Dolphins vs. Steelers preview: Is Mike Tomlin on the hot seat? Understanding Pittsburgh’s 2025 season

The Miami Dolphins put their four-game winning streak on the line this week when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Week 15 Monday Night Football showdown. The Dolphins are attempting to make an improbable return to playoff contention after a 1-6 start to the year has turned into a 6-7 record ahead of this week’s game.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, have been up and down all year. They started the year with three wins in four weeks, but after their Week 5 bye, they have gone 4-5 and have not recorded back-to-back wins. They did pull off a 27-22 victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week to push themselves into the lead in the AFC North, however, and could continue to strengthen their position with a win on Monday.

As part of our preview of this week’s Dolphins game, I turned to Behind the Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s Steelers team site, to get a closer look at Pittsburgh. Contributing author Ryan Parish was kind enough to answer my questions about the Steelers. Make sure you check out my side of the conversation, previewing the Dolphins for Parish, as well.

The Steelers are such a confusing team this year. One week, it seems like Mike Tomlin is on the hot seat and might be fired. The next week, they are leading the AFC North and in a prime position to make the playoffs. Then it all swaps again. How are fans really feeling about the Steelers this season and how secure is Tomlin’s job?

Unfortunately, this is nothing new for Steelers fans, as the organization has been tr1apped in its own bizarre version of Groundhog Day since at least 2019. As made clear by recent chants of “Fire Tomlin” and the booing of the song “Renegade” a previously beloved tradition, fans’ have never been more unified in their frustration with Mike Tomlin. There have always been some bad-faith actors who have opposed Tomlin’s hiring from the beginning, but even longtime Tomlin defenders such as myself have begun to feel the time for change has arrived. Tomlin is an all-time great coach, but in recent years he’s made some questionable staffing hires, and he seems opposed to adapting to recent schematic and analytic developments in the game. It’s this lack of adaptation that has officially worn down some of his defenders. That said, the Steelers’ front office is the most patient in the league. I get the sense that Tomlin will remain in Pittsburgh until his contract is up or he decides he’s ready to hang it up.

This probably plays into the ups and downs of the Steelers’ season, but the defense has not been as strong as expected this year, and now you have T.J. Watt landing in the hospital with a lung issue. What are your expectations for this week defensively for Pittsburgh, and what has and hasn’t worked this year?

First and foremost, I’m hoping Watt’s injury is one he is able to recover quickly from. As...