We conducted a survey earlier this week to find out how Steelers supporters felt about Mike Tomlin’s confirmed return for the 2024 NFL season as well as their level of trust in the team. What they said was as follows.
Unsurprisingly, following the team’s wild-card loss, Steelers fans lose confidence.
Just one week ago, 69% of Steelers supporters surveyed expressed confidence in the team’s path prior to the team’s wild playoff game versus the Bills. In the same survey, 62% of supporters stated they anticipated winning over Buffalo, even though they were strong road underdogs and wouldn’t have their top edge rusher, T.J. Watt, available.
Naturally, after that “unexpected” loss, a portion of that same fan base has now lost that confidence.
Perhaps many had a little too much hope for the wild card game. After all, the Steelers were merely 1-10 without Watt coming into this game. They faced the Buffalo Bills, who were on the rise (-2.5).
Bet $10 on BUF.
To Defeat Kansas City:
$16.76
Win by 2.5.
$18.70
Losing team: The $22.40 squad, which had defeated the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Dolphins while remaining unbeaten since their Week 13 bye. Following a 5-5 start to the season, that victory over the Dolphins guaranteed them the AFC East title for the fourth time in a row. To put it briefly, this was a formidable football club that had triumphed over many of the same difficult situations that the Steelers faced, such as losing their offensive coordinator and suffering several critical injuries to their defense.
What was it that the Steelers lacked that they had? A quarterback. an online player. With 229 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception at the end of the game, Mason Rudolph performed about as well as one could have expected a third-string quarterback to in the playoffs. His completion percentage of 56.4% was also his lowest of the season. But in an effort to prolong his NFL hopes, he managed to keep them in it and, in the process, most likely played himself into another deal, either with the Steelers or somewhere else.
The doubts about whether or not anything will actually change in the upcoming years further exacerbate the lack of faith in the Steelers’ direction beyond the game’s obvious outcome. With nothing to show for it, 17 seasons have passed without a losing record. It was again another season in which success was achieved by undermining weak opposition. It’s frustrating to win like that, even though it’s still winning. A fifth straight loss in the playoffs? That aggravates me.
What will change in 2024? Not the head coach, at least… which brings us to our next survey result.
Just 28% of fans considered themselves “elated” that Tomlin would return, and another 27% of fans said they had no opinion either way. It’s not particularly surprising to hear that some fans hoped Tomlin would move on, either via trade or by Art Rooney II giving him the axe; fans had been calling for it intermittently throughout the entire season. It’s fair to say, though, that just about everyone knew there was never actually a chance either of those things would happen; it’s just not the Steelers’ way.
Still, it is perhaps even just a little bit surprising that the number of fans who hoped Tomlin would move on is as high as 45%. After all, it was a 10-7 finish (5-1 in the division) and another trip to the playoffs despite their position in one of the most competitive divisions in all of football.
Still, will anything really change? Quarterback Kenny Pickett will be back in 2024, of course, and by the looks of it will have every opportunity to resume his starting role as long as he is able to stand up to any competition brought in around him. While many teams around the league are conducting interviews for offensive coordinators, the Steelers have been quiet. So, what will change? We’ll soon find out… but hopefully, the thing that changes is Mike Tomlin’s playoff record. Cheers to snapping that losing playoff streak in 2024.
