The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their 2024 season in a brutal fashion. They lost four regular season games to close out the year and then fell short in the first round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens. Those five straight losses to finish the season left a bitter taste with fans and shook the entire organization. Because of the early exit from the playoffs, the frustration in Pittsburgh was palpable, as the team seemed to stall when it mattered most.
As the offseason has unfolded, many Steelers fans have called for significant changes, particularly to the coaching staff. However, it became clear that Head Coach Mike Tomlin would not be part of any shake-up. It also appears that both Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin will return for the 2025 season. With the current leadership staying intact, fans have been left wondering what adjustments will be made to improve the team's performance.
Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger weighed in on the situation during a recent episode of his podcast, Footbahlin. On Tuesday, Roethlisberger discussed Art Rooney II's stance on the coaching staff, offering insight into the owner’s perspective. The former quarterback expressed his thoughts on Rooney's comments.
"That feels like you're happy with what you have," Roethlisberger said. "You're just not happy with how what you have is performing… Okay, we're not getting rid of the big dog [Mike Tomlin]. We're not getting rid of the coordinators, but there's got to be a scapegoat somewhere."
Roethlisberger speculated that there has to be a scapegoat for the way the team finished off the 2024 season. However, he admitted he was unsure who that might be.
While he doesn't believe Special Teams Coach Danny Smith is the culprit, Roethlisberger did offer some guesses as to who could end up being the coaching scapegoat.
"Is that Danny Smith, the special teams coach?" Roethlisberger asked. "I don't know how you could; their special teams were unbelievable this year. Or is it like a running back coach? A tight ends coach? Check the O-line coach at some point."
It seems that any coaching changes for the Steelers are going to be minimal, a sentiment that is unlikely to sit well with fans. However, it still leaves the question of which coaches, if any, will be fired or moved on from. Roethlisberger believes that such decisions would reveal who the scapegoat is. He even mentioned Offensive Line Coach Pat Meyer, who hasn’t exactly been a fan favorite lately.
Steelers' Offensive Line Was A Let Down In 2024
Many had expected the Steelers' offensive line to make significant strides in 2024, but that didn’t quite materialize. While injuries certainly played a role, the line still struggled with penalties and faltered in critical moments of the season. Injuries alone aren't an excuse for what transpired from the Steelers' offensive line during the 2024 season.
Part of the issue can be attributed to rookies hitting a wall and wearing down, but there’s a larger concern: the offensive line simply isn’t being developed well in Pittsburgh. It's frustrating when players leave the Steelers, only to find success elsewhere. One of the more recent examples of this includes Kevin Dotson. The former Steelers guard who thrived once he got with the Los Angeles Rams. These issues are why fans have become frustrated with Meyer and other coaches. When a team loses five straight games to finish what was once a promising season, it's only natural for questions about the coaching staff to arise.
While nothing substantial has happened yet, Steelers fans remain on edge, eager to see who the scapegoat might be. Some fans believe there won't even be a scapegoat. If the Steelers don't make any changes and elect to run it back with this current staff, Steeler Nation isn't going to be inspired.
