Steelers Now
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff sounded off on the direction of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. He thinks it’s just the same thing every year. Mike Tomlin gets the Steelers to 10-7 or 9-8 and they go one and done in the playoffs.
Middlekauff thinks the rails might finally come off this year, however, and Mike Tomlin will have his first losing season.
“Isn’t it fair to ask ourselves, is it finally time?” Middlekauff asked Wednesday on his 3 and Out podcast in regard to Tomlin’s future with the team. “If you’re Mike, like, why do you want to continue this? Why do you want to go along with a team that needs to be blown up, more than likely? That, even if you’re able to get to 10 wins and get to the first round, you’re going to be one and done. You have a 41-year-old quarterback. So there is no future. You got old guys. Even the best player on your team [Watt] is kind of hit or miss now.”
The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016, the longest playoff win drought for the franchise since pre-1972. To say the least, the fanbase has been restless over the lack of playoff success.
The Steelers came into the season with expectations of having a “historic” defense. It’s been anything but that. They can’t stop a nosebleed right now.
The Steelers defense is on track to be the worst in franchise history. They currently rank 30th in total defense (386.0 yards per game) and dead last in pass defense (273.3 yards per game). They also haven’t forced a turnover since the Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland.
“Anytime you have an atrocious defense, you can lose to anybody,” Middlekauff said. “Feels like it’s probably gonna happen again. And then you got the Bills not far away. And obviously, if you can’t beat the Ravens, what’s the point? Isn’t it just time to just nuke this thing?”
Tomlin’s contract runs through the 2027 season, so it would be shocking if Art Rooney II fires Tomlin. The Steelers do not like to pay coaches who are no longer with the team. Tomlin stepping down could also be an option, but it seems very unlikely.
It appears the organization will allow Tomlin another chance at selecting a franchise quarterback, which is expected to come in the 2026 NFL Draft this spring in Pittsburgh.
If it’s another Kenny Pickett experience, it seems logical that parting ways with Tomlin would then occur.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former NFL Scout Thinks Steelers Have No Future: ‘Time to Just Nuke This Thing’
