The standard is the standard. If you’ve spent five minutes in the South Side of Pittsburgh or scrolled through a heated thread on X (formerly Twitter), you’ve heard it. But honestly? After the 2025-26 season wrapped up, that phrase feels a little heavier than usual.
The Pittsburgh Steelers record for this year finished at 10-7. On paper, it looks like a classic Mike Tomlin year. Double-digit wins, a winning season (the 22nd in a row for the franchise, breaking the old Cowboys record), and a trip to the postseason. But stats don't tell the whole story. This year was a rollercoaster that ended in a brick wall.
The 10-7 Reality: Breaking Down the Schedule
Pittsburgh actually managed to claw their way back to the top of the AFC North. It’s the first time they’ve worn the division crown since 2020. They did it by sweeping the Ravens, including a gutsy 26-24 win in Week 18 that felt like vintage Steelers football.
But look at the mid-season stretch. It was ugly.
Between Week 7 and Week 13, the team went 2-5. They lost to the Bears at Soldier Field. They got dismantled by the Bills 26-7 at Acrisure Stadium. At one point, the offense looked completely stagnant, even with Aaron Rodgers under center. Yeah, you read that right—the Rodgers experiment in Pittsburgh finally happened in 2025. It brought a 94.8 passer rating and 24 touchdowns, but it didn't bring the playoff magic the front office paid for.
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The season ended abruptly on January 12, 2026. A home playoff game against the Houston Texans. A 30-6 blowout loss. It was the first time in history the Steelers lost a home playoff game to Houston. It also extended their playoff losing streak to seven games. Basically, they haven’t won a postseason game since the 2016-17 season.
Mike Tomlin Walks Away
The biggest shocker didn't happen on the field. It happened in the press room.
On January 13, the day after the Texans loss, Mike Tomlin announced he was stepping down. Nineteen seasons. A 193-114-2 regular-season record. He tied Chuck Noll for the most wins in franchise history.
It’s weird to think about a Steelers sideline without him. He never had a losing season, which is a statistical anomaly in the modern NFL. But that seven-game playoff skid clearly weighed on him. The fans were restless, the "fire Tomlin" chants had turned into a low, constant hum, and he decided the 10-7 finish was his final act in the Black and Gold.
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The Roster: Who Stepped Up and Who Didn't?
The defense was the highest-paid unit in the league this year, but they were inconsistent. T.J. Watt remained a monster, but the secondary struggled.
- Jalen Ramsey: He was the big offseason splash. He made the Pro Bowl but spent the latter half of the year transitioning to safety because he was losing a step at corner.
- Kenneth Gainwell: Surprisingly, he became the heartbeat of the offense. After Najee Harris left, Gainwell and Jaylen Warren shared the load, with Gainwell earning team MVP honors.
- DK Metcalf: Another "how did they get him?" addition. He hauled in 6 touchdowns and 850 yards, including a massive 80-yarder, but the chemistry with Rodgers was hit-or-miss.
The "West Coast" scheme under Arthur Smith produced 23.4 points per game. That's 15th in the league. Not bad, but not enough to win when your defense is giving up 30 to a young Texans squad in January.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Season
A lot of national media outlets are praising the 10-7 record as a success because of the division title.
Don't buy it.
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The AFC North was weird this year. The Bengals were beat up, and the Browns were... well, the Browns. Winning the division was more about survival than dominance. The Steelers were actually outscored by their opponents in several key metrics. Their "Expected W-L" was 8.8-8.2. They essentially "lucked" into two extra wins through Chris Boswell’s leg—the man hit nine field goals from 50+ yards this year.
The Road Ahead for 2026
Now the franchise is in a total reset. No head coach. A 40-plus-year-old quarterback with a massive cap hit. A defense that is aging.
Omar Khan has his work cut out for him. The 2025 season will be remembered as the end of an era. It was a year of "what ifs" and "almosts."
If you're looking for actionable insights on where this team goes next, keep an eye on the coaching search. Names like Lincoln Riley or even a defensive mind like Dan Quinn are already circulating. The priority has to be fixing the playoff drought. 10-7 is a nice regular season, but in Pittsburgh, the only record that matters is the one that ends with a trophy.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Monitor the Coaching Search: The Steelers haven't hired a new head coach since 2007. This is the biggest story in the NFL right now.
- Watch the Salary Cap: With Aaron Rodgers' future uncertain, the team could have massive dead money or a huge hole at QB by March.
- Draft Focus: Look for the Steelers to target the secondary early in the 2026 Draft. The Derrick Harmon pick last year was a hit on the D-line, but the back end needs youth.