This franchise NEEDS a complete fresh start

It has to get worse before it can get better. The steelers are not finding a way out of this everlasting mediocrity when going 9-8 or 10-7 every year and getting battered first round.
Just look at every playoff game since 2017.

2017 down 21-0 against jacksonville
2020 down 28-0 against cleveland
2021 down 35-7 against KC
2023 down 21-0 against buffalo
2024 down 21-0 against Baltimore

it does not get any worse literally. And if all the positives from each of those games are that they did not give up in the second half, congratulations, that is a really low bar.
A complete fresh start is desperately needed. Look at all the hot teams right now. Buffalo, detroit, Baltimore, Philadelphia even Cincinnati (super bowl 3 years ago, and let us be honest anyone picks the bengals over the steelers all day and I think they will be back next year) or Houston. Except Kansas City, they all went through some bad lows to get where they are now. Complete rebuild. Of course it is risky and can fail, like jets, giants, panthers. But it is your best chance. I certainly do not want THIS to continue for another 5 years.
As I see it, in this division with burrow and jackson, this team is only the third or even least talented every year. But somehow, they always win some close ones every season to barely avoid a losing season and the loop goes on and on…I am so terribly not-excited every year nowadays because I know exactly how it ends.

 

Just for reference; the Texans were 3-14 two years ago. And they have won 2 playoff games since. The eagles were last place in the nfc east when the steelers last won a playoff game. And they have made two super bowl appearances ever since.

 

Both those teams stunk up the joint and then drafted well. The Steelers always manage to be at the cusp of the playoffs and end up with mid/late first round picks

 

Putting this out there

https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nfl...mkzCE5_RfBKhntD6sM_aem_kVxpJUhtseGetA3_LoNvYg

 

Steelers need to trade some pieces and stock up on draft picks. Then move up in the draft in 2026 and go get a franchise QB. Don't worry about the 2025 draft because I don't believe there is such a QB.

 

You are only helping his argument.

 

I would be so pissed if we just let him walk away. I want a TRADE! I’ve been a broken record about this for three years now. Tomlin as a trade has huge value, you should not just let that walk away.

If Rooney does that then he is not a good business man or owner. Maybe a hell of a nice man, but I’m looking for a cold blooded shark as an owner right now.

 

I just hope ownership is not ok with these results.

 

Surely Tomlin has a no-trade clause? Why would he agree to go to the Bears or the Jets or wherever?

If I was him and assuming he has a no-trade clause (I’d be surprised if he doesn’t) I’d force the team to fire me and choose my own job.

Derek Carr did this a few years ago remember the Raiders tried to trade him but by all accounts he exercised his no trade clause and eventually they had to cut him loose.

 

I'd force his hand. If I'm Khan, I tell him that his entire staff is going to be gutted and we're doing an organizational reset with this roster. If Tomlin wants to be a part of the future, then his power to hire the new staff and be a part of the team building process will be limited.

But truthfully, the Steelers will just run it back and carry on like the past decade hasn't happened.

 

1. Fire Tomlin
2. Acquire franchise QB in '26 through trades and tanking

Everything else is totally irrelevant until both these steps are taken.

 

Tomlin has 2 years left after that ridiculous and foolish extension, so you know they're just gonna run it back.

 

While true, there is a history littered with teams like that that DON'T rebound and make the playoffs, so we know it takes more than just stinking for a year or two and drafting well. It takes a GOOD coaching staff and right now, we're bottom 10 in the league there and have been for 8+ years or longer. So if we ever bottom out, expect to stay there under this coaching group and ownership.

 

Still sick to my stomach over the extension.

I HATE heraring about "we can't have a lame-duck coach".

WHY NOT? If the coach quits on us as a lame-duck, he'll be flushing millions of dollars down the drain and ruining any legacy (of course Tomlin already has ruined his legacy, it's call the playoffs).

the whole lame-duck thing is beyond silly as any argument when it comes to coaches.

If anything, one year deals are prove it deals. Pay them more per year if you must, but keep them motivated. Tomlin, of all head coaches, desperately needs movtivation or he'll NEVER go outside his comfort zone picking an OC or DC or OL coach. He doesn't have to fear incompetence (obviously, he is the standard bearer for that very thing).

 

There is nothing worse for a team always finishing in the middle of the pack it leads to mediocrity.

To high to draft a franchise qb but good enough to keep fans in the seats and the coach not on the hot seat.

 

This is likely the only possibility I can forsee Tomlin leaving. If he doesn't like it?! Oh well..


For that matter, as @SteelersFanIrl stated, Tomlin does have a no trade clause. That said, such a clause shouldn't prevent AR II from looking around. Example?!


Jacksonville Jaguars trading multiple Draft Picks for Tomlin?! Trent Baalke is the massive hurdle here though. Dude has basically ran the likes of Harbaugh and Pederson outta there.

 

Those teams did things we aren’t willing to do. They both got new HC’s and they both made major trades either upgrading the roster with AJ Brown or getting a boat load of draft picks liege Houston did trading away their franchise QB. For the Steelers to see this kind of change they need to literally trade Tomlin and or Watt and Minkah. I doubt it will happen but at this point it should.

 

You might as well fire him if you’re going to do this tbh

Putting him on the naughty step will destroy his credibility in the locker room and make results even worse.

Back your coach or move on, one or the other IMO

I don’t see a trade happening however because I doubt he will want to coach any of the teams that may want to trade for him

 

21st this year

 

Well we better find some WR gems like we used to. Question is what position do they look for in round 1, assuming one of the QB's will be back?

 

It should be CB/DB or WR but I’ll bet it’ll be a DT

That wouldn’t be a disaster by any means once the player they pick is actually good

 

Short of letting him go, this is the only way forward that isn't the status quo. We all just have to hope that Art II isn't afraid to change the staus quo. Chances are it's gonna be more half measures because the alternative is too scary.