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Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
Offensive Coordinator: Arthur Smith
Defensive Coordinator: Teryl Austin
Special Teams Coordinator: Danny Smith
QB Aaron Rodgers
RB Kaleb Johnson (3rd Rd, 83rd Overall)
RB Kenneth Gainwell
WR D.K. Metcalf
TE Jonnu Smith
DL Derrick Harmon (1st Rd, 21st Overall)
DL Daniel Ekuale
DL Yahya Black (5th Rd, 164th Overall)
EDGE Jack Sawyer (4th Rd, 123rd Overall)
LB Malik Harrison
CB Darius Slay
CB Jalen Ramsey
CB Brandin Echols
S Juan Thornhill
S Chuck Clark
QB Russell Wilson
QB Justin Fields
RB Najee Harris
WR George Pickens
WR Van Jefferson
TE MyCole Pruitt
LT Dan Moore Jr.
DL Larry Ogunjobi
LB Elandon Roberts
CB Donte Jackson
CB Cameron Sutton
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
S Damontae Kazee
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2024 season on a strong note, winning their first three games against the Falcons, Broncos, and Chargers — their first 3–0 start since 2020. Their defense set the tone early, holding opponents to 10 points or fewer in each contest and showcasing the trademark toughness that has long defined Mike Tomlin’s teams. The early success gave fans hope that Pittsburgh could reassert itself as one of the AFC’s top contenders after a few years of inconsistency.
Justin Fields started the season as the starting quarterback with Russell Wilson, former Seahawks and Broncos quarterback, nursing a calk injury through the first six weeks. As the season progressed, the Steelers faced some adversity but managed to keep themselves in the playoff mix with Fields and Wilson.
A narrow loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4 snapped their unbeaten streak, but the team responded well and climbed to a 10–3 record by early December. At that point, they looked like one of the more balanced and disciplined teams in the conference with Kansas City, Buffalo, and Baltimore.
Offensively, the Steelers were efficient but unspectacular, averaging 22.4 points per game, right in the middle of the league. Russell Wilson, who made his first start in week seven, started the remainder of the season and threw 16 touchdowns, while Justin Fields contributed 10 total touchdowns in his starts.
The offense leaned heavily on its ground game and heavier personnel groupings, reflecting a run-first philosophy that often limited explosive plays but helped control the clock. Still, the unit’s inconsistency on third downs and red-zone inefficiency prevented it from taking the next step. The offense ranked 20th overall in EPA/play (19th in passing efficiency, 24th in run game efficiency).
The defense remained the Steelers’ backbone throughout the year. The unit ranked in the top half of the league in points allowed and excelled at generating turnovers, finishing with 33 takeaways. T.J. Watt continued to anchor the pass rush with another double-digit sack season, while Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joey Porter Jr. helped stabilize the secondary.
Even as injuries mounted late in the year, the defense kept the team competitive in most games, often compensating for the offense’s lack of production.The defense...
