Beer We Go Steelers

It finally happened. After 19 seasons, 193 wins, and a coaching tenure that spanned nearly two decades without a single losing season, Mike Tomlin has officially resigned as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the 30-6 playoff loss to Houston was a bitter pill to swallow, today isn’t about the final score. It’s about the 19 years of leadership that preceded it. Mike Tomlin didn’t just coach a team; he defined a culture through his “Tomlinisms”,pithy, profound truths that became the heartbeat of the South Side.

As we look toward an uncertain future for the first time since 2007, let’s look back at the five quotes that define the legacy he leaves behind.

1. “The standard is the standard.”

The Legacy: For 19 years, this wasn’t just a catchphrase; it was a mandate. Tomlin inherited a Super Bowl-ready roster and kept it competitive through total rebuilds, defensive overhauls, and the post-Ben era. He never let the outside world’s expectations lower the internal bar. He leaves the facility today with that standard intact: 19 years, 0 losing seasons.

2. “If you have red paint, you paint your barn red.”

The Legacy: This might be the most “Tomlin” of all his philosophies. He was a master of resourcefulness. Whether it was winning games with Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph or reinventing the defense after losing stars to injury, Tomlin coached the team he had, not the team he wished he had. He was the ultimate pragmatist.

3. “We don’t live in our fears. We live in our hopes.”

The Legacy: From his very first season, Tomlin was a risk-taker. He coached with a “go-for-it” mentality that sometimes frustrated fans but always empowered his players. He walked away today the same way he coached: on his own terms, looking toward the future rather than fearing the end.

4. “The strength of the pack is the pack.”

The Legacy: Tomlin’s greatest achievement might have been the locker room. In an era of “diva” wide receivers and high-stakes ego, he kept the Steelers’ “pack” together. Players like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt didn’t just play for the Steelers; they played for Mike Tomlin. He understood that the collective was always more powerful than the individual.

5. “You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training.”

The Legacy: As he steps away, this quote serves as a challenge to whoever fills his shoes. Tomlin’s teams were always prepared, always conditioned, and always disciplined. He believed that success wasn’t a “switch” you flip on Sundays; it was a result of the work done in July at Saint Vincent.

What’s Next for Steelers Nation?

For only the second time in my life, the Rooney family is looking for a leader. Mike Tomlin didn’t just win games; he was a steward of the franchise’s soul. Whether you were ready for a change or are mourning his departure, there is no denying that the man “painted the barn red” every single day he was in Pittsburgh.

Thank you, Coach. The standard will always be the standard because of you.

The promise of a late-season surge vanished into the cold night at Acrisure Stadium on Monday. For the seventh consecutive time, the Pittsburgh Steelers walked off a postseason field as the losing side, falling 30-6 to a relentless Houston Texans squad. The defeat doesn’t just end the 2025 campaign; it extends the franchise’s playoff victory drought to nine years.

The loss also hands Mike Tomlin a dubious piece of history: his ninth one-and-done postseason exit, tying him with Marty Schottenheimer for the NFL record. Since their last playoff win in 2016, the Steelers have been outscored 260-154 in their last seven postseason defeats.

Despite entering the night with momentum from a win over Baltimore, the offense turned in a horrific performance. For the second time in three games, Pittsburgh failed to find the end zone. The Texans outgained the Steelers 408-175, and after the second series of the game, Pittsburgh failed to record a single play longer than 21 yards.

If this was the final chapter for Aaron Rodgers, it was a bitter ending. Rodgers finished 17-of-33 for 146 yards with no touchdowns. While he was a victim of several drops, he was under siege once the Texans’ pass rush was unleashed. A Sheldon Rankins 33-yard fumble return touchdown, from a Will Anderson Jr. strip-sack of Rodgers effectively ended the game and the season.

While the defense forced early turnovers, the lack of consistent pressure from the edges and a porous interior run defense told the real story. Jack Sawyer provided a spark with a strip-sack of C.J. Stroud early, but that was the only sack recorded by a Steelers outside linebackers all night.

T.J. Watt remained active with six tackles and a fumble recovery, but was never a major factor. Alex Highsmith was uncharacteristically quiet, finishing with just a single tackle. The rush was off all night and a step behind Stroud. Inside, Patrick Queen did the heavy lifting with a team-high 10 tackles, but his efforts couldn’t mask the fact that Houston found far too much success running through the middle of the defense. Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon registered sacks, and Yahya Black recovered a fumble, but the unit simply could not stop the run when it mattered most.

The “Achilles’ heel” for the defense all season has been giving up big plays. Last night it proved fatal once again. Receivers running wide open 5 yards behind safeties became a recurring nightmare. The tipping point came on a 3rd-and-15 early in the fourth quarter: Christian Kirk hauled in a 46-yarder that set up a field goal to make it 10-6. Kirk torched the secondary for eight catches and 144 yards, highlighting a desperate need for safety and corner help this offseason.

