BREAKING: Pittsburgh Steelers have ‘no excuses’ after T.J. Watt extension, former NFL GM says: ‘They’re all in’

The Pittsburgh Steelers have ‘no excuses’ to not win this season after the T.J. Watt extension, according to former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

Tannenbaum views age as a potential issue for the Steelers’ defense, noting that injuries could affect what appears to be a solid unit. However, Tannenbaum sees a path to success, but it is up to the team to finally win after failing to win a playoff game since 2017.

“He just put a ribbon on their offseason,” Tannenbaum said. “That started with a very un-Steeler-like sort of offseason trade for DK Metcalf, a second-round pick, then the Aaron Rodgers wait, and then adding Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith. So to me, like, no excuses. They are all in.”

The Steelers have hoarded 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which seems to be a likely effort to move up in the draft and secure their quarterback of the future. However, they also want to win in 2025.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has now lost six in a row in the postseason, which is a Steelers franchise record and the longest active streak in Tomlin’s tenure. His last playoff win was in 2017.

With that, Tomlin joins four other coaches in the pantheon of NFL history as coaches who have lost six or more straight playoff games in their career. Jim Mora, Marvin Lewis, Marty Schottenheimer, and Shane Owen are the only other coaches to reach that mark. Lewis holds the record with seven straight playoff losses.

This could be the season the Steelers crack that code and get back to winning in the postseason. With all the moves they made, the Steelers certainly hope that is exactly how it all plays out.