The Pittsburgh Steelers are a franchise built on tradition-tough defense, hard-nosed football, and a standard of excellence that doesn’t waver. But as we head into the final stretch of the 2025 season, that standard feels like it's slipping.
And for the first time in a long time, the criticism isn’t just coming from the fans in the stands or the voices on talk radio. It’s coming from inside the family.
Mike Tomlin, the Steelers’ long-tenured head coach, is under fire-and not just from the usual suspects. Former players, guys who suited up under him and know the culture inside and out, are now questioning whether Tomlin is still the right man to lead this team.
Trai Essex, a former offensive lineman who spent years in Pittsburgh’s trenches, hasn’t held back. He’s pointed the finger squarely at Tomlin, calling out what he sees as a cultural problem within the team-one that starts at the top. Essex isn’t alone.
James Harrison, one of the most feared defenders in franchise history, recently added fuel to the fire. On the Deebo & Joe podcast-hosted alongside former Steelers and Browns cornerback Joe Haden-Harrison didn’t mince words when it came to his former coach.
“I have never been a person that thought Coach Tomlin was a great coach,” Harrison said. “I thought he was good.”
That’s a strong statement coming from a player who won a Super Bowl under Tomlin. But Harrison didn’t stop there.
He reflected on a moment early in Tomlin’s tenure that left a lasting impression-when Harrison was in line to start after Joey Porter’s departure, and the team drafted outside linebackers in the first and second rounds. That decision, in Harrison’s eyes, spoke volumes.
He then broke down what separates a good coach from a great one.
“A coach is someone that tells you what to do, and it doesn’t matter if what they’re telling you to do is right or wrong,” Harrison said. “A good coach gets you to play to your potential. A great coach gets you to play beyond your potential.”
That’s the heart of Harrison’s critique. It’s not that Tomlin is a bad coach-far from it.
But in Harrison’s eyes, Tomlin hasn’t consistently elevated his players. And right now, that’s what the Steelers need most.
**The reality is hard to ignore: Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade. ** That’s nine years of frustration for a fanbase that’s used to measuring success in Lombardis, not wild card berths.
And while Tomlin has famously never had a losing season, the bar in Pittsburgh isn’t .500. It’s championships.
Tomlin’s philosophy has always emphasized ball security and takeaways-win the turnover battle, win the game. But that formula has its limits.
Turnovers aren’t something you can bank on every Sunday. And when the defense doesn’t generate takeaways, the offense hasn’t shown the firepower to keep pace.
That conservative approach on offense has become a sticking point. The Steelers aren’t built to play from behind, and when the defense can’t create short fields or momentum swings, the offense often stalls. It’s a formula that’s kept them competitive, but rarely dominant.
**Another concern? The development-or lack thereof-of young talent.
** Tomlin has a reputation for leaning on veterans, sometimes at the expense of giving rookies and second-year players meaningful reps. And while that might keep mistakes to a minimum, it can also stunt growth.
The Steelers have invested heavily in the draft, but some of those picks are riding the bench while the team struggles on the field.
There’s no denying Tomlin’s résumé. He’s a Super Bowl champion, a Coach of the Year, and one of the most respected voices in the league.
But as Harrison pointed out, the expectations in Pittsburgh go beyond respectability. The Steelers don’t just want to be good-they expect to be great.
And right now, that greatness feels out of reach.
Whether you agree with Harrison or not, his words carry weight. He’s not an outsider throwing stones-he’s a former captain who knows what a championship locker room looks like. And his message is clear: the standard in Pittsburgh hasn’t changed, but the results have.
Mike Tomlin remains one of the most consistent coaches in the NFL. But consistency without postseason success only goes so far. The Steelers are at a crossroads, and the pressure is mounting-not just from fans, but from the men who once helped build the foundation Tomlin stands on.
The question now isn’t whether Tomlin is a good coach. It’s whether he can still be a great one.