The Pittsburgh Steelers face heightened scrutiny entering 2025 after making veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers their primary offseason acquisition.
The move represents their latest attempt to find stability at the position following last season’s rotating cast of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
Head coach Mike Tomlin enters his 19th season having never posted a losing record, but that remarkable streak now faces serious questions from analysts.
Former NFL player Chris Canty shared his skeptical outlook on ESPN’s First Take.
“I think we’re looking at Mike Tomlin’s first losing season in 19 years of being a head coach in Pittsburgh,” Canty said.
"I think we're looking at Mike Tomlin's first losing season in 19 years of being a head coach in Pittsburgh."
—@ChrisCanty99 pic.twitter.com/YDq7ECmS0N
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 21, 2025
Canty points to several concerns across the roster construction. The defense shows signs of aging despite adding Juan Thornhill in free agency.
He questions the decision to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick with Jalen Ramsey, arguing the Steelers should have retained Fitzpatrick instead.
The offensive additions failed to impress Canty either. Pittsburgh brought in tight end Jonnu Smith, but that move alone doesn’t address the broader concerns about the unit’s production capacity.
Rodgers presents the biggest variable in Canty’s analysis. He believes the quarterback enters a situation no better than what he faced with the New York Jets.
The former player even argued that Rodgers’ 2024 numbers of 3,700 yards and 28 touchdowns don’t guarantee improvement over what Pittsburgh already had.
The combination of Fields and Wilson produced similar touchdown totals last season, which Canty sees as evidence that the quarterback position wasn’t necessarily the primary issue.
Canty also referenced Pittsburgh’s late-season collapse, losing five consecutive games to close 2024.
That finish reinforces his belief that underlying problems remain unaddressed, making this the year Tomlin’s streak finally ends.
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