The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been seen as a sought-after destination in the NFL, largely owing to their storied history and consistent success. Despite recent challenges that have somewhat shaken this reputation, many players still hold Pittsburgh and its renowned football team, currently under Mike Tomlin, in high esteem when making pivotal career choices. What is it about the Steel City that continues to attract players?

One player who’s been around the block a few times in the NFL is Lawrence Guy Sr. The veteran defensive end is nearing the end of an impressive career, probably wrapping things up in the next couple of seasons. Recently, Guy chatted on Good Morning Football about his interest in joining the Steelers and becoming part of their strong defensive tradition. Even at 35, he’s not ready to hang up his cleats just yet and sees Pittsburgh as a potential landing spot.

“I’m a defensive guy; I need to go to defensive teams,” Guy said during the show. “And I understand there’s a lot of things up in the air, but I would do it. I would go to Pittsburgh. Love the organization. I played for the Ravens; I get the rivalry. I love the Black and Blue game; I was a part of the Black and Blue game. It is what it is. This team is known for defense.” The Steelers are definitely renowned for their defensive identity—though, let’s be real, that hasn’t exactly been a guarantee lately. Still, Guy’s passion for defense is clear.

Sure, he’s 35, meaning his prime years are likely behind him, but he sounds all-in on continuing to play. At one point during last season (2024), he had a stint with the Bengals while navigating free agency. Let’s just say retirement isn’t on his radar right now. The problem for Guy? The Steelers’ defensive line already looks pretty packed. Guys like Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Derrick Harmon are already locked in at the top of the depth chart. Plus, there’s Dean Lowry, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Logan Lee, DeMarvin Leal, and Yahya Black—all competing for roster spots. Not exactly an easy group to crack into.

Still, no one can deny the impact Guy had during his prime. He bounced around a bit—most notably with the Ravens and Patriots—bringing solid contributions wherever he went. He played for Baltimore from 2014 to 2016 and then spent the majority of his career with New England from 2017 to 2023. If you’re digging through NFL history books, Guy’s name pops up for helping the Patriots win Super Bowl LIII—a gritty defensive showdown where New England edged out the Rams 13-3. His specialty? Run defense—an area where Pittsburgh struggled last season. So, yeah, if he can still clog up rushing lanes like he used to, maybe the Steelers could keep him in mind down the road.

Guy himself didn’t hold back from hyping up Pittsburgh’s tradition of defense: “There have been stars after stars after stars. You name it, they’ve played it. Right now, with me on there? I know we’re two old people; me and Cam—we all know we’re both old. We kind of look alike, but he has hair, and I don’t have hair. This is what I’m talking about. When you’ve got a defensive state of mind, you need to go to a defensive team. And this is what they’ve always been known for—defense and dominance.” Gotta admit—the man makes a point. Pairing him with Heyward might make sense if you’re looking at things through a “let’s lean on experience” lens.

At this point, though, there’s no room for him in Pittsburgh’s crowded defensive line room… at least not right now. But hey, it’s football. Injuries happen, and rosters shift all the time. If something opens up later this year, it seems like Guy would jump at that opportunity without a second thought. It’s up to Mike Tomlin to decide if the Steelers will pick Guy, but his choices this season have been surprising. That’s why some people are saying he should step down.

Is Mike Tomlin’s job in jeopardy?

ESPN analyst and former Steelers safety Ryan Clark stirred the pot this week with some surprising criticism of Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh. According to Clark, the longtime head coach might be losing his spark with the team. “As great a coach as he is, and he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I believe his voice has run stale in Pittsburgh,” Clark shared during a segment on First Take. That statement turned a few heads—might even say jaws dropped—considering Clark once played for Tomlin and has always been one of his biggest cheerleaders when critics came knocking.

He noted that while he doesn’t expect the Steelers to outright fire Tomlin, he thinks it might be time for the coach to consider moving on. Clark even pointed to Andy Reid’s success with the Chiefs after leaving the Eagles as an example of how a fresh start can work wonders. With Tomlin gearing up for his 19th season as head coach—currently the longest tenure among active NFL coaches—you can’t ignore his impressive track record: two Super Bowl appearances, one championship, and an almost mythical streak of avoiding losing seasons.

But if we’re being real, the Steelers’ postseason performances haven’t exactly been something to write home about lately. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016-17 season, when they edged past the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. Ever since, it’s been the same old story—barely sneaking into the playoffs with a just-over-.500 record, only to face an early exit at the hands of teams like Buffalo or Kansas City.

Sure, Tomlin deserves credit—the guy kept Pittsburgh competitive even after Ben Roethlisberger called it a career. However, despite the regular-season stability, they remain stuck in this frustrating cycle of mediocrity when it truly matters. That’s the kind of thing that has people, including Clark, wondering if it’s time for a shake-up. The truth is, Tomlin’s known for his leadership skills and building player-friendly environments, but maybe those same methods aren’t giving this current Steelers team that extra edge.

The NFL’s constantly evolving, and with new coaching trends leaning heavily into offensive creativity, it’s fair to ask if Pittsburgh’s old-school approach is starting to feel, well, outdated. Of course, whether or not the Steelers brass agrees is a whole other matter. But one thing’s for sure—Clark’s comments just threw some gasoline on a fire that’s been quietly flickering in Pittsburgh for years. Stay tuned; this debate isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.