In 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just lose their starting quarterback. They also lost longtime General Manager Kevin Colbert, ranked the sixth-best GM of all time in 2021. Omar Khan was promoted internally as his replacement, vowing to stick with the “build around the draft” mantra.

His first big swing? Kenny Pickett, Class of 2022. Total bust. Two years later, Pittsburgh pivoted to Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Another bust. This year, Aaron Rodgers arrived. Not officially a bust yet, but the early returns haven’t been promising.

That’s not just a quarterback issue: it’s a $375 million investment on the line. It all looked justified in Week 1, when the Steelers edged the New York Jets 34-32. But the Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks flipped the mood. And now, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, concern is creeping into the Steelers’ front office.

“They want to play a physical brand of football, but they can’t because their players are not developing at the rate they had hoped,” said Fittipaldo in his latest weekly fan chat. Recalling Khan’s main goal of getting bigger and more physical, Fittipaldo noted, “three years into the new regime, the Steelers don’t resemble a physical football team at all. I’m sure that’s a concern for the front office.” 

Rodgers carried not just hope but heavy pressure into Pittsburgh, and Mike Tomlin doubled down by refusing to develop a young QB. Instead, the Steelers poured money into Rodgers’ supporting cast: T.J. Watt’s $123 million deal, DK Metcalf’s $150 million contract, Jalen Ramsey’s $84.7 million signing.

Rodgers himself came aboard for $20 million ahead of camp.

Now, it wasn’t just Khan talking about it. Fittipaldo highlighted the words of Andy Weidl, Vice President of Player Personnel, from last year. He had said,

“You’re strong on the offensive line, strong on the defensive line, strong on the front seven, they travel well in this business. I’ve seen it.”

Yet they failed to advance beyond the Wild Card Round last season, and this season, so far, they are 1-1. 

The front office has been relying on the coaching staff like every other team. They are even selecting promising talents, but the development of those talents is getting lost over and over again.

However, it would be a stretch to pin it on Khan and Weidl, as developing young talents comes under the job description of the coaching staff. So if all goes to hell, it could be Tomlin’s job on the line. 

Could Mike Tomlin’s job be on the line?

While his tenure with the Steelers has been marked by consistent regular-season success, Tomlin’s 1-5 playoff record since 2016, coupled with the questions around his inability to develop young talent, is adding fuel to hotseat fire.

Then, there is also skepticism that his staff isn’t as capable as they are perceived to be. This concern has become more evident with the underperformance of the Steelers’ youthful roster in 2025, especially in the trenches. 

His focus has been on the veterans. A former Jets GM, Mike Tannenbaum, warned that the Steelers’ bold move of investing $375 million could carry heavy consequences, especially for Tomlin.

“If they aren’t successful, this could be the end of the line for both Rodgers and Tomlin,” he said during an appearance on ESPN back in July. Of course, it wouldn’t have been a career-ender for the head coach. “There would be a line around the block to hire Tomlin elsewhere.”

So far, Tomlin had never ended a season with a losing record. But this year presents a whole new set of stakes. The Steelers’ front office has placed a huge bet on success, and anything less than a playoff appearance could mean serious changes ahead.

Plus, with everything stacked in Rodgers’ favor, the margin for error is nonexistent. He has prime targets like Metcalf, Jonnu Smith, and a lightning-fast rookie duo ready to make plays. Pittsburgh can’t afford slip-ups.

If that $375 million gamble falls short, both Tomlin and Rodgers’ futures with the team could be uncertain by 2026.