The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in the middle of the NFL. They haven’t been good enough to make deep playoff runs recently but have played well enough to avoid a losing season since head coach Mike Tomlin took over in 2007. After a 10-7 season in 2024, the Steelers once again made an early playoff exit, falling to their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Wild Card round.
The Steelers have won six Super Bowls, tied with the New England Patriots for the most in NFL history. However, they haven’t been back since 2010. The franchise is looking to break out of this cycle of mediocrity and return to its former glory. Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky believes the Steelers need to rediscover their old identity to find success.
Dan Orlovsky Calls Out the Steelers
Orlovsky is not a fan of how the Steelers have been run over the last six years. He believes they have been the worst-run franchise in the NFL during that stretch—a bold take considering several teams haven’t made the playoffs in that span. The Steelers, meanwhile, have reached the postseason four times in the last six years. However, all four appearances resulted in zero playoff wins.
“Let me be very clear, Pittsburgh. Last six seasons, you’re the worst-running football team in the NFL. You have lost your identity as an organization. I don’t care who the quarterback is, until you fix that, it won’t matter,” Orlovsky said.
"Let me be very clear, Pittsburgh. Last six seasons, you're the worst running football team in the NFL. You have lost your identity as an organization. I don't care who the quarterback is, until you fix that, it won't matter." – @danorlovsky7 on Steelers QB situation
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) March 3, 2025
Orlovsky is adamant that the Steelers’ problems go beyond their struggles at quarterback. While Pittsburgh needs to find a signal-caller capable of leading a deep playoff run, Orlovsky believes the organization must also address deeper issues if it hopes to compete with the AFC’s top teams.
QB Problems in Pittsburgh
The Steelers’ quarterback situation has left them stuck in a difficult period. Pittsburgh has yet to adequately replace Ben Roethlisberger, and the offense hasn’t been the same without former stars like Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The Steelers have experimented with both veteran quarterbacks and draft picks, but neither approach has produced a difference-maker.
In 2022, Pittsburgh took a shot on Kenny Pickett out of the University of Pittsburgh. After two seasons as the starter, the Steelers decided to move on from him, leaving them in the quarterback market this past offseason. They turned to free agency and signed Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson while also trading for Justin Fields, who was looking for a fresh start after three seasons with the Chicago Bears.
Neither quarterback proved to be the answer. While neither played particularly poorly, the Steelers still struggled to compete with the AFC’s elite teams. According to PFN’s QB+ rankings, Wilson finished 17th, while Fields would have ranked 15th had he met the minimum passing attempt threshold and maintained his level of production.
The Steelers have plenty to figure out if they want to be seen as contenders. Quarterback remains the most glaring issue, but Orlovsky’s comments suggest internal problems may be more significant than some fans realize. It should be an intriguing offseason, as several teams will be searching for a quarterback, and the resulting shake-up will be one to watch.