part where Tomlin stated that his defense needs to simply keep doing what they are doing, just better, is where Steeler Nation should get fired up. Obviously, Tomlin is right that the highly paid defense should be playing better, but that statement doesn’t offer much reassurance. When Matt Canada was fired in the middle of the 2023 season for his poor offensive production, the hope was that the defense would remain the team’s backbone. Instead, under Austin, the defense has actually been worse by several statistical metrics. That’s how disappointing this unit has been so far.

With stars like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Patrick Queen, and Jalen Ramsey, there’s no excuse for such poor play. The Steelers' defense has too much talent and experience to be performing at this level. Missed assignments, slow reactions, and lack of discipline have all become recurring problems that simply cannot continue if this team hopes to stay competitive.

Steelers' Defense Is Among Worst In The NFL

Allowing Jordan Love and the Packers offense to rack up 454 yards of total offense on Sunday night perfectly sums up the Steelers’ current struggles. For a defense that was supposed to carry this team, performances like that are unacceptable. If the Steelers want to remain contenders, this defense must find its identity quickly before the season starts to slip away.

Tomlin’s confidence in his coaches shows his loyalty and belief in the system, but it also left many fans questioning whether changes are truly being made to fix the ongoing defensive issues. For a fan base accustomed to dominant defensive football, Tomlin’s comments did not sit well. 

Many expected the longtime head coach to take a more hands-on approach, especially given his defensive background. Instead, his decision to stay the course may be viewed as stubbornness by some. With the Steelers still clinging to the top spot in the AFC North, there is little room for error. If the defense does not turn things around soon, the calls for Tomlin to make a change or take control himself are only going to grow louder.

What is your very first reaction to hearing this new quote from Mike Tomlin about the Steelers' defense? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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