The “what-ifs” will haunt the team all off season. A late first-quarter drop by DK Metcalf could have seen the Steelers up 6-0 or 10-0. Instead, a punt followed, and Houston marched 92 yards to take the lead. Metcalf, who carries a $31 million cap hit next season, never really found his groove in Pittsburgh, making a “true” No. 1 receiver a top draft priority.

The special teams unit were the lone bright spot. Chris Boswell improved to 19-for-19 in his postseason career with two field goals, and Corliss Waitman pinned Houston inside the 20 four times.

The officials have been horrendous all season, last night was an exception. While there were several calls you could argue, they never slowed the game down and they were never really a factor in the outcome.

Mike Tomlin is going to get absolutely roasted by the fanbase and the press after this exit. The scrutiny also falls on Arthur Smith and Teryl Austin. The refusal to involve Pat Freiermuth until the game was out of hand, and the conservative play-calling following defensive turnovers, such as a 3-yard loss on a run after Watt’s recovery at the Houston 21, left the team settled for field goals instead of touchdowns. In the playoffs, you need a killer instinct and the Steelers lacked it.

The ability to stop the big plays on third down and not be able to execute any plays on third down was the Achillies heel all season and while they showed flashes of brilliance, they simply lacked consistency to be a serious contender.

It will be a long off season for the Steelers and it will be one of great change.

Beer We Go Steelers, Beer We Go!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Honestly, no one deserves it this time, the game was just frustrating. Honorable mentions: Corliss Waitman and Chris Boswell, who both performed well all season and stood out again in this game.

Beer of the Game: Had to go to back to old faithful…Miller Lite! KGB went with Corona Light

“Steel the Snacks”: We did “Steel the Snacks” but last night we played a “road game” for the first half. We went to a local BBQ restaurant where we had Texas Style Hot BBQ, Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken and a Half Rack of Ribs. The food was not up to KGB standards but was good. They basically ran us out of the bar at half time.

My stat of the week: The obvious one, seven straight playoff losses. Last night felt like the best matchup style wise and honestly believed the Steelers had a strong edge. The score didn’t tell the story, but the fact the Steelers were roasted was just horrendous.

My thoughts on next week: This is going to be one of the hardest off seasons ever. There will be a great deal of change, and the Steelers will have several needs on both sides of the ball.

Jersey of the Week: Alejandro Villanueva, 78, Salute to Service. I was going with Deebo but switched at the last minute because I won this jersey at the restaurant we were going to and I wanted some offensive line help. Nothing seemed to work out.

One week after appearing to fritter away a golden opportunity and being completely jobbed by the referees, the Pittsburgh Steelers bounced back from their misery in Cleveland to claim their first AFC North title in five years.

In a winner-take-all showdown that lived up to every bit of the hype, the Steelers outlasted the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 on Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium. The North was secured when Ravens kicker Tyler Loop sent a 44-yard field goal attempt wide right with no time remaining, sparking a celebration in Pittsburgh years in the making.

This game was exactly why the Steelers waited almost an entire offseason to land Aaron Rodgers. While the offense sputtered early once again. Rodgers proved why he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he absolutely came through when they needed him most. Battling the elements, technical glitches and lousy officiating.

Twice in the final four minutes, Rodgers led the Steelers to touchdowns after the Ravens had snatched the lead. His “calm in the storm” will define this game for years. He finished with a season-high 294 passing yards (31-of-47), and he did it with a depleted receiving corps that was missing DK Metcalf.

The most important of those yards came with 55 seconds left: a 26-yard strike to Calvin Austin III for the game-winning score. The only negative you could say was he did it too fast! Austin, who started the final drive with a 16-yard snag, actually helped devise the winning play in the huddle, hitch-and-go that left the Ravens’ secondary in the dust. Pat Freiermuth chipped in with three catches for 51 yards.

With the passing game finding its legs late, the heavy lifting early came from the backfield. Jaylen Warren was a workhorse with 99 scrimmage yards, while Kenneth Gainwell, the team MVP, racked up 74 total yards.

Gainwell was a massive safety valve for Rodgers, hauling in eight catches for 64 yards out of the backfield. He also punched in a clutch 2-yard touchdown run late in the fourth to give the Steelers a temporary 20-17 lead.

The defense played well but had so many lapses it was frustrating to watch. There were blunders all over the field in the fourth quarter, particularly in the secondary. Jalen Ramsey had a uncharacteristically rough outing, allowing Zay Flowers to get behind him for two long touchdowns (50 and 64 yards).

