It’s never a piece I look forward to writing because it’s been 15 years since I was able to write this in February. Once again however, I’m writing this in January after yet another first round playoff exit. Here are my five predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Offseason based on the belief that Mike Tomlin will indeed return.
Pat Meyer is Replaced as the Offensive Line Coach
The offensive line has regressed this season. We can point to injuries and those are fair, but other teams deal with the same things and continue to improve. Meyer’s group has suffered from the same problems week in and week out. Miscommunication, poor technique and a real lack of cohesion have doomed him.
With an incredibly young unit, the Steelers would be best suited bringing in a veteran offensive line coach. No, I don’t anticipate it being Mike Munchak, but someone of that variety is needed and the Steelers should not be cheap about it either.
QB Purgatory Will Continue
Russell Wilson should not be returning to this organization. The money he will demand is not worth what he will produce. In the games that followed his ascension to the starting job, he was really good, but then the tape was out there. Coordinators took away his first option and forced him to scramble behind a line that was already struggling to protect him.
Justin Fields remains a better option in terms of cost and ability to make plays with his feet. That said, Fields is what he is and I don’t see him getting any better in terms of reading defenses etc. I suspect he will be their prime target to return but either way, purgatory remains. Fields is not a long-term solution and the free agents that will be available will either be too pricey, won’t fit what the Steelers do or both.
George Pickens Will Be Traded
You do not win with guys like George Pickens. You will win some games because of his physical gifts but you aren’t winning championships. He is toxic. He is immature and the Steelers knew this when they drafted him. It has not gotten better.
Players who avoid the media are one thing. Players who do it routinely and who almost seem to “enjoy” it are another thing altogether. Much like I wrote about with Tomlin, Pickens needs to go to a place where he will fit in better. Tomlin can handle and juggle a lot of different personalities but sometimes there are those that aren’t worth it any longer.
There will be numerous teams interested in his services and with the Steelers in need of help at many different positions, added draft capital will help with that.
Cam Heyward Will Retire
Very few professional athletes get to walk away from the game by going out on top. Jerome Bettis and John Elway are the exceptions rather than the rules. Cam Heyward will at least be able to say that he went out as a first team All-Pro which was an honor he was most certainly deserving.
Heyward, like most of us, has to see the writing on the wall. Half of this roster is not under contract meaning there will be a lot of turnover and just as importantly, the QB situation is once again going to be in flux. He will have endless opportunities in television and beyond so as Chuck Noll used to say, “It’s time to get on with his life’s work.”
Teryl Austin is Out as the Defensive Coordinator
When you lose five straight games… Have the league’s most expensive defense… And underperform at every key phase of the season, then there has to be a scapegoat. Austin will be just that even if it isn’t entirely on him.
Mike Tomlin has hands all over this defense. I guarantee it will be one of the things he’s told he must relinquish for next season but we aren’t there yet. Where we are is on the sidelines again, another one and done and another uninspiring defensive performance. No, Austin probably deserving of being the fall guy but that’s what happens in this business and he knows – he’s been there before.
