Guess which team has the most fitting name? Easy! It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. Why? Because they’ve been stealing away their fans’ hopes for a while now. After finally making the playoffs, they didn’t stand a chance against the Ravens. Now, many fans are calling for Mike Tomlin’s exit. 18 years with the same team, yet he’s still struggling to patch the glaring weaknesses. If the Steelers want to reclaim their glory and chase a Lombardi next year, both the coaches and the fans need to take a hard look at what’s holding them back. The frustration is real, and if the Steelers don’t make changes soon, they will only continue the cycle of disappointment.

Steelers are a long way away from being a championship team. There are a lot of gaps that need to be bridged. It doesn’t matter if the offense finds its footing—without a dominant defense, Pittsburgh won’t be a serious contender. As reported by Steeler Nation, defensive lineman Keeanu Benton graded his own performance, acknowledging that he still has a long way to go. “I think there’s a lot of meat left on that bone,” he admitted. “Give myself a solid C, but I grade hard on myself. I gotta be my biggest critic to be where I want to be in the future.” While Benton has flashed potential, his production has remained stagnant, raising questions about whether he can become the difference-maker the Steelers need.

The Steelers’ defensive line? Man, it had its ups and downs, but let’s not sugarcoat it—last season was rough. Cam Heyward held it down, and Keeanu Benton showed flashes, but beyond that, the unit struggled. The run defense got gashed too often, and the pass rush lacked consistency outside of T.J. Watt. Depth was a major issue, especially when Heyward missed time, exposing the lack of reliable playmakers. Without a strong push-up front, opposing offenses took full advantage, leaving the linebackers in tough spots. Benton has seen firsthand what a dominant D-line looks like, saying, “I had trouble with Philadelphia before.” Pittsburgh must reach that level to make their defensive front feared again.

Hey, we know it’s been a rough phase for the Steelers, but you know what? It’s not just about talent—it’s about belief, and Benton clearly has that in Mike Tomlin. He praised his coach, saying, “Mike Tomlin is a great personable coach… I feel like I’m blessed to have got drafted by the Steelers and to be coached under Mike Tomlin.” That kind of leadership keeps a team steady, even in transition. The Steelers aren’t far off, but they need smart decisions—adding a young run-stopper, securing another pass rusher, and letting Benton develop into a force. If all of Tomlin’s moves hit, this defense could bounce back fast.

What major changes is Mike Tomlin making to shake up the Steelers?

Mike Tomlin once set the standard in Pittsburgh, but that standard is now being put to the test. After another early playoff exit—the sixth in a row—Tomlin is under the microscope, and even a Super Bowl commercial took a jab at his famous motto. Now, change was bound to happen, and Tomlin himself acknowledged it in his season wrap-up. “Certainly, there’s change that comes with this time of year,” he admitted. But instead of addressing major problems like the offensive line, the Steelers surprisingly parted ways with two promising defensive coaches—right in the midst of also cutting veteran pass rusher Preston Smith.

That decision raised eyebrows, especially since neither coach was seen as a weak link. Aaron Curry helped turn Patrick Queen into a Pro Bowler and prepped rookie Payton Wilson for the NFL. Grady Brown, meanwhile, molded Joey Porter Jr. into a lockdown corner, holding quarterbacks to a 16.5 rating—the second-best in the league. Yet both were let go, while Pat Meyer, whose offensive line struggled all season, still has his job. And with Preston Smith gone after barely making an impact, Pittsburgh freed up $13.4M in 2025 and $14.1M in 2026—maybe signaling more moves ahead.

Now, with Curry landing with the Jets and the Steelers still searching for a replacement, the direction of this overhaul remains unclear. The team brought in Gerald Alexander as the new DB coach—a solid move—but why not just keep Brown? Meanwhile, Meyer remains in charge of the O-line despite its struggles, making Tomlin’s approach feel even more puzzling. If this was meant to be the big offseason shake-up, it’s hard to see how it brings the Steelers closer to real contention.