Everything changed in a single Monday night. If you’re looking for Steelers highlights today's game, you won't find a box score from this afternoon. Instead, you'll find the smoldering remains of a playoff run that ended just days ago on January 12, 2026. The 30-6 blowout at the hands of the Houston Texans wasn't just another early exit. It was the end of an era. It was Mike Tomlin's final stand.
The highlights are, honestly, pretty brutal if you bleed Black and Gold. While the game happened earlier this week, the ripple effects are what everyone is talking about today, January 16. Mike Tomlin has officially stepped down. Aaron Rodgers is staring at retirement. The "standard" is being redefined in real-time.
The Play That Broke the Game
It was 7-6 at halftime. A classic, ugly Pittsburgh slugfest. The defense was keeping them in it, largely thanks to a strip-sack by Keeanu Benton that T.J. Watt pounced on. We've seen this movie before—the offense struggles, the defense keeps it close, and somehow, some way, they find a win.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
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Aaron Rodgers, in what might be his final NFL snap, dropped back under intense pressure from Will Anderson Jr. and Sheldon Rankins. The ball was knocked loose. Rankins, a 300-pound defensive tackle, scooped it up and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown. You could feel the air leave Acrisure Stadium. It wasn't just a fumble; it was the moment the momentum snapped for good.
Key Moments from the Wild Card Collapse
- The Calen Bullock Pick-Six: Late in the fourth, Rodgers tried to force a deep ball. Bullock stepped in front of it and took it 50 yards to the house. It was the exclamation point on a 30-6 rout.
- The Woody Marks Run: Rookie RB Woody Marks shredded the Steelers' front for 112 yards, including a 13-yard dagger of a touchdown that made it a three-possession game.
- The Lack of Explosiveness: The Steelers' highlights today's game footage shows an offense that managed just 175 total yards. Rodgers finished 17-of-33 for 146 yards. No touchdowns. One back-breaking interception.
Why Today Feels Different in Pittsburgh
Usually, a playoff loss leads to "we'll get 'em next year." Not this time. Today, the highlights are being viewed through the lens of a franchise reset. Mike Tomlin stepping down after 19 years is the biggest story in sports right now. He told his players it was "best that I step down," a move that shocked even the veterans in that locker room.
People are arguing on every local radio station about the "playoff drought." Seven straight postseason losses. That’s a heavy stat. The last time the Steelers won a playoff game was the 2016 AFC Championship run. For a team that prides itself on being the gold standard of the NFL, that’s an eternity.
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The Aaron Rodgers Experiment: Was It Worth It?
Honestly? Probably not. The Steelers signed Rodgers to a one-year deal to bridge the gap and win now. They won the AFC North with a 10-7 record, which is great, but the playoff performance was a mirror image of the Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph exits. The offense looked static. The protection crumbled.
If this was the end for Rodgers, he finishes with four MVPs and a Super Bowl, but his final highlight will be chasing Calen Bullock toward the end zone and failing to make the tackle. It’s a tough way to go out.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Loss
You’ll hear fans blaming the defense because of the 30 points. That’s a mistake. The Texans' defense scored two of those touchdowns. The Steelers' defense actually held C.J. Stroud to a relatively quiet night by his standards. The real issue was the offensive line's inability to handle the Houston pass rush, which racked up four sacks and 12 QB hits.
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The "highlights" of the Steelers' season—the Week 18 win over Baltimore to clinch the North, the 59-yard Chris Boswell field goal against the Lions—feel like a lifetime ago now.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft
With the season over, the focus has shifted to the draft, which—coincidentally—is happening right here in Pittsburgh this April. The Steelers are sitting at No. 21.
Experts like Max Chadwick from PFF are already pointing toward Alabama's Ty Simpson as the "perfect" pick. Simpson is a coach's son with 30 big-time throws this season. Given the vacuum at quarterback and the vacancy at head coach, the Steelers are basically a blank canvas for the first time in two decades.
Actionable Steps for Steelers Fans
The season is over, but the news cycle is just starting. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you need to do:
- Monitor the Coaching Search: The Steelers don't fire coaches; they hire them once every generation. Names like Ben Johnson or even a return to the defensive roots with a guy like Brian Flores will be floated.
- Watch the Senior Bowl: Since the Steelers need a franchise QB, pay close attention to the senior-heavy quarterback class. With the draft in Pittsburgh, the team will be under immense pressure to make a splash.
- Check Rodgers' Status: He hasn't officially retired yet. If he decides to come back for a 22nd season, it likely won't be in Pittsburgh, but his decision affects the trade market for other veterans.
- Follow the Cap: Omar Khan has some serious "Khan-artistry" to do. With Tomlin gone, certain veteran contracts might be purged to start the rebuild.
The highlights from today's game might be painful to watch, but they are the catalyst for the biggest changes this organization has seen since 2007. The standard is changing, whether we're ready for it or not.