Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is making NFL history for all of the wrong reasons.
The Pittsburgh Steelers believed they had the chance to be a historic defense this season, and that’s exactly what they have been, but not for good reasons.
During the Steelers’ 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, they allowed one of the most embarrassing plays in recent memory.
Trailing 24-17 late in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh gave up a 19-yard rushing touchdown to Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III on a 3rd-and-goal from the 19-yard line.
According to Seattle beat reporter Brian Nemhauser, it was the first time such a play has occurred in NFL history.
How rare was that Ken Walker III TD run against the Steelers?
No player had ever scored a TD on a run of 19+ yards in a 3rd or 4th and goal-to-go situation in NFL history, per @Stathead pic.twitter.com/IdNQ0Q9usl
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) September 15, 2025
That wasn’t the only play Walker had his way with the Steelers’ defense on Sunday, either.
The fourth-year running back finished the afternoon with an impressive 105 rushing yards on just 13 carries (8.1 yards per carry) and one touchdown. He also reeled in another catch for 13 yards.
It’s been a rough start to the season for Pittsburgh’s rushing defense. The unit also allowed New York Jets running back Breece Hall to rack up over 100 yards on the ground last week.
Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it’s only the second time in head coach Mike Tomlin’s 19-year tenure that the Steelers have allowed 100-yard rushers in each of their first two games.
Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, it’s woes don’t stop there. Sunday’s loss also marked the first time under Tomlin that the team allowed at least 31 points in the opening two games of the season. The last time was in 1989 when the Steelers opened the season with back-to-back losses of 51-0 and 41-10.
It hasn’t been a pretty start for Pittsburgh, but it will hope to get back on track when it goes back on the road in Week 3 to take on the New England Patriots (1-1).
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Allow Embarrassing NFL History vs. Seahawks
