If you're looking for the score of the Pittsburgh Steelers game today, January 17, 2026, the short answer is there isn't one. The Steelers didn't play today. They aren't in the Divisional Round.
Honestly, it’s a tough pill for the city of Pittsburgh to swallow. While teams like the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos are duking it out this afternoon, the Steelers are at home. Their season ended five days ago in a way that most fans would probably prefer to forget.
Basically, the 2025-2026 campaign came to a screeching halt on Monday, January 12. If you missed the final score from that Wild Card matchup at Acrisure Stadium, it was Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6.
The Wild Card Disaster: Houston Texans 30, Steelers 6
It was a Monday Night Football game that turned into a nightmare. Going into that night, the Steelers had this incredible 23-game home winning streak on Monday nights. It felt like "Steelers Weather." It felt like home-field advantage. But the Texans didn't care about the history books.
The game was actually close for three quarters. It was a 7-6 "rock fight" at halftime. Then the fourth quarter happened. Houston exploded for 23 points in the final frame.
The turning point? A disaster for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Early in the fourth, Will Anderson Jr. got to Rodgers, jarred the ball loose, and Sheldon Rankins scooped it up for a 33-yard touchdown. That made it 17-6, and you could just feel the air leave the stadium. It only got worse from there. A 13-yard run by Woody Marks and a 50-yard pick-six by Calen Bullock turned a close game into a 30-6 blowout.
What Happened to the Aaron Rodgers Experiment?
The Steelers brought in Aaron Rodgers on a one-year deal to finally get over the hump. They won the AFC North. They finished 10-7. But in the biggest game of the year, the offense looked completely stagnant.
Rodgers finished the night with just 112 passing yards. He was sacked four times. DK Metcalf, who was supposed to be the X-factor returning from suspension, only had two catches for 42 yards. He also had a massive drop early on that could have changed the momentum.
When reporters asked Rodgers after the game if he’d be back in Pittsburgh for 2026, he was blunt: "I'm not gonna talk about that." It felt like a goodbye.
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The Mike Tomlin Era Is Officially Over
This is the news that’s actually making headlines today while other teams are playing. Mike Tomlin has stepped down. Less than 24 hours after the loss to Houston, Tomlin left his post. Today, January 17, he made his first public appearance—not at a press conference, but at a University of Georgia gymnastics meet to watch his daughter, Harley.
It’s surreal. For the first time since 2007, the Steelers are looking for a new head coach. Tomlin never had a losing season, but that playoff losing streak? It reached seven games with the loss to Houston. That ties the NFL record for the longest playoff losing streak by a head coach.
Why the Steelers Aren’t Playing in the Divisional Round
Since you’re checking the score today, you’re likely seeing other playoff updates. Here is the schedule for the games that are happening this weekend while Pittsburgh watches from the couch:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 p.m. ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET)
The Texans, by virtue of beating the Steelers, earned a trip to Foxborough to face the top-seeded Patriots.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Steelers
A lot of national media will tell you the Steelers "failed" this year. But let’s look at the nuance. They won the AFC North. They beat the Baltimore Ravens twice, including a 26-24 thriller on January 4th to clinch the division.
The problem wasn't the regular season; it was the "playoff ceiling." The defense, led by T.J. Watt, was elite for 17 weeks. Watt called the Texans loss "extremely frustrating" and admitted he didn't have the answers anymore. When your best player sounds that defeated, you know a total rebuild is coming.
Next Steps for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The "Today" score for the Steelers is effectively 0-0 as they enter the offseason. If you're a fan, here is what you should be watching over the next few weeks:
- The Coaching Search: Names like Ben Johnson or even a return of a former Steeler assistant will be flying around. This is the first search in nearly two decades.
- The Quarterback Question: With Rodgers likely gone and Justin Fields' future uncertain, Pittsburgh is back in the QB market.
- Draft Order: The Steelers will likely be picking in the 20s. They desperately need offensive line help and a younger secondary.
The 30-6 loss to the Texans wasn't just a score; it was a series finale. The Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers era ended in the cold Pittsburgh rain, and now the organization has to figure out what the next chapter looks like.