Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has built a reputation for leading his team to the playoffs consistently, but a lack of deep postseason success has drawn significant criticism.
Among those raising concerns is New England Patriots legend Julian Edelman, who recently highlighted severe flaws in Tomlin’s defensive strategy, suggesting it has remained unchanged for years.
Speaking on his podcast, Edelman expressed his frustration with the Steelers’ defensive approach, saying it was predictable, outdated, and never changes.
In other words, it was very easy for smart, elite teams to beat, such as Edelman’s old Patriots teams.
“You knew exactly what they were doing,” Edelman revealed. “And they still do what they did. They still do the same G*d damn sh*t [as] when I was playing [Mike] Tomlin’s defense.
“I’m like, ‘We still have linebackers covering the three slot?’ Every time we play the Steelers, I have at least nine catches. You would think that they would change it but no, they do what they do.”
Edelman, along with former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, acknowledged that Pittsburgh is a well-coached team.
However, they believe the Steelers’ straightforward defensive schemes, while disciplined, may be limiting their ability to compete with the league’s top teams.
Despite Tomlin’s consistent success in keeping the Steelers competitive, the franchise’s inability to break through and do damage in the postseason has become a frightening trend for Pittsburgh fans.
Pittsburgh’s steady regular-season performances often result in playoff appearances but also leave them selecting late in the first round of the NFL Draft, reducing their chances of landing a top-tier quarterback prospect.
With both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields set to hit free agency, the Steelers face crucial decisions at the quarterback position heading into the 2025 season.
Whether they make adjustments to their roster and philosophy remains to be seen, but the calls for evolution are growing louder.
What are your thoughts on Edelman’s harsh comments? … We know they won’t, but should the Steelers consider firing (or trading) Tomlin???
