Around a month ago, I wrote a piece explaining how the Pittsburgh Steelers were seemingly stuck in a philosophical rut when it came to building their roster, specifically on offense in an ever-evolving NFL. The team’s unwillingness to upset the apple cart by moving on from failed draft picks and/or coaching hires until absolutely necessary likely set the team back years.

Then, the new league year hit. Much like the 30-year-old dad who vows to get back in the gym on January 1st, the Steelers Front Office seemingly made some New Year’s Resolutions of their own, starting by putting Tomlin’s famous, “ volunteers, not hostages” quote in full effect.

Are you a WR who tends to pout and be complacent? You’re gone! A young QB not willing to compete with a proven veteran passer? See ya! Mike Tomlin isn’t pacifying contrary personalities anymore, especially from non-franchise players. If you don’t want to be here, you won’t be.

Hand-in-hand with that updated philosophy comes the resolution to be aggressive in adding talent to the roster. Omar Khan is proving to be both cunning and unconventional, and it’s all Steelers fans are talking about.

The first shrewd venture was cashing in on the best value contract in the league by bringing in Russell Wilson on the Broncos dime. If Russ has anything left in the tank, it’s a slam dunk move.

The shrewdness continued with two corresponding trades, sending Kenny Pickett to Philadelphia and acquiring Justin Fields from the Bears. I haven’t even mentioned the team adding the top ILB in Free Agency in Patrick Queen from the rival Ravens or landing a solid CB2 in Donte Jackson at a discount in the trade of Diontae Johnson.

Maybe we should’ve seen something like this coming after Khan’s first year running the show netted pick 32 overall (and eventually CB Joey Porter Jr.) from those same Bears for WR Chase Claypool and a 1st round trade-up to select the LT of the future in Broderick Jones.

It appears a new age has come in Pittsburgh. The question now is what sparked this about-face in philosophy?

First, there were the pointed comments from Steelers owner Art Rooney II when he stated that he’s tired of losing in the playoffs. Many have labeled that as the catalyst for the sweeping changes to the team’s approach this offseason.

One could also make the argument that the team’s change of heart wasn’t made by choice, but out of necessity. That it was incumbent upon Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan to rid themselves of the discontented voices in the locker room and start fresh for 2024.

As is usually the case, the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. The fact is, Art Rooney II has been very involved in high profile decisions in recent years. Rumors have swirled about Rooney’s inhibitions when it comes to hiring big-ticket coaches, and it’s also very likely he had a say in the team’s drafting of Pitt product Kenny Pickett.

The tone changed with the hiring of Arthur Smith. It’s fairly common knowledge that it was Rooney who wanted Matt Canada back in 2023, despite Tomlin’s preference to go another direction. This time, Rooney made it clear that Smith was Tomlin’s decision, as if letting us know who’s calling the shots from here on out in 2024 and who to blame if it fails. Based on these revelations and suspicions, it seems clear to me what the big change this offseason is:

This is 100% Mike Tomlin’s team.

Mike Tomlin has a vision for getting the Steelers back in Super Bowl contention. He tells the Front Office what he wants, and Omar Khan makes it happen. Whether it will work remains to be seen, but it’s pretty obvious that he’s been given the freedom to call all the shots this offseason.

Many of Tomlin’s biggest critics will likely scoff at the notion that he hasn’t been fully in control for a long while now. But the evidence suggests that the buck hasn’t always stopped with him.

I do believe that Tomlin was willing and ready to give Kenny Pickett one final chance in 2024, but the idea was to really push him to show he can be more than a replacement-level fringe starter. Bringing in Russell Wilson set the bar of expectations for Pickett, but the 3rd year passer decided that he should be given the first shot over Wilson, despite the latter’s far more accomplished resume. Tomlin couldn’t agree to that, and Pickett decided he wanted out.

Who’s “fault” it is that this saga played out this way is a whole other discussion, but the fact is Pickett (and Diontae Johnson to a lesser extent) forced Tomlin’s hand, and so the Tomlin-led philosophy shift got expedited and both players were shipped out of town and their replacements found.

In the end, it turns out the “Philosophical Rut” I referenced a month ago was actually, in my opinion, an ownership issue. Now free to work their magic, Tomlin plus Khan is proving to be a more forward way of operating so far, and it’s been fun to watch.

Here’s hoping it turns into playoff success sooner rather than later.