The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the NFL postseason carrying a significant burden. The team hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016 and is currently 0-5 in playoff appearances under head coach Mike Tomlin. They face the Ravens on Saturday as heavy underdogs, hoping to avoid extending their postseason winless streak to 0-6. According to The Athletic, Pittsburgh’s playoff drought ranks among the top 10 longest in the NFL. As Tomlin put it this week, “(The drought) is my story. It’s not this collective’s story. Many of these guys involved do not tote those bags. I happily tote those bags, but it’s not something that I would project on the collective.” To break the drought, Tomlin has turned to 36-year-old quarterback Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, whose career has faced challenges in recent years. What was initially seen as a potential redemption season in Pittsburgh has now faltered, with the Steelers ending the regular season on a four-game losing streak.
For both Tomlin and Wilson, this game holds immense importance. While Tomlin’s focus may be on securing his long-term legacy, Wilson’s immediate future is on the line. He is set to become a free agent after this season and is hoping to land one final contract before retirement. On that front, there’s optimism. According to Spotrac, editor Mike Ginnitti has predicted that the Steelers and Wilson will remain paired together moving forward, despite the team’s struggles. Ginnitti forecasts that Pittsburgh will offer Wilson a three-year, $100 million contract this offseason. He writes, “Don’t leave Russ for dead just yet. The Steelers dodged more than a few bullets this season to remain relevant both in the AFC North and into the postseason. Wilson isn’t statistically close to what he once was, nor is he capable of single-handedly leading an offense into contention, but he’s a clear fit with this Steelers setup for the short-term. The 36-year-old pending free agent is likely seeking one final contract this offseason.”
