The Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff has been called into question quite a bit recently. Many fans believe the Steelers don’t have the right coaches in place to help the team get back into the Super Bowl hunt. It starts with Mike Tomlin. Many Steelers fans aren’t thrilled with him as of late. They think he’s been reluctant to change and adapt to the modern NFL. They also don’t believe he’s hired a great staff, starting with the coordinators.
Another concern is that the Steelers have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the NFL. When Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger spoke on his Footbahlin podcast, he was asked by co-host Spencer Te’o if the team should consider adding more coaches to the staff.
Roethlisberger didn’t hesitate to address the issue, acknowledging that the Steelers operate differently than many other franchises. He pointed out that Pittsburgh has always valued stability and continuity, but in today’s NFL, that approach might be holding the team back. He also explained that he believes the Steelers should considering expanding their coaching staff.
"Absolutely. There's a lot of room for that," Roethlisberger said. "Expand the strength and conditioning staff. Expand the training staff. Expand equipment staff, all that stuff. But that's money and we all know that the Rooneys aren't putting a lot of extra into that stuff. That's just, they've never done it that way. So we don't expect that to change."
Roethlisberger pointed out that Team President Art Rooney II is committed to running the organization the way his family always has. Remaining reluctant to spend money on additional staff members and keeping the Steelers one of the smallest-coached teams in the modern NFL.
He then shared a story about a moment that made him truly realize the difference in coaching staff sizes. While sitting in a quarterback meeting at the Pro Bowl, he was struck by just how many coaches other teams had compared to the Steelers, highlighting how far behind Pittsburgh might be in that area.
"I remember sitting in a quarterback meeting room at the Pro Bowl," Roethlisberger said. "And you had the quarterback coach and there were two or three other coaches in there. And I'm like, they're coaches. This is unbelievable. And so I think there's definitely room for that, but the team has to decide they want to do that."
With the league evolving and teams investing heavily in specialized coaching roles, the Steelers’ reluctance to expand their staff could be putting them at a disadvantage. He suggested that bringing in more coaches, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, could provide much-needed innovation and support for the team’s struggling units.
Steelers Fans Would Likely Agree With Ben Roethlisberger
Many fans agree with Roethlisberger’s assessment, believing the Steelers’ coaching staff needs a shake-up. While Tomlin has maintained his streak of non-losing seasons, the lack of postseason success in recent years has fueled frustration. Other organizations have embraced change, hiring analysts, specialists, and larger coaching staffs to maximize player development and game-planning. If the Steelers truly want to compete for another Lombardi Trophy, they may need to follow suit and modernize their approach.
It’s hard to argue with the Rooneys’ track record, as they’ve built a wildly successful franchise, but many fans are more frustrated than ever. It’s been far too long since the Steelers have been legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and the lack of playoff success for stars like Cam Heyward and TJ Watt is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The entire Steelers organization hasn’t operated at its best in quite some time. Many fans feel left behind as the NFL evolves, with Pittsburgh unable to keep pace with the league’s innovations. This inability to adapt has been a key factor in their recent failures. Hearing Roethlisberger’s take on the situation only adds to the growing concerns among the fanbase.
