Steelers Face Criticism After Seattle Loss Amid Calls for Tomlin's Firing

The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced early-season turmoil in 2025 following a 31-17 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, leading to fan frustration and calls for change. Amanda Vance, a prominent Steelers superfan and former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, publicly demanded the firing of head coach Mike Tomlin, citing ongoing team struggles despite his historically strong record since 2007. The defeat was marked by a costly special teams error when rookie Kaleb Johnson misplayed a kickoff, allowing the Seahawks to score a touchdown, a mistake some fans attributed to unfamiliarity with recent NFL kickoff rules. Coach Tomlin defended his conservative decision to punt on a crucial fourth down and described Johnson's error as poor judgment by a young player. Despite Tomlin's impressive tenure, including 18 consecutive non-losing seasons and a Super Bowl victory, the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2017, intensifying scrutiny around the franchise's direction. The Seahawks' late-game surge and Pittsburgh's errors have dampened hopes for a return to past glory, sparking debate on whether changes are needed within the team.