If you were looking for the Pittsburgh Steelers to suit up today, January 17, 2026, the silence at Acrisure Stadium tells the real story. There was no game today. Honestly, the season ended in a way most fans are still trying to process. While the rest of the AFC is battling it out in the Divisional Round this weekend—with the Bills taking on the Broncos and the Texans heading to Foxborough—the Steelers are already looking toward a future that looks nothing like the last two decades.
The short answer to who won the pittsburgh steelers game today is actually a look back at Monday night. The Steelers lost. They didn’t just lose; they were dismantled 30-6 by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.
It was a cold, miserable night in Pittsburgh that turned into a franchise-altering nightmare. For three quarters, it felt like a classic, gritty Mike Tomlin game. Then the wheels didn't just come off—they disintegrated.
What Happened in the Last Steelers Game?
The Wild Card matchup against Houston was supposed to be Aaron Rodgers’ big moment in black and gold. Instead, it became a showcase for C.J. Stroud and a relentless Texans defense. The score was a tight 7-6 heading into the fourth quarter. Steelers fans were biting their nails, expecting that typical fourth-quarter magic we've seen all season.
Then, the collapse happened.
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Aaron Rodgers fumbled early in the fourth, and Sheldon Rankins scooped it up for a 33-yard touchdown. You could feel the air leave the stadium. It was the beginning of a 23-point explosion by Houston in the final frame. By the time Calen Bullock returned an interception 50 yards for another touchdown, the rout was on. The Steelers' offense, led by a 42-year-old Rodgers, managed only two Chris Boswell field goals all night. 175 total yards. That’s it.
The Shocking News: Mike Tomlin Steps Down
The loss was bad, but what happened the following morning was the real earthquake. On Tuesday, January 13, Mike Tomlin announced he was stepping down as head coach after 19 seasons.
It’s weird to even say.
Most fans haven't known a Steelers team without Tomlin on the sideline. He finished his career tied with Chuck Noll for the most wins in franchise history (193), but the "one-and-done" playoff exits finally became too much. This was the sixth straight time the Steelers went into the postseason and failed to win a single game.
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Basically, the organization decided it was time for a total reset. With the coach gone and Aaron Rodgers facing a very uncertain future at his age, the "Steelers Way" is about to undergo a massive identity shift.
Why There Is No Game Today
Since the Steelers lost on Monday, they were eliminated from the 2026 NFL playoffs. Today, January 17, the NFL schedule moved on to the Divisional Round.
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET)
The Houston Texans, the team that knocked Pittsburgh out, are scheduled to play the New England Patriots tomorrow, Sunday, January 18. Watching the Texans move on while the Steelers hunt for a new head coach is a bitter pill for the city of Pittsburgh to swallow.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Season
A lot of folks think this season was a failure from the start. It wasn't. People forget the Steelers actually won the AFC North. They beat the Ravens 26-24 in the final week of the regular season to clinch the division. Rodgers threw a go-ahead touchdown to Calvin Austin III with less than a minute left. It was a high point.
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But the gap between "good enough to win the North" and "good enough to compete for a Super Bowl" was exposed on Monday night. The roster is aging in key spots, and the lack of a consistent run game—despite having Kenneth Gainwell and Nick Chubb in the rotation—ultimately doomed them when the weather got cold.
What Really Happened with the Offense?
The game plan against Houston was conservative, maybe to a fault. They tried to protect Rodgers, but the Texans' pass rush was just too fast. Rodgers looked every bit of 42 years old under that pressure.
- Third Down Struggles: The Steelers went 3-of-13 on third downs. You can't win playoff games like that.
- Turnovers: Two massive turnovers in the fourth quarter turned a one-score game into a blowout.
- Red Zone Vanishing Act: They never even made it to the red zone. Both scores were long-distance field goals by Boswell (32 and 35 yards).
What’s Next for the Steelers?
The "who won" question is settled, so now the "who's next" question begins. This is the first time since 2007 that the Steelers are looking for a head coach.
The front office has already been linked to several high-profile coordinators. Names like Ben Johnson or even a return to a defensive-minded culture with someone like Dan Quinn are being floated around local sports talk radio.
The most important takeaway for fans right now is that the roster is going to look very different by August. With Tomlin gone, the loyalty to certain veterans might fade. We are looking at a full-scale rebuild, likely centered around finding a young quarterback in the upcoming draft to finally move past the "bridge veteran" era of the last few years.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
If you're looking to stay updated, keep a close eye on the coaching search over the next 72 hours. The Steelers typically move fast once they make a decision. Also, watch the Texans vs. Patriots game tomorrow; it will show exactly how far the Steelers were from the elite level of the AFC this year.