The Pittsburgh Steelers rarely have had losing seasons since the NFL began playing Super Bowls to crown a champion. The 2021 off-season marked the second time in modern franchise history that they bid farewell to a Hall of Fame quarterback. Both times the team had similar succession plans, bridge quarterback to a first-round pick who was anointed as the heir apparent.
Photo: USA Today Sports Images
When Terry Bradshaw retired in 1983, the Steelers thought they had a succession plan in place with Cliff Stoudt as the bridge quarterback and Mark Malone as the first-round draft pick who would take over long term. After the 1983 season, Stoudt jumped to USFL and the team brought in David Woodley as the new bridge quarterback. They even had a modicum of postseason success, going as far as the 1984-85 AFC Championship game, but then they endured several down seasons resulting in a coaching purge after the 1988 season.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 20: Kenny Pickett #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh is now in year one of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era and the succession plan again was bring in a bridge quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, and draft Kenny Pickett to let him sit and learn from the veteran. The big difference being that Stoudt had backed up Bradshaw for several seasons, and while not supremely talented, had the confidence of the team. Basically, the exact opposite of Mason Rudolph. Stoudt played for a season and Pittsburgh made the playoffs. After letting Woodley start the season in 1984, they eventually turned to Malone who took them all the way to the precipice of another Super Bowl.
Credit: Tribune-Review
The 2021 Steelers are way ahead of the 1980’s Steelers who clung to respectability until the mid-1980’s before they crashed. They have thrown the bridge quarterback overboard after three and a half games and are letting a rookie learn through trial by fire. The current version of the team seems intent on skipping all the way to the 1988 massacre of the coaching staff, that Chuck Noll was forced to choose. Dan Rooney did not have to fire Noll, but he gave him no choice in dismissing his staff, which included a future Hall of Fame coach in Tony Dungy.
Mike Tomlin on sideline of Steelers 35-13 loss at Philadelphia. Photo credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin has surpassed Noll in reaching full blown crisis mode in just 10 games. The offensive coordinator, Matt Canada is terrible, and Mike Sullivan is well liked, but doesn’t have a long track record of success either. The Steelers brought in Brian Flores from outside the organization to coach the linebackers and if Art Rooney II has the courage of his father and grandfather, he might be the only assistant Tomlin is allowed to keep. The Steelers have been promoting "yes men" to Tomlin since they fired Bruce Arians and ran Dick LeBeau out of town.
This could be a positive for the Pittsburgh Steelers, after the purge in 1988, they immediately made the playoffs. Noll coached his last playoff victory upsetting the Houston Oilers and came within a whisper of upsetting the heavily favored Denver Broncos in the Divisional round. The coaching purge shook the organization and laid the foundation for Bill Cowher’s success. When Noll rode off into the sunset two seasons later, Cowher was a playoff fixture to start his career, with a fully stocked cupboard and the Steelers made it back to the Super Bowl in less than five seasons.
CANTON, OH - AUGUST 7: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (right) and president Arthur J. Rooney II look on as Dick LeBeau speaks during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium on August 7, 2010 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Tomlin is likely to get the same choice on the offensive side of the ball at the end of the season that Noll had. But it is time for new blood across the board. Tomlin can have a second chance with a new offensive staff that is autonomous within reason. If they keep Flores, it must be made clear that he calls the defense, not the head coach and the team has to mean it. Tomlin is praised as a motivator and leader of men; leaders recognize when different voices are needed and that has never been truer in Pittsburgh.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you ready for the Pittsburgh purge part 2? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
