Entering Week 15, the Pittsburgh Steelers were coming off back-to-back humiliating losses against the Arizona Cardinals and the New England Patriots. Mike Tomlin knew full well what was on the line in Week 15. The Steelers were one of six teams in the AFC knotted at 7-6, and dropping the ball on their third straight game could prove to be catastrophic to their 2023 season.
Things started off well for the Steelers against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 13-0 lead and had the momentum on their side. But everything flipped on a moment's notice and the Steelers went on to surrender 30 straight points in the three-score loss to QB Garner Minshew and company.
Enough is enough. Fans can no longer sit through and stomach such wretched performances and the head coach needs to be accountable. Here are three reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers need to be done with Mike Tomlin when this disappointing 2023 season comes to an end.
1. The Steelers have gone downhill every year since 2017
Mike Tomlin's Steelers were at their best way back in his first few years as head coach (which started in 2007). After inheriting Bill Cowher's team, Tomlin won a Super Bowl in his second season as Pittsburgh's head coach. Though he has been able to go all this time without a losing record, the Steelers have essentially gone downhill in every season since 2017.
This might not be reflected in their record. On paper, Pittsburgh did have an impressive 12-4 season in 2020, but that team wasn't nearly as good as their record would suggest and all they did was beat up on backup quarterbacks. Over the past four years, this team has declined sharply. The offense continues to get progressively worse and their defense -- which was once a top unit in the league -- has been exposed routinely this year.
With the loss to the Colts, Tomlin is proving that he can't overcome injuries or talent deficiencies like he used to in order to rally the troops to victory. This has arguably been the most pitiful stretch of his coaching year, and there are no signs that it's going to get better anytime soon.