The Pittsburgh Steelers were once always considered a Super Bowl contender. However, they have not had playoff success over the last eight years and have not won a playoff game since January 15, 2017.
They were once again trounced in the wild-card round. It was an awful effort by the Steelers as they let Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson run all over them. Pittsburgh got pushed around and manhandled.
Mike Tomlin held a press conference three days after the loss, and it did nothing to ensure Steeler fans the team would get on the right track.
More information came out that makes the Steelers and Tomlin look bad.
Below, we discuss Mike Tomlin dodging questions about George Pickens being late to a game and reports that Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith did not have a good working relationship.
Mike Tomlin Dodges Question About George Pickens Being Late To Christmas Day Game
During his end-of-season press conference, Mike Tomlin was asked about George Pickens being late to the Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tomlin responded by saying “I really don’t know if I have an answer to that. I have a lot going on pregame. I can’t answer that definitively.”
Mike Tomlin's response to @TimBenzPGH question on if George Pickens was late to the Christmas Day game.
First reported by @MikeDeFabo @WTAE pic.twitter.com/7jKG3Huq7W
— Ashley Liotus (@AshleyLiotus) January 14, 2025
This is a horrible answer by a head coach. It makes him look foolish and clueless about his team.
Tomlin is either not telling the truth and he knew about it or he is clueless.
George Pickens has been a headache for the Steelers but Tomlin constantly lets him get away with everything.
While Pickens is the most talented wide receiver on the Steelers, he also hurts the team with his childish antics.
The Steelers should let Pickens walk and draft another WR as Pickens is not a long-term solution.
Russell Wilson & Arthur Smith Did Not Have Good Working Relationship
Another bit of information that came out after the Steelers once again did not win a playoff game was a rocky work relationship between Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Steelers correspondent Mark Kaboly said “Reports surfaced during the year that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith preferred Fields over Wilson but that was never substantiated. Still, despite Wilson and Smith spending countless hours together after the typical workday watching film and publicly joking about it, a team source recently said that Wilson and Smith did not have a very good working relationship but fought through their differences as best they could.”
𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧: #Steelers QB Russell Wilson and OC Arthur Smith reportedly had trouble working with one another, with unsubstantiated rumors that Smith preferred Justin Fields, per @MarkKaboly
“Reports surfaced during the year that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith preferred… pic.twitter.com/PhDqos02jE
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 15, 2025
The Steelers were 4-2 when Mike Tomlin decided to bench Justin Fields in favor of Wilson. The decision looked like it was the correct one early on but as the season went on, the Steelers’ offensive issues became glaring.
Would the Steelers have fared better if Fields remained the starter? It is unlikely. There are a ton of issues with the Steelers besides poor QB play. Also, Fields is not an improvement over Wilson but he is capable of doing more with his legs. The results would have been the same whether Fields or Wilson was the starter.
Still, it is important to note the starting QB and offensive coordinator did not see eye to eye.
Pittsburgh is in a horrible spot once again. They need to find a long-term solution at the QB position. The coaching staff is lost and the Steelers refuse to part ways with Tomlin.
Through the eight-year playoff drought, the one constant is Mike Tomlin. Until the Steelers finally decide enough is enough with Tomlin, they will continue to come up short.
