The winds of change are blowing through Pittsburgh, and for the first time in nearly two decades, they’re not carrying the familiar voice of Mike Tomlin.
After 19 seasons at the helm, Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Steelers, leaving behind a legacy of consistency, leadership, and a locker room culture that had become second nature to those inside the building. But with his departure comes a wave of uncertainty - one that’s already being felt deeply within the organization.
Long snapper Christian Kuntz didn’t sugarcoat it. On a recent podcast appearance, he opened up about the emotional toll this offseason has taken on the team and staff.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Kuntz said. “You go in the building, and people are clearing out their offices, teary-eyed.
It sucks. They’re losing their jobs, livelihoods.
People have been here for years. Families have moved here, and now they’re not getting brought back.”
This is more than just a coaching change. It’s a cultural reset.
While Steelers players have seen their fair share of coordinator turnover in the past, this is the first time many of them are experiencing a full-scale regime change. And it’s hitting hard.
The Steelers have already parted ways with multiple assistant coaches, and they’ve brought in Mike McCarthy to take over as head coach. That move alone signals a shift in philosophy and approach - and not everyone is sure how it’s going to play out.
Edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who’s been one of the team’s defensive cornerstones in recent seasons, acknowledged the awkwardness of the transition. “I know it’s gonna be different,” he said.
“But I know that as you get a new coach, a new staff, you gotta buy into their culture and what they want to do. It’s definitely been weird ‘cause I’ve never been through this in the league.
But this happened for a reason. We just gotta trust the process, as much as it sucks.”
That “trust the process” mantra may sound familiar, but in Pittsburgh, it’s not just a slogan - it’s a lifeline. Especially now, as the franchise begins the uncharted journey into the McCarthy era.
There’s also the looming possibility that Highsmith could be working under a new defensive coordinator, with current Raiders DC Patrick Graham reportedly in the mix. That would be another layer of change for a defense that’s prided itself on continuity and toughness - hallmarks of the Tomlin years.
Inside the building, there’s no denying the emotional weight of this offseason. For players like Kuntz and Highsmith, who’ve only known the Tomlin way, this isn’t just about learning a new playbook or adjusting to a new voice in the headset. It’s about redefining what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
Steelers president Art Rooney II had been ready to stick with Tomlin, even after the team’s seventh straight playoff loss and a postseason drought that stretches back to January 2017. But Tomlin chose to walk away, leaving the franchise in unfamiliar territory.
Now, it’s McCarthy’s team. And while fans and media alike have their doubts - some already questioning whether this new era can live up to the standard Tomlin set - the message from the locker room is clear: change is hard, but it’s here. And the only way forward is through it.
For a franchise that’s long been the model of stability, this offseason feels like a seismic shift. But in the NFL, nothing lasts forever - not even a 19-year run with one of the league’s most respected head coaches.
The next chapter in Pittsburgh is underway. Whether it’s a renaissance or a rebuild remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the Steelers are entering a new era, and everyone inside the building is feeling the weight of that moment.