Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was late for the team's 29-10 loss to the Kanas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, according to The Athletic's Mike DeFabo.

"[Head coach Mike] Tomlin asks players to report to games at least two hours before kickoff," DeFabo wrote. "On Dec. 25, Pickens walked through the media entrance an hour and 25 minutes before kickoff. That was after inactive players were announced."

Punctuality was apparently a recurring problem for the dynamic pass-catcher.

Pickens is one of the more maddening talents in the league.

Watch any of his highlights, and it's clear the 23-year-old has the tools to become a top-tier receiver.

The production is there, too. Through three seasons, he has 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns despite the Steelers' revolving door at quarterback over that span.

However, Pickens has supplied enough reason to question whether he'll ever fulfill his massive potential.

His effort has been called into question at times. The two unsportsmanlike conduct flags he received in a 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 prompted Tomlin to say, "He's just got to grow up, man." Now comes a new report about his tardiness to underscore the concerns about his maturity.

Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Steelers are reaching a point where they have to make a tough decision. If they're waffling at all about whether he's a wise long-term investment, this is their last window to trade him and get something back in return.

In general, Pittsburgh is badly in need of some sort of reset. The Steelers' last playoff win came in the 2016 season.

If the Steelers aren't going to fire Tomlin, he needs to help reset the culture inside the organization. Trading Pickens would be one way to make that happen.

Russell Wilson hopes to sign a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers after their 28-14 wild card loss to the Ravens, closing out their season.

"Yeah, that's the plan. I love it here and everything else," Wilson told reporters. "I think we have a great football team. Obviously, it didn't end the way we wanted it to, and I think there's a lot more to do."

In Wilson's first season with the Steelers, he accumulated 2,483 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions over 11 starts with a 51.5 quarterback rating.

As he enters free agency this offseason, the 36-year-old quarterback believes that the organization has "always" known that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh and hopes that the feeling is reciprocated.

"I think they've known that I've always wanted to be here and play here, but it is also a process," Wilson told reporters, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "We haven't had those meetings yet, so we will have those and we'll go from there."

Prior to the 2024 season, Wilson signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Steelers after he was released by the Denver Broncos following a two-year stint with them.

He was sidelined for the first six games of the season due to a lingering calf injury that kept him out for most of training camp but returned during Week 7 in the Steelers' 37-15 win over the New York Jets. Wilson helped lead the team to six wins over his seven starts.

In the Steelers' final loss to the Ravens, Wilson threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns on a 69 percent completion rate, capping off his 13th NFL season.

"I thought I played well," Wilson said about his season, per Pryor. "There's moments I wish I played a little bit better. I feel like I had two plays that I wish I had back, just to be honest with you. The one in Kansas City and the one in the Ravens game. Other than that, those two plays in particular, I competed, and I gave it my all. Obviously felt like we didn't play good enough when we needed to as a team. I hated missing games. I hated missing those first six games. I don't really miss games like that and that kind of was disappointing, but I love how guys made plays."

According to Wilson, he will still get a few more chances to advance further into the postseason with the Steelers, telling ESPN's Hannah Storm at the beginning of the season that he wanted to play for five to seven more years.

"That's always been my plan is to play as long as possible," Wilson told Storm. "I've said that since I was a rookie. That's always been my kind of thought process. I feel great physically, mentally, emotionally... If you want to play 20-plus years, you got to love it, and I love the process. I love the mentality, and I love competing with my teammates, so that's always been the plan. And so, I just trust the process and trust that we will have those conversations when the time comes."

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers' early playoff exit, star pass-rusher T.J. Watt doesn't want to play for any other team.

"I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler," Watt told reporters on Monday. "You guys know that. I don't want to leave this place. I want to be part of the solution."

"I love the people here, and that goes beyond just the coaches," he explained. "It's the fanbase, it's the people, the community. We owe it to them to get it right."

The Steelers sat at 10-3 through 14 weeks, but they lost four straight games heading into the playoffs before they were defeated 28-14 by the Baltimore Ravens in a Wild Card matchup on Saturday.

Watt's individual 2024 season followed a similar trajectory.

After racking up 9.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles during his first 12 appearances, the former Defensive Player of the Year recorded just two sacks and one forced fumble to go along with three tackles for loss in his final five regular-season starts.

He also failed to register a sack, quarterback hit or tackle during the playoff loss to Baltimore despite being on the field for 85 percent of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps (via Pro Football Reference).

Watt's mindset is admirable, considering it isn't difficult to imagine him bouncing back in 2025. He's only one year removed from amassing a league-leading 19 sacks during his 2023 campaign.

The Steelers will enter the 2025 season looking to avenge another early playoff defeat, and Watt expects to continue operating as a key piece in their defensive front.

As veteran quarterback Russell Wilson enters free agency this offseason, one expert suggested that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't very motivated to re-sign him.

Alber Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that "there was frustration with Wilson down the stretch, so I'm not sure how far the Steelers will be willing to go to keep him."

