This season with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a rollercoaster, filled with highs, lows, and plenty of reflection. At their best, the Steelers showed flashes of being a solid football team—but not a great one. That 10-3 start? It was the product of a soft schedule, and honestly, it gave all of us—myself included—a false sense of just how good this team was. Once we started facing top-tier competition, the cracks in the armor became impossible to ignore.

With Russell Wilson under center for most of the season, we handled the teams we were supposed to beat. But of the six losses during his starts, four came against opponents widely considered Super Bowl favorites. That tells you everything you need to know about where we stand. We’re in the upper half of the league, but clearly not ready to hang with the heavyweights.

Had the schedule been shuffled differently—same record, just a different path to get there—I think the narrative about this team would feel less harsh. In my opinion, a late season “collapse”, that we weren’t able to recovered from, created the perception that things were worse than they actually were.

On offense, it wasn’t as much about the scheme as it was about talent—or the lack thereof. Russell Wilson had his moments, but too often, it wasn’t enough. Outside of George Pickens—an absolute stud who missed games during a tough stretch—we didn’t have another receiver who could realistically start on most other teams. The offensive line showed potential but was a work in progress all year: a rookie center, a rookie guard forced into action by injury, a second-year tackle, and a first-round tackle who couldn’t suit up. That’s a lot of moving parts for any offensive line to overcome.

On defense, it was frustrating to see so much talent underutilized. A dynamic playmaker like Minkah Fitzpatrick, earning nearly $20 million a year, was relegated to playing as a deep center fielder. While Fitzpatrick did his job well, he could have been utilized in a far more impactful role. The front seven, which should’ve been a dominant force, was held back by a scheme that felt unimaginative. The pass rush was predictable, and opposing offenses schemed against it with ease. A little creativity could’ve gone a long way, but instead, the defense relied too heavily on individuals winning matchups without much help from the play-calling.

Despite these shortcomings, I believe this team had enough talent to win a playoff game. Unfortunately, a tough wild card matchup ended that possibility. One more win in the regular season could’ve changed everything—better seeding, a more favorable opponent, and a better shot at advancing.

Still, there were bright spots. Several young players proved they belong in the NFL and could become impactful contributors. With the return of first-round pick Troy Fautanu and third-round pick Roman Wilson, it’ll feel like the team has two extra draft picks heading into 2025.

So, was this season a success? No, but it wasn’t a disaster either. To me, the biggest disappointment is that we still don’t have clarity at quarterback. That said, the foundation is there. Omar Khan and his team are improving the roster year by year. With another strong draft, a few key additions, and some necessary coaching changes, I believe this squad can take a significant step forward. (For more on that, check out my article, “Mike Tomlin Must Evolve or Be Replaced.”)

We’re not there yet, but the pieces are starting to come together. The journey is ongoing, and with the right moves, this team could soon be in the conversation as a legitimate contender. For now, though, we wait and hope.

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Stay Blessed and Stay Positive… “Here We Go”