The Pittsburgh Steelers' front office has just given Mike Tomlin the gift of a lifetime, or the final test of his tenure. Omar Khan gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a historic offseason, and Mike Tomlin has everything he needs to kick the toxic narrative.
Tomlin’s streak of winning seasons kept him afloat, but the grumblings were growing louder. The calls for real change could no longer be ignored, and General Manager Omar Khan heard them loud and clear.
What followed was the most aggressive and unpredictable offseason in franchise history.
It started with a roster purge. Pittsburgh parted ways with Najee Harris, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson—three names that carried plenty of offseason hype but ultimately delivered too little. The moves were surprising, even jarring, but they signaled a clear shift: sentiment was out, urgency was in.
Then came the fireworks. In March, Khan pulled off his first major splash by trading a second-round pick to Seattle for DK Metcalf.
The two-time Pro Bowler immediately became the most dangerous weapon in the Steelers’ offense and was rewarded with a four-year, $132 million deal—the richest contract in franchise history at the time.
But Khan wasn’t done.
Omar Khan is giving Mike Tomlin all the tools for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win now
A few weeks later, Pittsburgh finalized a deal with four-time All-Pro quarterback Aaron Rodgers, signing him to a one-year, $13.65 million contract. That gave the team veteran leadership under center—something it desperately lacked.
June brought even more drama. The Steelers traded star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and draft capital to land tight end Jonnu Smith and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Dolphins. Ramsey, still one of the best in the game, inked a four-year, $84.7 million extension, with $19.5 million guaranteed in 2025.
Smith’s arrival added toughness and flexibility to an evolving offense.
Then came the final piece: T.J. Watt. The heart and soul of Pittsburgh’s defense agreed to a three-year, $123 million extension, with $108 million guaranteed. With that deal, the Steelers didn’t just lock in their defensive leader—they completed one of the most aggressive rebuilds in recent memory.
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The message is loud and clear: this team is built to win now.
And if they don’t? Then, for the first time in his career, Mike Tomlin’s future should be on the table.
I respect everything Tomlin has done—183 wins, zero losing seasons—but this roster is different. It’s loaded with All-Pros, veterans, and game-changers. If this team underperforms, the blame can't be pinned on talent.
For Tomlin, this is a make-or-break year. The excuses are gone. The standard remains. And now, so does the expectation.