Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison thinks massive changes need to be made after the Steelers’ embarrassing 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night loss.
“Things gotta get changed, people gotta go,” Harrison said on the Deebo and Joe podcast. “Highest-paid, 30th ranked defense don’t match. I don’t know what needs to happen, but we need to go on ahead and maybe redo this whole thing and get something else going.”
Deebo isn’t taking the Steelers loss too well 😂@jharrison9292 @joehaden23 #DeeboAndJoe pic.twitter.com/0GycHGoJ5r
— Deebo & Joe (@deeboandjoe) October 27, 2025
The Steelers currently rank 30th in total defense. They’re on track to be the worst in franchise history. The record is the Steelers’ 5-11 1988 season when they ranked 28th in total defense.
The Steelers have stars at every level of their defense, and that had head coach Mike Tomlin believing the group can be very special in 2025. That certainly hasn’t been the case for the highest-paid defense in the NFL.
“We feel really good about the prospects of this group. We do,” Tomlin told the DVE Morning Show in August. “We’ve got to write that story. We’ve got enough talent, we’ve got enough schematics to do big, big things. When I say big things, I’m talking about historic things.”
The Steelers have been historic, but not in the way they envisioned. The Steelers have allowed 30+ points in four of their seven games this season. That hasn’t occurred for the Steelers since 2003.
The Steelers are not going to fire Tomlin, but defensive coordinator Teryl Austin should be on the hot seat.
Worst total defense rank for Steelers in franchise history
2025 30th
1988 28th
2021 24th
1991 22nd
1981 22nd pic.twitter.com/wkMLW5sxmO— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 27, 2025
Packers quarterback Jordan Love made NFL history in Sunday night’s 35-25 win. Love became the first quarterback to have completed 20 passes in a row, thrown for 350 or more yards, throw three or more touchdowns, and have zero turnovers and sacks.
Love’s 20 straight completions tied a franchise record with Brett Favre (set in 2007). Love finished 29 of 37 for 360 with three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 134.2.
Things won’t get easier for the defense, either. They’ll get the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts and MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor next Sunday. Taylor has three scrimmage touchdowns in four of his eight games this season.
The Colts rank first in total offense and are No. 1 in scoring offense.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Legend Calls for Massive Changes after Embarrassing Loss to Packers: ‘People Gotta Go’
