SAD NEWS: 45% of Steeler fans are ‘disappointed’ at Management over new head coach decision ahead of 2024 season

Unsurprisingly, following the team’s wild-card loss, Steelers fans lose confidence.
Just one week ago, 69% of Steelers supporters surveyed expressed confidence in the team’s path prior to the team’s wild playoff game versus the Bills. In the same survey, 62% of supporters stated they anticipated winning over Buffalo, even though they were strong road underdogs and wouldn’t have their top edge rusher, T.J. Watt, available.

Naturally, some of those same fans no longer have that faith following that “unexpected” loss.

Perhaps many had a little too much hope for the wild card game. After all, the Steelers were merely 1-10 without Watt coming into this game. They were playing a squad that was on the rise, the Buffalo Bills, who had defeated the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins in addition to staying undefeated since their Week 13 bye. Following a 5-5 start to the season, that victory over the Dolphins guaranteed them the AFC East title for the fourth time in a row. To put it briefly, this was a formidable football club that had triumphed over many of the same difficult situations that the Steelers faced, such as losing their offensive coach and suffering several critical injuries to their defence.

What was the one advantage they had over the Steelers? a quarterback. a video gamer. Mason Rudolph finished the game with 229 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, finishing with a completion percentage of 56.4%, which was his lowest of the season. Rudolph performed about as well as one could have anticipated a third-string quarterback to in the playoffs. To prolong his NFL hopes, he kept them in it, though, and by doing so, he most likely played himself into another deal, either with the Steelers or somewhere else.

The doubts about whether or not anything will actually change in the upcoming years further exacerbate the lack of faith in the Steelers’ direction beyond the game’s obvious outcome. With nothing to show for it, 17 seasons have passed without a losing record. It was yet another season of triumphing despite the unfavourable competition. It’s frustrating to win like that, even though it’s still winning. A fifth straight loss in the playoffs? That aggravates me.

What is going to shift in 2024? At least not the head coach, which gets us to the outcome of our next survey.

45% of Steelers supporters expressed their displeasure upon learning that Mike Tomlin would play one more season.
Only 28% of supporters said they were “elated” that Tomlin would be coming back, while 27% of fans said they didn’t care. It’s hardly shocking to learn that some fans wanted Tomlin to go on—either through a trade or Art Rooney II benching him—as they had been requesting it on and off for the entire season. However, it’s safe to say that almost everyone was aware that none of those scenarios was genuinely possible—that’s simply not the Steelers way.

Nevertheless, the fact that up to 45% of supporters thought Tomlin would move on is perhaps even a little shocking. Despite playing in one of the most tough divisions in football, they managed a 10-7 record (5-1 in the division) and earned another trip to the playoffs.

Will anything actually change, though? Of course, quarterback Kenny Pickett will return in 2024, and judging by the appearance of things, he will have every chance to take back his starting position, provided he can fend off all opponents. The Steelers have not released any information regarding their offensive coordinator hiring process, in contrast to many other teams in the league. What will alter, then? We’ll find out soon enough, hopefully, but Mike Tomlin’s postseason record is what changes. Let’s toast to ending that futile playoff run in 2024.