Steelers Legend James Harrison Ignites a “Steel Storm”: Blasts Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Entire Defense After Bears Loss – A Wake-Up Call as the Steelers Slide Dangerously

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 11/25/2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers walked out of their 31–28 loss to the Chicago Bears carrying a heavy cloud of frustration—but no one voiced the emotions inside Steelers Nation louder than James Harrison, the fearsome defensive legend and franchise icon. Appearing on the Deebo and Joe Show, Harrison delivered one of his most blistering public critiques in years, aiming directly at head coach Mike Tomlin and a defensive system that has unraveled week after week.

With the Baltimore Ravens defeating the Jets and knocking the Steelers out of first place in the AFC North, Harrison didn’t hold back:

“We’re undisciplined, or poorly coached, or both. The defensive scheme is a disaster. We don’t adjust at halftime — it’s nonexistent. It feels like we’re being outcoached from start to finish.”

His words hit Pittsburgh like a shockwave. Not just because Harrison is a former Defensive Player of the Year, but because he has long been known for keeping criticism behind closed doors. Hearing him use terms like “trash,” “garbage,” and “nonexistent adjustments” showed just how far his frustration—and the fanbase’s—has gone.

The game itself told the story: the Steelers allowed rookie quarterback Caleb Williams — still inconsistent throughout his young season — to carve through the defense and put up 31 points. And despite Mason Rudolph and the offense scoring 28 points without Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh once again let a winnable game slip away.

The same issues keep resurfacing: blown coverages, missed assignments, late-game collapses. A defensive identity that once defined the Steelers has faded into something unrecognizable.

Pittsburgh has now lost four of its last six games. The pressure on Tomlin — already immense — has reached a breaking point. Harrison’s comments didn’t just criticize the staff; they echoed the anger of a fanbase tired of mediocrity and inconsistency.

Next week, the Steelers face the Buffalo Bills — a matchup that could determine whether the season is salvaged or spirals further out of control.

And as Harrison made clear, the excuses are gone:

“The standard in Pittsburgh is championships. And right now? The Steelers’ defense is nowhere near that standard.”