Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we discuss how far away the Steelers are from being legit contenders within the AFC after watching the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs. We also discuss DL coach Karl Dunbar's contract being up, if Artie Smith is still in play for the New York Jets head coaching gig, how long it will take to rebuild this offense and if we expect them to spend big in free agency to revamp it. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss!

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Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League.

Today's it's why the Steelers will be keeping Mike Tomlin as head coach for at least the 2025 season. Breaking down the biggest problems the team had in 2024, it doesn't seem likely that firing Tomlin will fix many of them, and some of them don't have any obvious solution for 2025.

With the Steelers likely going into another season with below-average talent at quarterback, tackle and wide receiver, it probably doesn't matter who the coach is this coming season. While that's not a happy thought, it makes sense to spend money on improving the team and not paying a coach $50 million to go away for a change that won't improve the team's standing.

Alan breaks it down.

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Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, Derrick Bell joins the pod to discuss the idea of the Steelers playing Moneyball at the QB position, a potential change at both DC and OL coach, potential compensation in a George Pickens trade and the best way to get Minkah back to being Minkah. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss!

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Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League.

Today's it's a report by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that money is part of the reason that the Steelers decided to keep head coach Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin signed a three-year, $50 million contract extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2027 last offseason, and team president Art Rooney II would have to walk away from that money in order to move on from Tomlin.

Is that an amount of money that should matter to one of the most successful franchises of all time? The Steelers rank 17th in team valuation and are also middle of the road in revenue, with the club earning just $129 million in 2024, according to Forbes.

So Tomlin's contract represents a big part of the total that the team brings in every year. With that kind of salary on the books, even if Rooney decided to move on from Tomlin, would the Steelers be able to attract another top-quality candidate with their remaining budget?

Alan breaks it down

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Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, the guys discuss if they expect Teryl Austin and Pat Meyer to return in their roles or if they could be part of the coaching turnover expected. Have we already seen the best years of TJ Watt? Should the Steelers consider packaging Watt, George Pickens and draft capital to move up for Shadeur Sanders? Could Justin Fields improve his play under center and in play-action? Why are coach's contracts kept such a mystery from the public? Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss!

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Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League.

Today's it's some bad news for fans that want the Steelers to fire head coach Mike Tomlin. The team will be bringing back Tomlin for the 2025, despite another disappointing playoff exit.

But why? The first reason is the Steelers' value of stability at the coaching position. The second is the team's obvious lack of talent at the quarterback position. It's hard to hold the head coach responsible for the team not having what it takes personnel-wise.

The really bad news is that the Steelers seem overwhelmingly unlikely to be able to upgrade their quarterback position this offseason, so if the team is ready to keep Tomlin for 2025, it seems likely that almost no matter what, he'll be back in 2026, as well.

Alan breaks it down.

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Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, the guys discuss if Mike McCarthy could make sense as a replacement if Arthur Smith were to land the Bears or Jets head coaching jobs. What splash move could the Steelers make to really shakeup the roster? Shelton White interviewed for the LV Raiders GM opening. If he were to land the gig, the Steelers would get two third-round picks. Should Joe Milton be considered an external option for the team to trade for? Should the Steelers try to tank to land their next franchise QB? Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss!

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Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League.

Today's it's a report on Tuesday by Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show that Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson had an unhappy working relationship during the 2024 season.

With Wilson a free agent, that could play a factor in whether or not the veteran is back for the 2025 season in Pittsburgh, and it could help make the case for the team turning the reins over to a younger player in Justin Fields.

Alan breaks it down.

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Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, the guys discuss Mike Tomlin's end of the season press conference. He discussed turnover that will take place on the coaching staff, the path forward at the QB position, where things went wrong, why you don't have to be bad to land a franchise QB and George Pickens being late to the team's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss!

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Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League.

Today's it's how the Steelers have had back-to-back quality drafts, but still end up on the wrong end of the stick when it comes to the level of talent on the team.

The Steelers have signed just three players from their 2019, 2020 and 2021 draft classes to contract extensions, and only two of those three will be around for the 2025 season: outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and tight end Pat Freiermuth.

While the Steelers have quality veterans in Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, and promising younger players like Joey Porter Jr., Zach Frazier and Keeanu Benton, they're missing a middle class thanks to several weak draft classes in a row.

Despite trying to find a shortcut, the only way out of the problem is the way they got in: by winning in the draft.

Alan breaks it down.

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