Picture Credit: Brook Ward via Flickr
For the twenty-first year in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers have finished the regular season with at least a .500 record. Chances are, you’ve heard about this streak before. It’s often used to exemplify Mike Tomlin’s excellence as Pittsburgh’s head coach. Tomlin was again praised for finding a winning record with a middling roster this season, and rightfully so. This roster, especially on offense, had no business winning ten games. Tomlin has consistently outperformed expectations during his time with the Steelers. But to what end? You may not have heard that Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Despite all of their regular season success, the Steelers have consistently fallen short of the ultimate goal: a championship. So, are the Steelers a successful franchise?
Branding Mediocrity as Accomplishment
The Steelers’ streak of seasons without a losing record is one of the most celebrated accomplishments in football. It’s the longest streak in the NFL by a wide margin. On the surface, it looks like a clear marker for success. The goal is to win, right? When you look closer, you see that Pittsburgh has actually hovered at or just above .500 for the majority of that stretch. The Pittsburgh Steelers have finished the regular season between eight and eleven wins in eleven of the last thirteen years. Eighteen NFL franchises have had more playoff wins in the last eight years than the Steelers. In many ways, this franchise is performing below league average. It’s time to start thinking of them this way.
How Does Pittsburgh Define Success?
Allow me to reiterate: I believe Mike Tomlin to be a quality head coach…
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