Paced with mounting defensive struggles and a two-game skid, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin publicly reaffirmed his confidence in Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, even as the unit ranks near the bottom of the NFL and prepares for a clash with the league’s top offense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a critical juncture in their 2025 season, holding a 4-3 record and first place in the AFC North, yet grappling with a defense that has fallen far short of its lofty preseason expectations. Following a disappointing 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which saw the team surrender at least 30 points for the fourth time in seven games, Head Coach Mike Tomlin publicly defended Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin.
“I’ve known Teryl a long time,” Tomlin stated on Tuesday. “He’s very capable. He’s very thorough. I’ve largely been pleased with his work, but certainly he and I are not pleased with where we are right now from a defensive unit perspective, and so we’re just going to keep working.”
The Defensive Dilemma: “Historic Things” Unraveling
Just months ago, Tomlin boldly declared that the Steelers’ defense, the highest-paid unit in the league, was capable of achieving “historic things.” Seven games into the season, that declaration feels like a distant memory. The unit has struggled immensely, highlighted by recent performances:
- They allowed a season-high 360 passing yards and three touchdown strikes to Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who also completed 20 consecutive passes.
- Four consecutive opposing quarterbacks—Love, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Carson Wentz—have all posted season-high yardage totals against Pittsburgh.
Current rankings paint a grim picture for the Steelers’ defense, placing them among the league’s worst in several key categories. They rank 32nd in passing yards allowed per game (273.3), 30th in total yards allowed (386), 24th in third-down conversion percentage (41.84%), and 22nd in points per game (25.0). This stark reality contrasts sharply with the team’s preseason optimism, prompting significant concern within the fan base and media, as reported by ESPN.
Tomlin’s Stance: A Vote of Confidence or Strategic Hold?
Despite the mounting pressure, Tomlin has firmly stated that he will not be taking over defensive play-calling duties. “That’s not on the table as we sit here today,” he affirmed. This decision highlights Tomlin’s consistent philosophy of empowering his coordinators, a trait that has defined much of his tenure in Pittsburgh. However, for many fans, it raises questions about accountability and whether a change is needed to spark a struggling unit. The Steelers have scored and allowed an identical 175 points this season, illustrating their razor-thin margins for error.
Second-Half Collapses and Effort Concerns
The loss to the Packers provided a microcosm of the Steelers’ defensive struggles, particularly their inability to maintain momentum. After building a 16-7 halftime lead and shutting down Jordan Love‘s offense in the first half, the defense faltered dramatically after the break. The Packers converted five of eight third-down opportunities in the second half, including significant plays like a 59-yard completion to tight end Tucker Kraft and a 33-yard completion to Christian Watson, both in the third quarter.
The performance drew sharp criticism from players. Safety Juan Thornhill openly questioned the team’s effort, stating, “If I’m being completely honest, I don’t feel like the effort was there.” This sentiment resonated with a segment of the fan community, who have voiced similar concerns on online forums and social media. Tomlin, while acknowledging the lack of production, characterized the issue differently: “I didn’t see a ‘lack of fight’… Our fight is about production and producing, and we certainly didn’t produce enough plays over the last 30 minutes of the game.”
Facing the AFC’s Best: The Indianapolis Colts Challenge
The road ahead offers no respite. The Steelers are set to face the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, a team currently boasting the NFL’s most prolific offense. The Colts are averaging a league-leading 33.8 points and 385.3 yards per game. They possess a remarkable net-TD total of 14, indicating they’ve reached the end zone 14 more times than their opponents over eight games, and lead the NFL with a scoring margin of 116 points. If the playoffs began today, Indianapolis would be the AFC’s No. 1 seed, as reported by Field Level Media.
This matchup carries historical weight, as the Steelers were 5-2 at this point in the 2024 season, with one of those losses being a 27-24 defeat at Indianapolis. However, both teams feature new starting quarterbacks this year, with Aaron Rodgers now leading the Steelers and Daniel Jones at the helm for the Colts, signaling different strategic approaches compared to their previous encounter.
Injury Woes and the Trade Deadline Strategy
Further complicating the defensive picture is the injury to starting strong safety Deshon Elliott, who hyperextended his knee against the Packers and is now “week-to-week.” This isn’t Elliott’s first stint on the sidelines this season, as he was previously out with another knee injury, leading the team to sign veteran safety Jabrill Peppers. To address the current void, the Steelers are actively working out several veteran safeties, including Vonn Bell and Eddie Jackson. Tomlin also hinted at the team’s approach to the upcoming trade deadline: “We’re always open for business, particularly as we get close to the trade deadline… We’re always buyers.” This signals a potential for mid-season adjustments, a familiar strategy for the Steelers in their pursuit of postseason contention.
Beyond Talk: The Road to Redemption in the Stadium
Despite the current struggles, Tomlin maintains an optimistic yet pragmatic outlook. “We make no excuses about how or why we fall short,” he asserted. “Our job is to perform at a high level, and we haven’t done that… Seven games or whatever doesn’t make a season. We certainly got more in front of us and more opportunities to write our story.”
His philosophy for turning the tide is clear: “You can spend a lot of time talking about your ills, but the true fixes come in stadiums… There’s certainly procedurally things that you go about doing that fixes it, but the fix happens in stadiums and the rest of it is just talk.” The Steelers now face a formidable opponent and a demanding schedule, testing whether their commitment to continuity and their “general mindset” can translate into tangible improvements on the field and reshape their narrative for the remainder of the season.
