Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, in the middle of his 19th season leading the team, has famously never finished with a record under .500.
But on Sunday, during the Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh fans were heard chanting for Tomlin to be fired, anyway. The team fell to 6-6 with the listless defeat, threatening both its playoff hopes and Tomlin’s non-losing season streak.
“I share their frustration tonight,” Tomlin said when he was asked about the chants. “We didn’t do enough. That’s just the reality of it.”
The main culprit for Pittsburgh’s loss was its moribund offense, which managed to gain only 166 total yards. It was responsible for only seven points, the same as the Bills’ defense, which scored on a fumble return for a touchdown of its own.
The head of the Steelers’ attack — or lack of one — is 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who looked every bit his age Sunday. Rodgers completed only 10 of 21 passes for a 47.6% completion percentage with no touchdowns. He also coughed up the fumble that led to the Bills’ defensive score.
The struggles continued a worrisome downward trend for Rodgers.
After having started the season with a 4-1 record, he is only 2-4 in his last six starts. He also missed a game because of a fractured left wrist. Rodgers played with the injury Sunday, wearing a cast on his wrist, though his performance suggested the team may have been better off sitting him another week.
A season after the Steelers faltered down the stretch with Russell Wilson, Rodgers was supposed to be the veteran quarterback who could be a stabilizing force. Instead, in some ways, he has been even worse this season than in his forgettable 2024 campaign with the New York Jets.
Rodgers is averaging 189.6 yards per game passing, by far the lowest mark of his career and the first time he has averaged under 200 yards a game since he became a full-time starter (excluding his four-play 2023 season, which ended with a torn Achilles). His QBR of 40.4 is also on pace to be a career low.
Asked about the poor showing after the game, Rodgers at least partially deflected some of the blame.
“When there’s film sessions, everyone shows up. When I check to a route, run the right route,” Rodgers said when he was asked how to revive the passing game.
He was defensive of Tomlin, however, saying he wouldn’t “go down that road” when he was asked whether coaching played a role in the loss.
“I believe in the coaching staff. I believe in Mike Tomlin,” Rodgers said. “That’s why I came here. And players need to take accountability, myself included, and I will continue to.”
In the meantime, the pressure is turning up in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers started the season 4-1 but have lost five of their last seven games. After having led the AFC North, Pittsburgh has allowed the once 1-5 Baltimore Ravens to catch it in the standings. The loss to Buffalo also dropped the Steelers two games behind the final playoff spot in the conference.
As far as Tomlin’s job security goes, there are no reports of any kind of imminent firing. The fans’ impatience most likely stretches far beyond only what happened Sunday, however, as the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016, and this year’s team has hardly resembled of late one that could break that streak.
Rodgers was supposed to be the quarterback who settled down the franchise. Instead, even as he has avoided any off-field drama this season, he has brought more angst to a team that now desperately needs a strong finish to the season.
