The Steelers Are Still Paying For An Atrocious Mike Tomlin Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some weak areas of the team over the last several seasons, and the weaknesses have typically remained the same throughout the years. The run defense has been horrible at times, and the secondary has given up tons of big plays. Offensively, consistency is an issue. The group is stagnant in key moments and cannot move the ball frequently. However, one of the more overlooked problems for the Steelers has been on special teams. The return numbers are not good when it comes to kickoffs, but one important area of the game the Steelers are truly lacking in is punting.

Pittsburgh's punting situation over the last few years has been a rollercoaster. Corliss Waitman was the punter in 2025 after beating out Cameron Johnston in training camp. In 2024, the job was Johnston's going into the season, but he suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 1 of the 2024 season. Waitman filled in for him for the rest of the year. In 2023, Pittsburgh's punter was Pressley Harvin III after he beat out Braden Mann in training camp. That turned out to be the wrong decision as Harvin struggled mightily for the Steelers, and Mann has gone on to have success with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mann signed with the Eagles a few weeks after being released by the Steelers, and he was promoted to the active roster at the start of October during the 2023 season. He has been their starting punter ever since, and he signed a two-year extension during the 2024 offseason. He has won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia, and he has also been named the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Week.

Since being released by the Steelers, Mann has signed two new extensions with Philadelphia, who is widely considered one of the best teams in the league. He had the two-year extension in 2024 as mentioned, and now he has just inked a four-year extension worth $14 million, with $7 million guaranteed. This new deal puts him right on the fringe of being a top-five highest paid punter in the league.

Mann has been great for the Eagles, while the Steelers have struggled when it comes to punting. Some of that is not the team's fault, as nobody could have predicted what would have happened to Johnston to start the 2024 season. Waitman did what he could when filling in for him in 2024, but he was largely disappointing during the 2025 season. 

Deciding to go with Harvin over Mann back in 2023 turned out to be a horrific decision, and it was one that was made between former head coach Mike Tomlin and former special teams coordinator Danny Smith. Both coaches are now gone as Tomlin is staying out of the limelight and Smith accepted the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mann is likely on his way to being a Pro Bowl caliber punter and the Steelers are still searching for answers.

Steelers Brought Cameron Johnston Back To Pittsburgh

Waitman's contract expired when the new league year began, and the Steelers went out and signed Johnston again. It doesn't seem like Waitman will be getting another chance with the organization. After being cut by the Steelers ahead of the 2025 season, Johnston spent some time with the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants. Now he will enter his third training camp with the Steelers, despite the fact that he has only played one game with the team.

What do you think about the success of Mann? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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