3 Mistakes From Steelers' Mike Tomlin And Co Since 2022 Are Absolutely Haunting Team In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in a period of mediocrity since a Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers at the conclusion of the 2010 NFL season. The franchise has only experienced three playoff wins since, despite having future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leading the way up until his retirement following the 2021 season. As the 2024 offseason ramps up and new league year approaches, it's hard not to have some harsh criticisms for the organization since Roethlisberger hung up his cleats. There were two different general managers during this time, but the one constant has been Head Coach Mike Tomlin. 

No team throughout the league is going to be perfect when it comes to decisions revolving the roster and coaching staff, but Pittsburgh has made some terrible mistakes of late that are easy to touch on just a few years later. It all starts with two decisions made by Tomlin and co. that have affected the possible resurgence to being a top threat in the AFC.

1.) Signing Mitchell Trubisky In Free Agency

Going in chronological order, Tomlin surely knew the team would be eyeing up a quarterback early in the 2022 NFL Draft. That will be addressed in a minute, but the beginning of the conversation has to start with Mitchell Trubisky being targeted as the guy to start while the future draft selection had an opportunity to develop. There weren't a plethora of options, but luring someone like Geno Smith away from the Seattle Seahawks would have been a stronger move.

Trubisky was just 2-5 as a starter with the Steelers and got benched for Kenny Pickett in his first season with the team, and then Mason Rudolph took over for him in December of 2023. He was released in early February and proved to be nothing but a nice cap charge in two seasons with the organization. The lack of preparedness for Roethlisberger's eventual retirement led to many bad calls in the 2022 offseason. The next happened in the draft.

2.) Reaching To Take A Quarterback In The First Round Of The 2022 NFL Draft

Jumping at the first chance to select a signal-caller after Roethlisberger's departure is proving to be a large mistake. Pickett may have the opportunity to prove everyone wrong if the team doesn't go after a big name like Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, but a combination of injuries and inconsistent play have not convinced the fan base that Pickett is the future at the position.

No one can fault the front office and Tomlin for not seeing the talent that Brock Purdy has; the entire NFL passed on him several times, including the San Francisco 49ers prior to making him "Mr. Irrelevant." Other than Purdy, no quarterback from this class has stood out whatsoever. Pittsburgh would have been better off bringing in someone like Tyler Linderbaum to bolster the offensive line.

3.) Steelers Shockingly Retain Matt Canada Following 2022 Season

It was clear that when Pittsburgh hired Arthur Smith that Tomlin was admitting a mistake in, not just hiring Matt Canada in the first place, but also keeping him around as long as he did. The former play-caller for the team had no professional experience in the specific role and it didn't just affect the final year of Roethlisberger's career. It derailed the beginning of Pickett's. Retaining Canada in 2023 is the worst decision on this list, but just so happened to be the third to occur.

This looms so large because now it seems as if the Steelers feel obligated to give Pickett a full year without Canada to prove he is worth an expensive fifth-year option that needs to be decided on in 2025. An experienced offensive coordinator leading the way in 2023 would have gotten the organization the answers they needed. Now, it appears as if they are completely lost and without a doubt coming off as being comfortable and spoiled for 18 years with Roethlisberger.

What do you think are Tomlin's biggest mistakes since 2022? Let us know in the comments below!

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