Honestly, if you just looked at the final record, you’d think it was just another "standard" year in the Steel City. 10-7. It’s the kind of record that Mike Tomlin seems to manifest out of thin air regardless of who is playing quarterback or how many starters end up on IR by November. But the pittsburgh steelers season stats for 2025 actually hide one of the weirdest, most polarizing seasons we've seen at Acrisure Stadium in a decade.
Think about it. This was the year the Steelers finally broke the AFC North drought, finishing first in the division for the first time since 2020. They outlasted a crumbling Ravens squad and a Bengals team that couldn't stay healthy. Yet, the season ended with a thud—a 30-6 Wild Card blowout at the hands of the Houston Texans. It’s that classic Pittsburgh paradox: good enough to rule the North, but apparently not ready for the big stage.
We saw Aaron Rodgers under center at age 42. We saw a defense that ranked 30th in passing yards allowed but 6th in rushing DVOA. It was a season of extremes. If you’re trying to make sense of how a team with the 25th-ranked total offense won 10 games, you have to look at the "hidden" stats that define the Tomlin era.
Breaking Down the Pittsburgh Steelers Season Stats
The numbers are kinda jarring when you put them side-by-side. On one hand, you have an offense that averaged 23.4 points per game (15th in the league). On the other, you have a defense that gave up nearly 357 yards a game. Usually, that's a recipe for a losing season.
So, how did they go 10-7? Efficiency in the red zone and turnover margin.
The Steelers' offense, led by Rodgers and later Mason Rudolph for a brief stint, wasn't explosive. They were 22nd in passing yards. But they were top-10 in turnover percentage, meaning they didn't beat themselves. They protected the football, stayed patient, and let Chris Boswell—who remains the team's most consistent scoring threat—hammer home 27 field goals.
The Ground Game Revival
Jaylen Warren basically became the engine of this offense. While DK Metcalf brought the "splash" plays after coming over in that high-profile move, Warren was the guy doing the dirty work. He finished with 958 rushing yards and nearly 1,300 all-purpose yards.
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Kenneth Gainwell was the "surprise" MVP for many, especially considering he was a late addition to the backfield. He didn't have the volume of Warren, but he was incredibly efficient in short-yardage situations, ending the year with five touchdowns on just 114 carries.
- Jaylen Warren: 211 carries, 958 yards, 4.5 avg.
- Kenneth Gainwell: 114 carries, 537 yards, 4.7 avg.
- Aaron Rodgers: 327 completions, 3,440 yards, 26 TDs, 9 INTs.
Rodgers' stats were... fine. For a 42-year-old coming off major injuries, 26 touchdowns to 9 picks is professional. But his 5.9 yards per attempt (NY/A) tells the real story. The Steelers weren't throwing deep. They were playing "keep away" football.
Why the Defense Looked Worse Than It Was
If you just look at the 26th-ranked total defense, you'd think Teryl Austin’s unit was a disaster. It wasn't. They were a "bend-but-don't-break" group that excelled at stopping the run.
They ranked 6th in Defensive Rushing DVOA. That is elite.
T.J. Watt did T.J. Watt things, obviously. Even when he wasn't racking up three sacks a game, he was forcing fumbles and demanding double teams. Alex Highsmith actually had a massive year too, finishing with 9.5 sacks and a higher pressure rate than Watt in several mid-season stretches.
But the secondary? That was the Achilles' heel. Even with Jalen Ramsey in the mix (who made the Pro Bowl), the team struggled against high-volume passing attacks. They allowed 261 passing yards per game. That 30th-place ranking is the main reason why C.J. Stroud and the Texans were able to pick them apart in the playoffs.
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The "Tomlin Special": Winning While Being Outgained
There is a specific stat from the pittsburgh steelers season stats that perfectly summarizes the Mike Tomlin experience. In 17 games, the Steelers were outgained in total yardage 11 times.
They won 6 of those games.
That shouldn't happen. In the modern NFL, if you give up more yards than you gain, you usually lose. The Steelers, however, specialized in winning the "marginal" battles. They were 4th in the league in turnover ratio. They were 2nd in defensive fumble recoveries.
Basically, they waited for you to mess up.
Take the Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers were outplayed for three quarters. But a late interception by Kyle Dugger (who finished with 2 picks on the year) and a vintage Cam Heyward goal-line stand turned the tide. They won 26-24. That win secured the AFC North title and kept the "no losing seasons" streak alive at 22 years.
Key Performance Metrics
- Red Zone Scoring %: 58.3% (Ranked 11th)
- Third Down Conversion %: 40.0% (Ranked 18th)
- Sacks Allowed: 31 (Significant improvement over previous years)
- Penalties: 101 for 803 yards (A bit undisciplined, ranked 22nd)
The discipline issues were mostly in the secondary. Joey Porter Jr. had a bit of a "flag merchant" reputation early in the year, though he cleaned it up significantly by December. By the time the Lions game rolled around in Week 16, he was playing like a true lockdown corner.
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Rookie Impact: Derrick Harmon and the Future
If there is a silver lining to the playoff exit, it’s the defensive line. Rookie Derrick Harmon was a force. Most first-year interior linemen struggle with the physicality of the NFL, but Harmon looked like he belonged from Day 1.
He didn't just eat up blocks; he was disruptive. The team-voted Rookie of the Year finished with numbers that don't jump off the page—3 sacks, 8 tackles for loss—but his impact on the run game was the reason why the Steelers jumped to 6th in rush defense.
Pairing him with Keeanu Benton and an aging-but-still-effective Cam Heyward gives the Steelers one of the best "heavy" fronts in the league. Heyward, by the way, was an All-Pro second-teamer this year. At his age, that’s borderline legendary.
The Draft Class Breakdown
- Derrick Harmon (DT): Immediate starter, anchor of the run defense.
- Kaleb Johnson (RB): Limited touches (28 carries), but showed burst.
- Jack Sawyer (DE): Useful rotational piece behind Watt and Highsmith.
- Will Howard (QB): Spent the year learning. The heir apparent? Maybe.
Actionable Insights for Steelers Fans
So, where does this leave us for the 2026 season? The pittsburgh steelers season stats show a team that has a very clear ceiling and a very high floor.
If you're looking at the roster, the priorities for the offseason are obvious. They need to fix the pass defense. You cannot be 30th in the league and expect to beat the Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allens of the world. Jalen Ramsey is great, but he can't cover everyone.
What to watch for in the coming months:
- The Quarterback Transition: Aaron Rodgers has a massive cap hit. Does he stay for one more run, or does the team look toward Will Howard or a free agent? Mason Rudolph proved he's a capable backup, but the stats show the offense needs more "verticality."
- Secondary Overhaul: Expect the Steelers to be aggressive in the draft for a safety or another high-end corner to pair with Porter Jr.
- Offensive Line Consistency: While the sack numbers were down, the "rushing yards per carry" fluctuated wildly. They need a dominant left tackle to truly unlock Jaylen Warren's potential.
The 2025 season was a success in terms of division titles and records, but the stats prove that "muck it up" football has its limits. To move from 10-7 to a true Super Bowl contender, the passing game—on both sides of the ball—has to evolve.
The numbers are in the books. Now, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have to decide if they're satisfied with being the Kings of the North, or if they're ready to actually compete for a seventh ring.