After missing the first six games of the season, Wilson led Pittsburgh to six wins in his first seven appearances of the year. However, the Steelers stumbled with four straight losses to end the regular season before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in a 28-14 loss in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday.

Wilson finished the season with 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding two rushing scores. The 36-year-old should garner some interest on the open market, but it's not clear if teams still view him as a quarterback who could help win a Super Bowl.

As for the Steelers, their quarterback room could look drastically different, as backup quarterback Justin Fields is also headed for free agency. Breer noted that "the team would love to keep working with Fields, but it might not be as a starter," so he could choose to seek an opportunity where he could compete for a starting job.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen reportedly refused to let the flu keep him out of Saturday's AFC Wild Card Game against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Queen received four IV bags before Saturday's game so he could be on the field.

Queen, who spent the first four years of his career in Baltimore after being drafted by the Ravens with the 28th overall pick in 2020, finished with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss as the Steelers went on to end their season with a 28-14 loss to their AFC North rivals.

After the game, Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith poked fun at his former teammate, who signed a three-year, $41 million deal with Pittsburgh last offseason.

"I think I remember my guy PQ saying the last time we played them was [for] a hat and T-shirt," Smith said, referring to Queen's comment before their Dec. 21 matchup where Pittsburgh could've won the division title. "But I guess he [got] the T-shirt he got on and he'll be in Cabo or somewhere."

Queen wasn't asked about Smith's comments, but he admitted to being disappointed in how the Steelers ended the year with five straight losses, including the postseason.

"I think we just got too comfortable," Queen said when asked about the Steelers' defensive struggles. "We started chasing too many things. I think we just let off the pedal."

Pittsburgh will focus on trying to shore up its holes on defense this offseason as it gears up to make another run in 2025.

Will either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers next season?

Don't be surprised if it's Fields, and not Wilson, who returns to the Steel City, albeit potentially in a backup role.

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, "Wilson and Fields are both free agents. Will either be back in Pittsburgh? There was frustration with Wilson down the stretch, so I'm not sure how far the Steelers will be willing to go to keep him. Meanwhile, the team would love to keep working with Fields, but it might not be as a starter. I'd heard before the playoff game Saturday that the playoffs would likely help set the course. Based on how the offense played.."

Fields, 25, went 4-2 as the starter to open the 2024 season, throwing for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and an interception while completing 65.8 percent of his passes and taking 16 sacks. He also rushed for 289 yards and five scores.

Once Wilson was healthy enough to return from a calf injury that sidelined him to open the season, however, he was returned to starting status and was an upgrade, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.7 percent of his passes and taking 33 sacks.

The Steelers went 6-1 in his first seven starts and life was good. But including Saturday's playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers finished the season with five straight losses. It's hard to completely blame Wilson for that stretch—he threw six touchdowns, two interceptions and took 18 sacks—but he didn't exactly lift an inept offense to greater heights, either.

So the Steelers have some major decisions to make at the quarterback position. And regardless of who they ultimately land on, more weapons are needed as well. An offensive rework is required, and it will likely start at quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be actively attempting to trade head coach Mike Tomlin, but a deal could be a possibility down the line.

"I don't think the Tomlin trade happens yet, but at some point, it might," an NFL executive from an opposing team told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "Everybody will disappear for a few days, but then somebody is going to ask about staff changes, and if Tomlin bows up, that is when there could be problems. That's what happened with Pete Carroll in Seattle last year."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that another team called Pittsburgh to discuss a deal for Tomlin and was informed that he has a no-trade clause in his contract. The head coach would need to waive the clause for any change of scenery to occur.

A trade doesn't appear to be imminent, though. After the Steelers were eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round on Saturday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette revealed that Pittsburgh doesn't plan to fire or trade Tomlin during the 2025 offseason.

Trades involving head coaches are uncommon, but they aren't unheard of. The latest occurred in Jan. 2023, as the New Orleans Saints dealt Sean Payton and a third-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a first-round choice and a second-round selection.

The Steelers have maintained a winning record in all 18 years of Tomlin's career, earning a Super Bowl title during his second season in 2008.

A lack of recent postseason success has likely contributed to his uncertain long-term future, though. Saturday's loss to the Ravens marked the Steelers' fifth consecutive playoff defeat, as their last postseason win came during the 2016 season.

Tomlin's stellar track record and no-trade clause have mostly kept him out of trade rumors, but continued playoff struggles could result in more teams inquiring about his availability moving forward.

Despite another early exit from the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly won't be making a head coaching change anytime soon.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers don't plan to fire or trade head coach Mike Tomlin this offseason following Saturday night's AFC Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Tomlin is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL and is believed to be earning an annual salary of approximately $15 million, per Dulac. He signed a three-year contract extension with the Steelers before the season that will keep him with the team through the 2027 campaign.