Alex Highsmith missed a huge sack on Lamar Jackson on 3rd-and-4 that allowed Jackson to escape and find Flowers for that first long score.

However, when they needed plays, the big names showed up. T.J. Watt, returning from lung surgery, snagged a massive interception that set up a third-quarter field goal. Keeanu Benton and Derrick Harmon were stout in the middle, with Harmon adding a sack.

Cam Heyward continues to defy Father Time, leading the team with seven tackles and leading the second-half effort to keep Derrick Henry in check. If anyone needed this win, it was Heyward. Still stinging from last year’s Wild Card exit where the Ravens gashed the Steelers for 299 rushing yards and pushed the front seven all over the field.

Heyward played like a man possessed. He wasn’t just a leader; he was the key member of the attack. Heyward finished with a team-high seven tackles (five solo), but his impact went far beyond the stat sheet.

After allowing Derrick Henry to rip off a 41-yard run on the very first play of the game, a play where Heyward was actually tripped and struggled to get up, the captain settled in. He spearheaded a defensive front that held Henry to just 85 yards on his final 19 carries. While T.J. Watt got the glory for the third-quarter interception, it was Heyward who made the play possible by batting Lamar Jackson’s pass at the line of scrimmage.

He even contributed on offense. After an unsuccessful “Spartan formation” push earlier in the game, Cam checked back in during the third quarter to help “tush push” his brother, Connor Heyward, over the line for a crucial first down that eventually led to the Steelers’ first touchdown.

Special teams were also a roller coaster and nearly cost the Steelers the game; Chris Boswell drilled a 57-yarder but missed a crucial extra point that nearly cost the game. The kickoff coverage also faltered late, allowing the return that set up Loop’s final attempt.

While the division title is home, Tomlin has plenty to clean up. The back-end coverage remains a concern, and the offense cannot afford these slow starts in January.

But for now? The Steelers have finally gotten off the schneid. They are AFC North Champions and have a date with the Houston Texans on Monday night. With DK Metcalf set to return to the team today, the momentum is officially back in the Burgh.

After the calls for his firing and all the off-field distractions. Tomlin deserves immense credit for keeping this group’s belief high when things looked dire. This team has a chance to win a playoff game for the first time since 2017. Buckle up.

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!

My “GAME BEER” goes to: Going with two (it’s my blog) Cam Heyward who is the quintessential Pittsburgh Steeler and of course Aaron Rodgers who showed up biggest when the lights were brightest. Both provided veteran leadership. Also Considered: T.J. Watt for the big interception, also how about a shoutout to the offensive line for putting together a tremendous day.

Beer of the Game: Had to go to old faithful…Miller Lite! Have always had a great track record and went with this over IC Light. KGB went Blue Moon with blood orange wedge.

“Steel the Snacks”: We did “Steel the Snacks” this time KGB whipped up some Baltimore Pit Beef, and let me tell you, it was mowed down.

For those who haven’t had it, this isn’t your typical low-and-slow BBQ. This is top round beef, seasoned heavy, grilled over high heat to a perfect medium-rare, and sliced paper-thin. KGB served it up on sliders: piled high on a kaiser roll with plenty of raw onions and a massive smear of “Tiger Sauce” (that heavy horseradish and mayo mix).

It was spicy, it was messy, and just like the Steelers’ defense in the fourth quarter, it had a lot of “kick” to it. Honestly, watching Tyler Loop’s kick sail wide right while finishing off a Pit Beef sandwich might be the highlight of my season.

My stat of the week: TEN as in 10-time AFC North Champions and the Steelers 25^th division title. The most in AFC North (Central) history, here is the breakdown:

• Pittsburgh Steelers: With the 2025-26 title, the Steelers now have 25 total division championships. They lead the division in both the modern “North” era and the original “Central” era.
• Baltimore Ravens: While they have the fewest total titles, it is important to remember the franchise only began in 1996. Seven of their eight titles have come since the 2002 realignment.
• Cincinnati Bengals: Their most recent run of dominance included back-to-back North titles in 2021 and 2022.
• Cleveland Browns: The Browns have yet to win the division since the NFL realigned into the North in 2002. Their last division title came in 1989.
• The “Defunct” Champions: Before 2002, the AFC Central also included the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (3 titles) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (2 titles).

My thoughts on next week: The Steelers will play on Monday Night Football, the hardest part of playing the Ravens is both teams hammer each other and usually guys get hurt. The extra day was so important. The team that showed up in the second half minus the miscues could beat anyone. They are going to have to earn it, playing one of the best defenses in the Texans.

Jersey of the Week: Cam Heyward, 97, White away jersey. I picked the away jersey even though we were home, in honor of the Feast of the Epiphany which was celebrated this weekend at my church, The colors are white and gold!