Head coach Mike Tomlin won one Super Bowl and went to another with future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. But since the end of Roethlisberger’s career, it has been tough sledding in the postseason for Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
Next week, Tomlin will have another crack at the playoffs thanks to a different future Hall of Fame signal-caller — Aaron Rodgers.
A shootout broke out late in the Steelers’ Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Even at 42 years old, Rodgers was more than up to the task.
In the fourth quarter, Rodgers completed 11 of 14 passes for 133 yards. He also had a touchdown throw — a 26-yard completion to Calvin Austin III.
That score clinched Pittsburgh’s first division title in five years after the Ravens missed a field goal in the final seconds of regulation. Behind the touchdown and missed field goal, the Steelers defeated their archrival 26-24.
After clinching the AFC North, Tomlin raved about his quarterback.
“I’ve admired him from afar for a long time. It was good to do it with him,” Tomlin said of Rodgers. “As I’ve said multiple times here in recent weeks, this was the vision in the spring when we pursued him. That’s why you do business with a 41, 42-year-old guy.
“Been there, done that guy with a resume like his. He is not only capable, man, he thrives in it. I think he put that on display tonight.”
In Week 18, Rodgers saved his best for last. Overall, the 42-year-old signal-caller was 31 of 47 for 294 yards with the touchdown to Austin. Rodgers avoided throwing an interception and took two sacks.
Aaron Rodgers Carves out Place in Steelers-Ravens History
There will be a lot of moments to remember from the latest rendition of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry. But Rodgers’s fourth quarter should be a lasting image for Pittsburgh sports fans.
The Steelers trailed by four points twice in the final stanza. On both occasions, Rodgers orchestrated go-ahead touchdown drives.
On the first touchdown possession of the fourth quarter, Rodgers overcame communication issues with his helmet. Kenneth Gainwell ran for a two-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a 3-point lead with 3:49 remaining.
However, the Ravens responded with a touchdown less than a minute and a half later. Furthermore, the Steelers burnt all of their timeouts because of Rodgers’s helmet problems on their previous offensive possession.
“[There’s] going to be challenges like that,” Tomlin told reporters of Rodgers’s helmet. “There’s always the unforeseen in this game. We dealt with it. It didn’t prevent us from winning. And so, we move on.”
Echoing that sentiment, Rodgers answered the call without any timeouts on the final drive. He led the Steelers with 65 passing yards to score another touchdown to regain the lead with 55 seconds left.
Mike Tomlin, Steelers Clinch AFC North Title
With the Week 18 victory, Tomlin clinched his eighth division title in 19 seasons with the Steelers. The 2025 AFC North crown is Pittsburgh’s first in five years.
It also snapped the longest division title drought the Steelers have experienced under Tomlin.
Although it was a very tumultuous season — one that saw Steelers fans chant “Fire Tomlin” during one November loss — Tomlin’s club never fell completely out of first place. With their victory Sunday, the Steelers will host their first playoff game in five years.
The goal now for Tomlin is finally winning a playoff game. The Steelers last won a postseason matchup in January 2017.
Since then, Tomlin’s club has dropped six consecutive playoff games. The Steelers have fallen in the AFC wild card round in four consecutive postseason appearances.
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Speaks out on Aaron Rodgers After Game-Winning TD Wins AFC North