Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger criticizes the team’s unwillingness to adapt with the rest of the NFL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have long prided themselves on running the football and playing an elite level of defense, even while the rest of the NFL has evolved into an offensive-minded, pass-happy league. Ben Roethlisberger believes the Steelers better adapt if they hope to ever compete for a Super Bowl again.
“You have to evolve. You have to evolve as a team” Roethlisberger said on the latest episode of “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.” “You can’t just assume that everybody wants to come play for the Steelers anymore like they used to. People used to want to come play for Pittsburgh because you had a chance every year to win a Super Bowl.”
The Steelers are entering a very important offseason with over $53 million in projected salary cap space and could still easily clear more than $60 million with a few more moves.
However, Roethlisberger makes a point where money alone won’t entice free agents to come to Pittsburgh. It certainly helps, but Skylar Thompson is the only quarterback signed for the 2025 season. That won’t influence any playmakers to join the Steelers in the coming weeks.
“You have one receiver. You’ve got a really good tight end. You’ve got a couple of running backs that are by committee. You’ve got a bunch of young linemen,” Roethlisberger said. “The Steelers offense is not built for anything right now. Just being honest.”
The Steelers are positioned to have the highest-paid defense once again in 2025. That seems like it shouldn’t be the case following the unit’s disappointing finish on the team’s five-game losing streak to end the 2024 season.
During that stretch, the Steelers allowed 27.4 points per game and 157.4 rushing yards per game. That’s why Roethlisberger thinks it’s time to pay some players on the offensive side of the ball.
“I know we have the highest-paid D-lineman, the highest-paid linebacker, the highest-paid safety in the league,” Roethlisberger said. “And I’m not saying those guys aren’t deserving, but that ends up taking a toll on your team when you can’t pay other guys that much money.”
Only time will tell where the Steelers will spend their money this offseason, but the first job will be to convince free agents to join them following their eighth straight year without a playoff win.