However, after the Steelers' season ended with a 28-14 loss to the Ravens, many started to wonder about Tomlin's future in Pittsburgh. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that at least one other team called the Steelers to inquire about Tomlin being available for a trade, but the no-trade clause in his contract would need to be waived for such a deal to be completed.

"Last week, we said there will be teams that would check into the availability of Mike Tomlin, and one did, and one was told that Mike Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract," Schefter said. "So, anything that would happen in Pittsburgh involving Mike Tomlin would come with his consent and his consent only. A loss like last night's might further teams to look into it."

Pittsburgh had gotten off to a strong start to the year before ending the regular season with four straight losses. Dulac noted that the team allowed an average of 14.8 points and 306 yards in the first eight games and then allowed 25.6 points and 353.6 yards in the last 10, including the postseason.

Dulac added that changes among the coaching staff "are likely to be expected," but the team's defense likely won't change much since Tomlin manages that side of the ball.

It's clear that the Steelers need improvements in multiple areas, and they're still putting their trust in Tomlin to figure out the best path forward.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's immediate future appears to be something of a talking point following the team's AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that another NFL team called the Steelers to inquire about trading for Tomlin, although any such move would require the coach's approval given his no-trade clause.

"Last week, we said there will be teams that would check into the availability of Mike Tomlin, and one did, and one was told that Mike Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract," Schefter said. "So, anything that would happen in Pittsburgh involving Mike Tomlin would come with his consent and his consent only.

"A loss like last night's might further teams to look into it. Pittsburgh hasn't given any indication that it wants to move on from Mike Tomlin, and this has been the most patient franchise, not just in football, but maybe sports."

That another team would call the Steelers to ask about Tomlin isn't surprising, as the coach's entire situation with Pittsburgh is one of the most intriguing in the entire NFL.

There is little doubt he is an excellent head coach considering he has started his career with a league-record 18 consecutive non-losing seasons.

Pittsburgh has cycled through various roster constructions and quarterbacks during that span and has still remained among the league's contenders almost every single year under Tomlin's guidance. That type of consistency is a testament to his overall leadership, as is his 183-107-2 record and Super Bowl ring.

However, that Lombardi Trophy came during his second season in 2008.

The new norm for the Steelers is being good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to realistically compete for the sport's biggest prize. In fact, Saturday's defeat to the Baltimore Ravens marked the fourth time in the last five years Pittsburgh lost in the AFC Wild Card Round.

Its last playoff win came during the 2016 campaign, so other teams might be wondering if both the team and head coach are perhaps ready for a change of scenery.

"This dichotomy has created a chasm between those who tout Tomlin as a top coach and those who believe change at the top is the only thing that can end the postseason drought," Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wrote Thursday before the latest playoff loss. "The national media trumpets Tomlin's non-losing seasons, while the local radio shock jocks blast him for postseason failures. It's a dramatic divide."

If that "dramatic divide" and the recent postseason failures are starting to wear on Tomlin, perhaps he will look for an exit strategy this offseason.

There are surely other teams with coaching vacancies who would love to add a leader with such an impressive record and Super Bowl title, and at least one reportedly took the step of calling the Steelers to check on the situation.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' end-of-season collapse finished with a 28-14 loss to the rival Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday, and pass-rusher T.J. Watt was not happy in the aftermath.

"Losing sucks," he told reporters. "Losing five in a row to finish the season out sucks. Felt like we had a good week of prep. Felt like we were ready for this one. We weren't. We weren't able to stop the run. Haven't been able to stop the run. We weren't able to get it fixed. So it's been rough last month of football."

Pittsburgh started the season with a 10-3 record and looked the part of a Super Bowl contender with a strong defense and opportunistic offense leading the way. Then it finished the regular season with four consecutive losses prior to Saturday's postseason defeat.

It didn't score more than 17 points in any of those final five losses, but the defense also struggled to stop Derrick Henry (186 rushing yards and two touchdowns) and Lamar Jackson (175 passing yards, 81 rushing yards and two touchdowns) as Baltimore jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back.

Even Watt finished with zero tackles and zero sacks in his final 127 snaps of the campaign.

"It's too fresh," he said. "I don't know. I don't have the answers. Clearly, if I had the answers, I would've done something differently this week. I felt like we had a good week, good week of prep. Felt like we had a relatively healthy set of guys, especially defensively, put the pads on. I felt like we had a physical practice week and didn't correlate.

"If I had the answer, we wouldn't be here right now. I'm going to have to take a look in the mirror and have some conversations, but I don't have the answers."

Unfortunately for the Steelers, this season was more of the same.

While head coach Mike Tomlin set the NFL record with an 18th straight non-losing season, the team also hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 campaign. Getting into the playoffs and losing in the Wild Card Round has become the norm and happened in four of the last five years.

Whether that will lead to significant offseason changes to the coaching staff or roster remains to be seen, but the Ravens were clearly the better team on both sides of the ball Saturday and wasted no time seizing full control.

Two third-quarter touchdown passes from Russell Wilson made the final score more respectable, but Watt and the Steelers were left searching for answers.