Steelers president Art Rooney II acknowledged his postseason comments that “it’s time to get some (playoff) wins” was the impetus for the flurry of offseason activity that involved several of the league’s big-name players.
Rooney’s impatience triggered a number of uncharacteristic big moves by general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin, beginning with the free agent signings of quarterback Russell Wilson and inside linebacker Patrick Queen and trades involving Justin Fields, Kenny Pickett and Dionate Johnson.
“I think we feel like we have some pieces in place here,” Rooney said during a break in the NFL draft. “It’s not like we need to have a three-year building project, so it really is a question of what do we need to do to win now. That’s been the focus. “
After the Steelers were eliminated in the opening round of the postseason for the fifth consecutive time, Rooney indicated he has grown impatient the team hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. It is their longest drought since the team won its first playoff game in 1972.
“We’ve had enough of this,” Rooney said two weeks after the Steelers lost a wild-card playoff game in Buffalo. “It’s time to get some wins. It’s time to take these next steps.”
Signing Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback, was the first indication the Steelers were not going to stand still after a 10-7 season. And giving Queen a three-year, $41 million deal — the largest they’ve ever handed out in free agency — might have been the most significant of all.
But their willingness to trade Johnson to Carolina for a starting cornerback (Donte Jackson) and immediately acquire Fields after trading Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles was an indication they were not going to tolerate bad behavior.
“We made some significant changes,” Rooney said. “We need to add some good players this weekend and develop some players before now and September.
“We’re in an extremely competitive division and conference. It’s an interesting time to be a team trying to contend in the AFC, that’s for sure.”
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and @gerrydulac on X
First Published: April 27, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Updated: April 28, 2024, 2:34 a.m.