Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is no stranger to tough questions from the media, but even he had to give a nod to one reporter this week for asking a really thoughtful and detailed question. During a recent press session, a reporter asked Tomlin about running a Cover 3 defense against a Four Verts formation, a pretty advanced and technical question that dug deep into Pittsburgh's defensive strategy.
While Tomlin didn’t want to reveal how the team operates strategically, he still gave some rare praise, saying, “I’m not going to peel back the layers of how we function from a schematic standpoint, although I am impressed by the depths of your question”.
This moment really showed how complex the Steelers’ defense has been dealing with challenges, and how much respect Tomlin has for serious football talk. The question came amid growing struggles for Pittsburgh’s defense this season. Entering Week 12, the Steelers were ranked 27th in passing yards allowed, often getting burned on deep vertical routes.
The reporter’s question pinpointed a specific coverage issue that reflects bigger challenges with communication and alignment in the secondary, a problem that has been dogging the defense all year. Even though Tomlin didn’t get into details, the whole exchange highlighted some of the structural problems in a team that’s usually very disciplined on defense.
The 2025 season has been a bit of a rollercoaster for the Steelers. They currently hold a 6-5 record and are fighting hard to stay in the AFC playoff race. After a strong start with a 4-1 run, they’ve lost four of their last six games, including a tough loss to Chicago in Week 12. Even the defense, which is normally a strong point, hasn’t been as sharp or reliable as usual.
As the Steelers gear up for a tough finish to the season, Tomlin’s shoutout to that reporter’s solid question feels like a small but important reminder. Yes, the team’s problems are complicated, but they need fixing, and fast. With the playoffs on the line, there’s not much room left for mistakes now.