Mike Tomlin isn’t going anywhere. The Steelers, who barely managed to reach the finish line, were crushed 28-14 by the Ravens. Despite the ending to an already disappointing season, it seems like Pittsburgh decided to keep Mike, once again. It is their eighth time under the HC, as they’ve been done and dusted in the postseason. He is the same coach who led the team to the Super Bowl title in 2008-09. These kinds of scenarios can erode the respect between a coach and the player as well.

It seems like not only the results but also Mike Tomlin’s control over his players is slipping away. Wide receiver George Pickens made headlines for all the wrong reasons this Christmas Day. In a recent X post by Steelers Depot, an incident sparked disappointment among both fans and teammates. The caption read, “George Pickens Arrived Late For Christmas Day Game.” Pickens, who signed a 4-year, $6 million contract, is now facing questions about his professionalism and commitment to the team.

Honestly, this is not the first time that Pickens has been under the behavioral radar. He argued with Steelers fans during the Week 18 game and received a hefty fine of $22,511 for his actions in the same game. It happened in the fourth quarter when he grabbed Bengals’ CB Cam Taylor by the facemask. There was a finger gun celebration incident as well, for which he received a penalty, again. When asked in a post-game conference about this, Mike Tomlin commented, “He’s gotta grow up.”

After the recent loss, reporters asked him in a post-game conference if he felt optimistic about moving forward. The 23-year-old gave a blunt one-word response for the O-line led by Russell Wilson, “Nah.” And you can’t blame Pickens for calling it as he sees it. With 2,500 yards and 16 TDs, his efforts weren’t enough to carry the team. There’s a lot happening within the team right now, and the solution lies in standing together rather than falling apart.

Is everyone in the Steelers’ locker room like George Pickens?

Not everyone is ready to put their weapons down yet. Unlike George Pickens, Russell Wilson is optimistic for another ride, even if it’s going to be a tough one. In a recent X post by 93.7 The Fan, Russell clearly said, “That’s the plan. I love it here and everything else, and I think we have a great football team.” That’s a true sportsman right there, who took the loss like a champ. Wilson believes in Mike Tomlin’s Steelers and knows that there is still unfinished business.

Following in his footsteps, TJ Watt is also standing tall for his team. Watt made it clear that he’s not looking to leave anytime soon, stating,  “I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, you guys know that. I don’t want to leave this place. I want to be a part of the solution.” Even after that loss, look at how confident TJ Watt is. He’s the franchise’s all-time sack leader with 108. With one year left on his contract and a cap hit over $30 million, Watt is positioned for a new deal this offseason. With players like TJ and Wilson, there is still hope for the Steelers to bounce back.