Steelers fans, we need to talk. Really talk. The kind of talk you’d have in a dingy basement lab, cooking up a plan because things have spiraled out of control.
That’s where we are right now—in a broken-down RV parked somewhere in the middle of nowhere, wondering how we got here. The Justin Fields and Russell Wilson experiment blew up in our faces like a faulty batch of blue meth, and someone—yes, Mike Tomlin—needs to answer for it.
Here’s the deal. We backed the wrong horse, gambled on a quarterback carousel that turned out to be an overpriced merry-go-round, and exited the season in such anti-climactic fashion that even Gus Fring’s "efficient management style" couldn’t have salvaged it. And now, we're left asking ourselves, “Is it finally time for Coach Tomlin to go?” Spoiler alert—yes, it is.
A Tale of Two Quarterbacks—and Two Terrible Options
Justin Fields vs. Russell Wilson. It didn’t matter who we picked. Like watching Walter White deciding to get into the meth business—it was doomed from the start, just with different flavors of disaster. Fields? A young, inconsistent talent with miles to go. Wilson? An aging veteran slapping band-aids on a tsunami. The Steelers had two doors to choose from, and folks, both led to a bad deal.
Here’s the thing. Fields would’ve struggled, but that’s the point. Struggling with Fields would’ve been like cooking your “first batch”—messy, sure, but you learn. Fields could’ve gained crucial experience, taken the lumps, and emerged better for it. We still probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs, but guess what? That would’ve been okay. Developing a quarterback takes time and patience—something the Steelers clearly don't seem to grasp anymore.
Instead, we broke bad and went all-in with Mr. Wilson. Yeah, there were moments—little flickers of brilliance—but banking on a 34-year-old, past-his-prime QB was like Walter trusting Todd to keep a secret. It felt inevitably doomed.
A Season Closing With a Whimper
Four straight losses to close out the season. Four. Add to that the indignity of getting unceremoniously bounced out of the playoffs by the Ravens of all teams. That’s the football equivalent of Jesse Pinkman screaming, “He can’t keep getting away with it!”
This wasn’t just a bad season—it was a front-row seat to a collapse that everyone could see coming. The offensive line looked shaky all year. Wilson couldn’t keep plays alive with the same magic he once had, and the defense—usually Tomlin’s bread and butter—started showing cracks that couldn’t be ignored.
And here’s a depressing thought—would Fields have done any better? Probably not. But at least there’d be a long-term payoff in tanking this season with a rookie under center. We’d have better draft picks lined up and a more honest perspective on what this team really needs to rebuild. Instead, we played it “safe” with Wilson, maxed out his declining talents, and ended up with nothing but playoff heartbreak and a middle-tier draft slot. Talk about playing small ball.
The Fallout of Playing It Safe
What’s the Steelers’ identity right now? Mediocre coach, mediocre roster, mediocre results. That’s a far cry from the once-elite program Pittsburgh prided itself on. If this were Breaking Bad, we’d have already realized we aren’t Heisenberg anymore. We’re Saul Goodman—using slick language to cover up our obvious failures.
By trying to duct-tape things with Wilson, we bought ourselves a short-term mirage instead of building for something meaningful. Imagine where we'd be if we had embraced the chaos with Fields—letting him take his licks, learning on the job. Sure, the losses would’ve piled up, but at least we’d be planning for the future instead of clinging to the ghost of what we used to be.
You think Any Reid and the Chiefs have ever been content with mediocrity? No chance. Love 'em or hate 'em, they’re constantly evolving. Meanwhile, the Steelers have been cruising on cruise control under Tomlin for years—and it shows. Safe decisions don’t win championships. They win exactly what Pittsburgh got this year—nothing.
Time to Break Up With Mike Tomlin
Look, I get it. Steelers fans are loyal to a fault. And yes, Mike Tomlin’s tenure came with some glory days. But those days are long gone, just like Walt and Jesse’s partnership in the good old days before it all blew up.
Tomlin has become too comfortable, too predictable. The same old speeches, the same old problems, year after year. Is he a good coach? Sure, but is he the right coach now? No way. The Steelers need a fresh start, someone willing to blow up the old models and chart a new course. Because this current version? It’s not cutting it.
If there’s one thing we should take from Breaking Bad, it’s that holding onto the past will only drag you down. Walt had his chances, just like Tomlin has had his. But sometimes, you need to know when it's time to walk away—or in this case, be shown the door.
What’s Next for the Steelers?
The offseason is here, and tough decisions need to be made. Fields and Wilson weren’t the answer, but neither were they the root of the problem. The real question is whether the Steelers will learn from their mistakes or continue down this path of mediocrity.
New leadership. Fresh perspective. A willingness to take risks and truly rebuild this team from the ground up. That’s what it’s going to take to return this franchise to its rightful place among the elite. But it starts with acknowledging the elephant in the room—Mike Tomlin’s time is up.
Pittsburgh, it’s time to cook something new.
