Former LB Harrison rips Steelers for lowering standard

Pittsburgh Steelers retired linebacker James Harrison. Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Former LB James Harrison rips Steelers for lowering standard

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 2/8/24

The Steelers suffered their fifth straight playoff loss to end the 2023 season. Fans and the media are demanding more from Pittsburgh and now a former player is expressing his dissatisfaction with the team.

Former linebacker James Harrison, who helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls (XL and XLIII), believes the team's standard is no longer the same and that it needs to go back to what it used to be.

"The expectations should never change. I think the expectations have become we don't want to have a losing season," Harrison said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "But the Pittsburgh Steeler standard is to win Lombardi's. When you go into that building, there's six of them sitting there. And right now, we're not even winning a playoff game."

"The expectations should never change for the Steelers and we need to get back to the standard..

The standard is to win Super Bowls and there's six of em sitting there when you walk in the building" ~ @jharrison9292 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/RXS9sXcfVa
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 7, 2024

Harrison is right, head coach Mike Tomlin was praised once again for increasing his consecutive non-losing seasons streak to 17 this season. And although it is an impressive feat, Pittsburgh, which once prided itself on contending for championships every year, is longing for much more.

"I think we need to get back what the standard of the Pittsburgh Steeler legacy, the lore is," Harrison added. "That's just not what it is."

The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, which is the franchise's longest drought since 1970.

Tomlin isn't going anywhere, but something needs to change for the team to avoid going eight straight years without a playoff win in 2024.

Pittsburgh does seem to be taking its playoff drought more seriously than ever, however. Owner Art Rooney II voiced his frustrations about his team at the end of the season.

"We've had enough of this. It's time to get some wins," Rooney II told reporters. "It's time to take these next steps. There's some urgency there, for sure."

The Steelers are making several changes to their offensive coaching staff, which includes naming Arthur Smith as the new offensive coordinator. But they better have results sooner rather than later.

Pittsburgh has maybe its most important offseason ahead and it's one that better translate to at least a postseason win or two in 2024 or the noise will continue to get louder.

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