PITTSBURGH — It hardly seems to matter now that the Steelers have reached the playoffs for each of the past two seasons, three of the past four and four of the past five.

That is a healthy sign for most NFL teams — but it is not for the Steelers.

Right now, they are not sure which way they are supposed to go and what they are supposed to do.

Even after they lost a wild-card playoff game in Buffalo last year, they were given a directive by team owner Art Rooney II to start winning playoff games

And they set out with a plan:

— Hire a new offensive coordinator

— Trade two offensive starters

— Sign a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Trade for another

— Sign the biggest inside linebacker prize in free agency

— Get two new starters in the secondary

— Even sign a punter

It seemed to work. A 10-3 start. A two-game lead in the division. An offense suddenly averaging 29 points a game with Russell Wilson. Clinching a playoff spot with four games remaining.

And then this.

After their sixth consecutive postseason loss, the Steelers are in a worse position now than they were a year ago, especially because all the daring and uncharacteristic changes they undertook failed to avoid the playoff sins of the past.

In all likelihood, they will begin the 2025 season with a new starting quarterback, at least one new running back, as many as three new wide receivers and an offensive line that might be the youngest in the league.

Here's how it could break down:

Quarterback

This will be the third time in the past four years the Steelers head into the offseason with uncertainty at quarterback. That Mike Tomlin noted it coincides with the Steelers being eliminated in the first round of the postseason three of the past four years should foreshadow that another change is coming. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are free agents, and it is highly unlikely both will be re-signed. When Wilson and the Steelers agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum contract in March, it was done so with both sides intending to sign a longer deal after the season. But, with the way the season ended with five consecutive losses and a disconnect existing with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, that deal might not materialize. Wilson was brought here to help end the playoff victory drought, and it didn't happen. Bringing in another veteran quarterback does not make sense. That's why Fields, in all likelihood, will be given the job. He's only 25, and he showed big development from his stay in Chicago.

Running back

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are free agents, and Cordarrelle Patterson has a year left on the two-year deal he signed in the spring, but expect only one of the three to return in 2025. Despite being just one of 14 players in history to begin their career with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Harris' return could be in jeopardy. The Steelers did not pick up his fifth-year option in the spring, and placing the franchise tag on him would cost $13.6 million for 2025. Plus, it's a deep year in the draft for running backs, and the Steelers will try to go find someone with the speed to get to the edge — something they sorely lack. Warren is a restricted free agent who will likely receive a tender that will cost another team a first- or second-round pick or give the Steelers first right of refusal if they try to sign him.

Wide receiver

The position was never the same when Diontae Johnson was traded. They could never replace the 78 catches and 873 yards he averaged over five seasons. Worse, they never had a receiver who could come out of his breaks and get open like he did. The Steelers tried to get a replacement to pair with George Pickens (Brandon Aiyuk, Christian Kirk), but those trades never materialized. That will change in free agency. If Patrick Queen was the big free-agency prize last year, a wide receiver will be it this year. And it probably won't stop them from taking a wide receiver on the second day of the draft, either, to go along with Roman Wilson. And the reason? That will set them up for when they move on from Pickens, whose repeated missteps on and off the field might possibly outnumber his 59 receptions. Pickens has a year remaining on his contract, and the Steelers have learned their lesson about giving second contracts to recalcitrant receivers.

Tight end

Arthur Smith never utilized Pat Freiermuth the way everyone expected, even though Freiermuth finished with a career-high in catches (65) and touchdowns (7). The Steelers gave Freiermuth a new four-year, $48 million contract before the season with the idea he would help make up for the loss of Johnson. But he was targeted only four times or fewer nearly 70 percent of the time and had five or more catches in just three games, two against the Bengals. In a five-game stretch at mid-season, Darnell Washington was actually targeted more times (15) than Freiermuth (14). Getting Washington involved in the pass game was a good thing, but his primarily role is as a blocker. Smith's fascination with using MyCole Pruitt, whom he brought with him from Atlanta, was puzzling to many. They got little production from him and TE/H-back Connor Heyward.

Offensive line

The season-ending injuries began early with the loss of center/guard Nate Herbig and No. 1 pick Troy Fautanu and continued when guard James Daniels, who might have been their best lineman, went down in Week 4. From there, it was just a slow decline in performance, both in run blocking and protection. Rookie Zach Frazier was outstanding from the start and looks as though he can continue the long lineage of Steelers center. However, Broderick Jones did not develop as much in his second season as the Steelers were expecting, which should make his presumptive move to left tackle in 2025 all the more interesting. They want Jones to be more committed to his job. The Steelers are expected to move on from Daniels and four-year starter Dan Moore Jr., leaving them with one of the youngest and most inexperienced offensive lines in the league next season.

