The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the model of consistency for nearly two decades, never dipping below .500 during Mike Tomlin’s 19-year tenure as head coach. But with Tomlin stepping away, one of his former players sees that streak coming to an end-and believes it might actually be what the franchise needs.
Ryan Clark, who spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh and won a Super Bowl under Tomlin, didn’t mince words during a recent appearance on Inside the NFL. While he praised the Steelers’ historic ability to find the right head coach-Tomlin followed Bill Cowher, who followed Chuck Noll, an unprecedented run of stability-Clark is bracing for a full reset in 2026.
“I’m afraid it’s going to be a total rebuild,” Clark said. “This isn’t going to be another year where you get to fight your way into the playoffs with a roster that shouldn’t be there. You probably won’t have that type of coach.”
That last line cuts deep, especially coming from someone who knows firsthand what Tomlin brought to the locker room. Pittsburgh has often outperformed expectations, grinding out winning seasons even when the roster didn’t scream contender. But Clark doesn’t see that happening without Tomlin on the sideline.
He also raised concerns about the team’s financial structure, specifically pointing to what he called an “overpriced defense.” The Steelers have long invested heavily on that side of the ball, but Clark questioned whether the return on that investment will hold up in a post-Tomlin era. And while there had been some speculation about Aaron Rodgers potentially joining the Steelers-an idea floated in various circles-Clark believes that possibility is now off the table.
Still, for all the uncertainty looming over the 2026 season, Clark sees a silver lining. A down year could position the Steelers for something they haven’t had in a long time: a shot at a top-tier quarterback prospect.
Pittsburgh hasn’t posted a losing record since 2003. The following year, they drafted Ben Roethlisberger, and the rest is history. Clark believes a similar opportunity could be on the horizon in 2027, with a draft class expected to feature high-profile quarterback prospects like Arch Manning and Dante Moore.
“I think this is the first year in 20 years the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a losing record, and they need that,” Clark said. “In Mike Tomlin’s tenure, they had a top-10 pick one time … It’s difficult to get your quarterback of the future when you’re not picking at a place to get him. You could have this opportunity after this season, and that’s what they need to do.”
It’s a bold take, but it comes from a place of understanding. Clark isn’t calling for the Steelers to tank-he’s calling for them to embrace a rare moment of transition. For a franchise that’s prided itself on stability, 2026 could be the year they take a step back to take a giant leap forward.