Steelers president sends clear message about team’s playoff win drought

Aug 19, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sits on the sidelines against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers maintain very high expectations and standards, and team president Art Rooney II made clear on Monday that the organization has not been meeting those standards lately.

At his season-ending press conference Monday, Rooney put some pressure on coach Mike Tomlin and the team by saying there was “urgency” for the Steelers to get back to winning in the playoffs.

Rooney said the Steelers have “had enough” of their recent struggles and that things need to change.

Art Rooney II on urgency for the #Steelers to win in the playoffs: "We've had enough of this. It's time to get some wins. It's time to take these next steps. There's some urgency there, for sure."

— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) January 29, 2024

The Steelers’ last playoff win came against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 15, 2017. Since then, the team has lost five straight playoff games, including a Wild Card loss in three of the last four seasons.

While that is hardly a lengthy drought, it is still not acceptable for a franchise that last had a losing season in 2003.

This year’s Steelers team was held back by its offense, which makes one upcoming staff decision of theirs very important. If the team gets that one wrong, Rooney might be left frustrated in his pursuit of more playoff glory.