Defensive line

No position needs an upheaval and upgrade more than this. The Steelers can't keep relying on Cam Heyward to play at a first-team All-Pro level, though that he did at age 35 is beyond astounding. The line has never been the same since Stephon Tuitt abruptly retired, and trying to build it back with mid-round picks the likes of Isaiahh Loudermilk and DeMarvin Leal is not the way to go. That the Ravens could rush for 299 yards — and Derrick Henry would put up 186 yards after running for 162 yards three weeks earlier — is both inexcusable and embarrassing. Four of the six linemen on the roster last week will be 30 or older next season, so the line is aging quickly. Keeanu Benton is a nice piece moving forward, but it's long past due to using the No. 1 pick to try to find the next Cam Heyward. Ignoring it again will only lead to the same problems that have plagued them for two years. Move up in the first round if they have to. Do what they did this year with the offensive line — use the first two picks and three of the first five on the defensive line. They need it.

Linebackers

Both inside and outside, it remains the deepest and strongest position on the team. T.J. Watt did not have his best season, but the bar has been set so high with him that even 11.5 sacks seems ordinary. Alex Highsmith missed six games with injuries but still had six sacks. And Nick Herbig continues to flash his splash-play ability with 5 1/2 sacks and four forced fumbles. Preston Smith, acquired in a trade in November, has two years left on his contract, but his cap number ($13.4 million in 2025) precludes him from returning. Meantime, the addition of Patrick Queen, who played all but two snaps, filled a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. And rookie Payton Wilson, who was fourth in tackles, already showed what his size and speed can do for the defense. But because Queen and Wilson are the same type of player, the Steelers might re-sign run-stuffer Elandon Roberts, who is an unrestricted free agent.

Secondary

The Steelers were third in the league in interceptions (17), and their opposing passer rating (87.5) ranked eighth. Trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson to acquire Donte Jackson upgraded the cornerback spot opposite Joey Porter Jr., but not enough to justify the trade. Jackson's five interceptions were the most by a Steelers cornerback in five years, and his eight passes defended led all defensive backs. But his lack of size got exposed late in the season. Jackson is an unrestricted free agent, and the Steelers appear ready to hand the job to Cory Trice. There haven't been many free-agent signings in team history better than strong safety DeShon Elliott, who finished second with 108 tackles and led with three fumble recoveries. Minkah Fitzpatrick made the Pro Bowl again despite a lack of splash plays, and he will be a big salary-cap hit ($22.3 million) in 2025. But he's still the anchor of the back end of the defense.

Special teams

This was the most productive unit on the team because of kicker Chris Boswell, who made the Pro Bowl after leading the league in field goals (41) and scoring (158 points). His field goal percentage of 93.2 (41 of 44) was second-highest in the league among kickers with at least 25 attempts. Also, the Steelers blocked three more kicks — they have a league-high 11 since 2021 — and Calvin Austin III had one of only six punt returns for a touchdown in the league. Cameron Johnston, who was signed in free agency, was off to a booming start when he averaged 51.5 yards on his first two punts before a knee injury in the opening game ended his season. Corliss Waitman was more than respectable replacing Johnston, but his scuffed 15-yard punt with 3 1/2 minutes remaining in Cleveland led to the winning touchdown.

Coaching

There is only one way to evaluate the coaching staff: the disappointing and embarrassing manner in which they ended the season after a 10-3 start. On top of that, their season-long slow starts on offense (they haven't scored a touchdown on their opening possession in 21 consecutive games) and defense (four touchdowns, four field goals allowed on the opening possession) were just a prelude to how the season would come to an end in Baltimore. The defense allowed three first-half TD drives of 95, 90 and 85, and the offense didn't manage a point until the third quarter. It is difficult to defend failing to score more than 17 points in each of the final five games, a streak that hasn't occurred since Chuck Noll's first season in 1969. Or allowing an average of 397.2 yards in those five games. Changes, even for optics sake, would appear to be warranted, though that might not happen. The outrage over a fifth consecutive one-and-done trip to the postseason might be excessive, but it was well-deserved.

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