A Letter From the Editor: Shades of Steelers past?
To date the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 offseason has been one filled with intrigue and mystery.
Yes, mystery.
On my Friday “Let’s Ride” podcast, which can be heard below this article, I spoke about how nothing has seemed to make sense for me this offseason, and I stand by that statement.
It seems everything which has been done this offseason has been for the 2026 season, more importantly for the 2026 NFL Draft. Players lost in free agency were expected, but the players acquired have been carefully selected, not to mess up the precious compensatory pick formula. Those picks won’t be cashed in until 2026, but have the Steelers really improved their roster for the 2025 season?
It is at this point when some fans will point to players who were acquired who could absolutely help the team in 2025. Some names of note:
- CB Darius Slay
- RB Kenneth Gainwell
- S Juan Thornhill
Just to name a few. Why did I select those players above, and not list the others who were added, because the vast majority of players signed have been of the one-year contract variety. I understand the desire to want to clear those contracts in 2026 to help create as much salary cap space as possible, but what this is just one of the aspects of the offseason which doesn’t add up.
If everything being done is for 2026, why sign some key players just for 2025?
There are a lot of optics to consider here, and none larger than the desire to want to put a winning product on the field in 2025. No one wants to hear anyone within the organization claim the upcoming season is a “bridge year”.
What’s that? You don’t get the “bridge year” reference? Let me shine some light on that subject for you.
In 2015 the Pittsburgh Pirates made the playoffs, and the following season knew some roster turnover was inevitable. Some veterans were retiring, and players were leaving. General Manager (GM) Neal Huntington publicly called the 2016 season a “bridge year”. In other words, they’ll do what they can for 2016, but the focus was on 2017.
Yes, they actually said that.
You’ll never hear the Steelers say that, but it sure does feel like a bridge year is upcoming in 2025. Regardless of who is the quarterback of the team this season, the organization seems to be stagnant. Just treading water.
This article might leave even the most devout fan feeling worse and worse about the upcoming season, but something to remember is while these types of seasons can be difficult, they can also be a lot of fun. On the podcast below I suggested the 2025 season could be very similar to the 2002 Tommy Maddox season.
If you were old enough to experience the 10-5-1 season, which saw the Steelers win the AFC North, you know exactly what I am talking about. Everyone knew Tommy Maddox wasn’t the answer to the team’s quarterback woes, this after he took over for Kordell Stewart. No one thought Maddox could somehow lift the team to a Super Bowl win, but damnit that team was fun.
What you saw being built on that team was the framework of the team who would go 15-1 in 2004, and win Super Bowl XL in 2005. Unfortunately, you also saw plenty that season which resulted in the dreadful 6-10 season in 2003 which equated in the Steelers selecting some lesser known quarterback out of Miami of Ohio in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Yes, we’ve been in this position before, and it makes you see how there can be more than a light at the end of the tunnel, but a very entertaining season on deck. Whoever is the quarterback this season, the 2025 Steelers will shake many younger fans to their core. The fans who grew up watching Ben Roethlisberger always having the team in contention talk.
How will you respond if Mason Rudolph is the quarterback for the entirety of the season?
How will you respond if Aaron Rodgers is on board, but plays more like the 2024 Jets quarterback than the one who was a 4-time NFL MVP?
This season could be a bumpy ride, but my advice to all the fans out there? And while the organization could right the proverbial ship quickly with some more moves and the upcoming NFL Draft, don’t look ahead to 2026 too much. Enjoy every step of this season, because it not only could be the building of something special, but it also could provide some very authentic, and lasting, moments and memories.
Just like that 2002 season did for me.
Listen to the latest “Let’s Ride” podcast, which airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, in the player below:
The Tommy gun! Mularkey got a lot outta that roster. I’d love to have an OC like him again.
If they are in fact setting up for the 26 draft whom could they be targeting?
I think there’s no doubt about it they will be targeting a QB in Round 1. Think back to the 2024 NFL Draft and the QBs which were in that draft. That is what they are saying about the 2026 crop of signal callers.
No doubt it’ll be a QB, but do you have a feel for which one has their eye?
I want to see who all declares. I don’t think Arch Manning will declare after starting for one year, but he might. It would change a lot.
It’s always fun when Steelers football is on. When the team isn’t elite, enjoy the “what ifs” of a Cinderella run. Embrace where you’re at and make the most of it.
Sometimes those seasons where you are just there for whatever happens can be the most rewarding/fun
Great article Jeff!
I also feel the vibes that 2025 is to be a bridge year. It just seems so obvious considering the moves they’ve made. And not made. And, to be honest, I’m fine with that. I genuinely WANT TO see what Mason Rudolph can do with an offense that is crafted around his skill set. If he does great, I can die happy. If he (and we) suck? Fine, move on to the original plan and get your QB in the 2026 draft!!
I would be FAR more excited to spend my money to travel to every Steelers home game in 2025 with Rudolph as the QB as opposed to Rodgers. Even if it turns out that the season turns into a “bridge year”. Here we go!
NFL coaches mostly are reluctant to admit when they’re going into a new season with slim chances of capturing the big prize. If Mike Tomlin was totally honest, he would admit that his team still is a few bricks shy and most likely is looking at yet another building year in 2025 (or “bridge year” if you prefer).
Bridge years are nothing to be ashamed of unless they become chronic. What makes an entire organization look bad is when the team doesn’t make any substantial progress over multiple, successive seasons. And that’s approximately where the Steelers find themselves today. You can only expect so many chances to go back to the drawing board before fans and the media start to doubt you’ve got a viable strategic plan for success.
I agree that the Steelers currently appear to be treading water and grabbing at straws. At some point, we’d expect to see the team seriously assembling the nucleus of a SB-worthy team. But today this still seems like a long-range project. And as you stated, it doesn’t mean that the upcoming season won’t be interesting to watch. But for those fans who believe the Steelers should be contenders every season, this might be a particularly long and difficult season. Every year, 31 teams ultimately go home in defeat.
Personally, I’d just like to see some flashes of real progress on the overall team this year (e.g. better OL play, perhaps a breakout year for Jaylen Warren, plus some solid improvements via the draft). If fans see that the entire team is improving, regardless of their season record, at least we’ll know that adding the right QB could represent the final piece of the puzzle.
I agree that it feels like the Steelers are treading water these days. I would like to see progress in the OL play, to see them become more dominant in their run blocking and more reliable in their pass protection.
A bridge year? When you are looking for a cornerstone QB after years of having one then it’s probably more like a bridge era. Who knows when it will end.
A bridge “era” sounds way worse than a year lol
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, as a Steelers fan, you can’t hit on every draft picks you may find some bust until the next N.F.L. draft