Steelers fans get sarcastic message from Tony Dungy over Mike Tomlin

Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans were ready to fire head coach Mike Tomlin after the Week 13 embarrassing second-half showing against the Buffalo Bills. 

Frustration boiled over across Steeler Nation, with many questioning whether the team had hit its ceiling under Tomlin. Yet once again, the veteran coach weathered the storm and delivered a familiar result. Stability. Despite the late-season turbulence, Tomlin guided Pittsburgh to yet another non-losing season, quieting some of the loudest calls for change.

That accomplishment cannot be overstated. Tomlin has now completed all 19 of his seasons as Steelers head coach without ever posting a losing record. In a league as hyper-competitive as the NFL, where parity is built into the system and coaching tenures are often short, that level of sustained success is incredibly rare. Few coaches in modern NFL history have managed to remain consistently competitive year after year the way Tomlin has in Pittsburgh.

Tony Dungy defends Mike Tomlin amid hot-seat chatter

Still, that consistency has not fully satisfied the fan base. Steelers fans are well aware that the franchise has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, a drought that continues to hang over Tomlin’s tenure. 

That tension prompted former NFL head coach-turned-analyst Tony Dungy to weigh in, as he took to social media to call out what he viewed as unfair criticism of Tomlin. Dungy’s comments only added fuel to an already heated debate and once again placed Tomlin at the center of a passionate and divided discussion within Steeler Nation.

"I wonder if the Steeler fans still want to fire Mike Tomlin? Pittsburgh has played some very good football the last 3 weeks," Dungy said to his social media following after the Steelers' 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. "I think they’re heating up at the right time."

It has been a constant debate between the national media and Steelers fans for years. Many franchises around the NFL have never come close to experiencing the sustained success that Steelers fans have enjoyed for such a long period of time. Pittsburgh has remained relevant season after season, even while other teams cycle through coaches, rebuild plans and front-office resets.

The Steelers are also navigating a franchise quarterback transition, something that has derailed many organizations entirely. During this stretch, Pittsburgh has fielded some undeniably limited offensive units, often relying on defense, discipline and coaching stability to stay competitive. That context makes Tomlin’s streak even more impressive. He has endured roster turnover, schematic changes and a revolving door at quarterback, yet still managed to avoid a single losing season.

However, that resume no longer satisfies much of the fan base. Regular-season consistency has become an expectation, not a goal. For Tomlin, the standard is now clear. He must win a playoff game in the 2025 season with Aaron Rodgers. If that does not happen, no amount of regular-season success will be enough to quiet the frustration or change the narrative surrounding his tenure in Pittsburgh.

Steelers have a chance to make very deep playoff run

Whether the Steelers will make a deep playoff run remains to be seen. However, what is clear right now is that Tomlin and his team have rattled off three straight statement wins. Pittsburgh now sits at 9–6 in the 2025 season, and with the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the New England Patriots on "Sunday Night Football," the Steelers’ outlook for a postseason run has only improved.

Of course, the NFL is an unforgiving league, and any playoff matchup is going to present significant challenges. There are no easy paths in January, especially in the AFC. Still, with the way Rodgers and Kenneth Gainwell have been playing on the offensive side of the ball, confidence is growing. Add in a defense that continues to perform at a high level even without superstar pass-rusher T.J. Watt, and it is clear this team is gaining momentum.

Right now, the Steelers are turning heads across the league. If they continue to build on this stretch, Pittsburgh could enter the postseason as one of the most dangerous teams no one wants to face.