Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison did not hold back on the Steelers’ coaching staff after Sunday’s 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears. The same issues keep on popping up for the Steelers, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Steelers have given up 30-plus points five times this season, the first time that’s happened since 2013.
“Defense. Soft. I’m tired of seeing the offensive lineman pushing our defensive line 2-3 yards,” Harrison said on the Deebo & Joe podcast.. “We’re undisciplined, poorly coached, or both. We have a horrible defensive scheme. It’s trash, it’s garbage. We can’t adjust.
“We just sit there and stare at the quarterback. We’re situationally trash.”
The crashout we’ve all been waiting for. Deebo doesn’t hold back on the Steelers 🤬 @jharrison9292 @joehaden23 #DeeboAndJoe pic.twitter.com/C061e00doB
— Deebo & Joe (@deeboandjoe) November 24, 2025
Harrison also ripped offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for having tight end Darnell Washington block Bears edge rusher Montez Sweat. Sweat beat Washington twice for a sack, the second one resulting in a fumble and turnover.
“It’s a sack/fumble because somebody decided to leave the tight end one-on-one with the same dude that caused a sack before that he was playing against,” Harrison said. “Why are we letting, he’s a tight end for a reason. I don’t give a damn if he’s 311 (pounds). 311 don’t mean nothing if he can’t block. Why are we letting the tight end go one on one with the same dude that beat him on a sack the sack before?”
MONTEZ SWEAT STRIP SACK 💪
PITvsCHI on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/SmkZI1N2Aq
— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2025
Harrison makes valid points. The Steelers were certainly not a buttoned-up team on Sunday. The schematics and lack of discipline continue to be an issue. Mike Tomlin, Teryl Austin and Arthur Smith all are at fault.
The Steelers made several mistakes that simply should have not happened — the failed tush push attempt with Connor Heyward on fourth-and-1, the illegal formation penalty late in the game that negated a 22-yard Mason Rudolph run, playing Cover 3 against four verts on D.J. Moore’s 25-yard touchdown, deploying nickel with two defensive tackles on Kyle Monangai’s 2-yard touchdown run.
.@steelers @ChicagoBears 3-2+2. 24-21 game. Bears go 11 personnel on the +2….Steelers go "nickel" with 2 defensive tackles to a team that loves to run on 3rd down….Things that make you go hmmmmmm #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/BNc9tgJfVS
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 24, 2025
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: James Harrison Blasts Steelers’ Coaches for Garbage Schemes: ‘It’s Trash’
