The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season ended on a sour note Saturday with a 28-14 loss to the division rival Baltimore Ravens, their fifth straight loss following a 10-3 start to the year.
Although it was the team’s fourth playoff appearance in the past five seasons, the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, so don’t expect Pittsburgh to run the same team back in 2025 — head coach Mike Tomlin even said as much in his season-ending press conference on Tuesday.
The Steelers notably have a number of key players, especially on offense, who are set to hit free agency this spring.
Both quarterbacks — Russell Wilson and Justin Fields — will be unrestricted free agents, along with running back Najee Harris, who had a team-leading 1,043 yards rushing, and cornerback Donte Jackson, who posted a team-leading five interceptions.
With more than $52 million in salary cap space (ninth-most in the league), they’ll have options.
After moving on from 2022 first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett in the offseason, the Steelers seemingly found the next gear on offense with the new additions of Fields and Wilson.
Through Week 14, Pittsburgh averaged 24.8 points per game and rushed for at least 110 yards in 12 of those 13 contests.
The Steelers’ schedule at the end of the season, though, was brutal. Facing four playoffs teams and the resurgent Cincinnati Bengals, their scoring dropped by more than 10 in their final five games, and they did not top 17 points.
The wild-card round loss to the Ravens on Saturday was particularly tough, with just 29 total rushing yards, 11 first downs (one better than their season-low), and a 21-0 halftime deficit.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Tomlin was open to Wilson or Fields returning but would not commit to either.
The Steelers are set to pick 22nd overall in the 2025 draft, which is not exactly a prime spot to land a franchise quarterback. But as Tomlin pointed out, many of the league’s best quarterbacks — namely Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts — were taken 32nd overall or later.
As for the coaching staff, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has reportedly received interviews for the Bears and Jets’ head-coach openings. There’s also been speculation that a rival team could try and trade for Tomlin, who has been in Pittsburgh for 18 years without a losing season, though that theory doesn’t seem to have any merit.
