Mike Tomlin finally did it. He walked away. After 19 years of "The Standard," the most polarizing coach in Pittsburgh sports history called it quits following a 30-6 playoff shellacking at the hands of the Houston Texans. If you’ve spent any time at all listening to 105.9 The X or reading the Tribune-Review, you know exactly what Mark Madden thinks about this. He isn’t crying. In fact, he’s basically saying "I told you so" to anyone with a radio.
The news has sent the city into a tailspin. For some, it’s the end of an era of stability. For Madden, it’s the long-overdue removal of a "fraud" who hid behind a "word salad" while the team’s playoff win drought stretched to nearly a decade.
Steelers News Mark Madden: The "Losing Has Value" Manifesto
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from the latest Steelers news Mark Madden has been pushing is the idea that losing is actually good. Sounds crazy, right? Not in the NFL. Madden argues that the Steelers have been trapped in a "vicious cycle of mediocrity." By scraping together nine or ten wins just to get blown out in the Wild Card round, they’ve missed out on the elite talent that transforms franchises.
He points to the 1969 season. They went 1-13 and got Terry Bradshaw. In 2003, they went 6-10 and landed Ben Roethlisberger.
Madden’s recent column "LOSING HAS VALUE" slams Art Rooney II for fearing the word "rebuild." Rooney told the press he doesn't want to "waste a year" not contending. Madden’s retort? You’ve already wasted nine years not winning in the playoffs. He’s calling for the team to stop the "stupid cycle" of trading first-round picks for veterans like Minkah Fitzpatrick or chasing aging quarterbacks on their last legs.
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The Aaron Rodgers Experiment Failed
Let's talk about the 42-year-old elephant in the room. Aaron Rodgers.
The 2025 season was supposed to be a "last dance" scenario. Rodgers threw for over 3,300 yards and 24 touchdowns, which looks great on paper. But as Madden points out, it did "zilch for the long term." Rodgers came to Pittsburgh specifically to play for Tomlin. Now that Tomlin is gone, Rodgers is almost certainly out the door too.
Madden is particularly spicy about the 2024 quarterback room. He thinks Tomlin "mangled" the situation by benching Justin Fields for Russell Wilson. Fields was 25 and had a first-round pedigree. Wilson was 36 and "plucked off the scrap heap." By choosing the short-term fix, the Steelers guaranteed they’d be right back in the same hole a year later.
Who is the Next Steelers Coach?
With Tomlin gone, the search is on. The Steelers news Mark Madden is tracking right now involves a list of eight candidates—mostly defensive coordinators. This drives Madden nuts. He thinks the modern NFL is about scoring "more and faster." Hiring another defensive-minded coach is, in his eyes, "outdated."
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- The Offensive Options: Klint Kubiak (Seattle OC) and Nate Scheelhaase (Rams Passing Game Coordinator) are the names to watch.
- The Defensive Lean: Most of the current interview requests are for guys like Brian Flores (Vikings) and Jesse Minter (Chargers).
- The Facility Problem: Madden warns that the Steelers job isn't as attractive as it used to be. Bad facilities and a low budget for assistant coaches make it a tough sell compared to spots with franchise QBs already in place.
Madden’s advice? Restore power to the GM. He thinks Omar Khan is just a "bean counter" and that Tomlin’s final-say authority led to disasters like the Kenny Pickett pick in 2022. He wants a football person making football decisions, not a salary cap specialist.
The "Tank for Arch" Strategy
If you want a real glimpse into the Madden mindset, look no further than his latest suggestion: TANK FOR ARCH.
He’s talking about Arch Manning. Since Arch is staying at Texas for another year to soak up NIL money, he won't be in the 2026 draft. Madden wants the Steelers to start Will Howard (the 6th-round pick from Ohio State) or Mason Rudolph for the 2026 season. The goal? Finish with the worst record in the league.
"Start Howard. Post the NFL's worst record. Get the first pick in the '27 draft. Take Arch Manning," Madden wrote. It’s a bold strategy that would never happen under the current ownership, but Madden argues it’s the only way to escape the "nobility in mediocrity."
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Roster Purge: Nobody is Untouchable
The roster is old. It’s expensive. And it hasn't won a playoff game since 2016. Madden is advocating for a total clearance. He’s even questioning the value of keeping T.J. Watt on a contract that runs through 2028 with an average value of $41 million.
It sounds like heresy to most fans. But to Madden, keeping declining stars on massive contracts is just another way to ensure you never actually get better. He views the culture as "weird" and "broken," largely because players like George Pickens were allowed to show up late without real consequences under Tomlin’s player-friendly regime.
The next few months will be the most chaotic in Pittsburgh since 1969. The Steelers are looking for only their fourth head coach in over half a century. Whether they follow Madden's advice and embrace a hard rebuild or try to reload with a veteran like Malik Willis will define the franchise for the next decade.
Actionable Insights for Steelers Fans
- Monitor the Interview List: Watch if the Steelers add more offensive names to their coaching search. If they stay defensive-heavy, expect more of the same "ball control" philosophy Madden hates.
- Watch the Quarterback Market: March 9 is the start of free agency. If the Steelers chase Malik Willis, it signals they are trying to "win now" again rather than rebuilding.
- Draft Strategy: Keep an eye on Ohio State WR Carnell Tate. With D.K. Metcalf underperforming and the offense needing a spark, a top-tier rookie receiver is a must.
- The "Rooney Rule" of Stability: Don't expect a firing spree. The Rooneys value stability over almost everything, which means Omar Khan is likely safe, even if Madden thinks he’s unqualified.
The "Standard" might be dead, but the drama in Pittsburgh is just getting started. If you want the unvarnished, often brutal truth about this team, you keep your dial on Madden. Just don't expect him to be nice about it.
Next Steps for the Offseason
To stay ahead of the curve on the coaching search, you should track the formal interview requests sent by the Steelers' front office this week. Specifically, look for whether they pivot toward "up-and-coming" offensive minds or stick to the traditional defensive identity that has defined the organization for decades. Also, keep a close watch on the quarterback movements in Green Bay and New York, as these will directly dictate the veteran market available to the Steelers before the 2026 NFL Draft.