Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Bengals' 2025 opponents. Next up, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals' AFC North Rivals and adversary in Weeks 7 and 11.
2024
The Steelers posted a 10-7 record in 2024, finishing second in the AFC North and losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round.
Pittsburgh averaged 22.4 points per game on offense, but they were led by their defense. The Steelers allowed 20.4 points per game, the eighth fewest in the NFL. They were also second in turnover differential at +16, finishing the year with 33 takeaways (most in the NFL) and 17 giveaways. LB T.J. Watt anchored the defense, finishing top 10 in sacks with 11.5.
The Steelers had one of the strongest special teams units in the league as well, as K Chris Boswell hit 41-of-44 field goal attempts and all 35 of his extra points.
Offseason Changes
Pittsburgh underwent significant changes on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, bringing in Aaron Rodgers at quarterback after parting ways with QBs Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Rodgers, 41, comes off a two-year stint with the Jets after spending 18 years with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers won four MVPs in Green Bay and led the Packers to a Super Bowl XLV victory over the Steelers.
The Steelers also traded for former Seahawks WR DK Metcalf and traded WR George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Pittsburgh let RB Najee Harris depart in free agency and drafted RB Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
On the defensive side of the ball, Pittsburgh brought in CB Darius Slay, a six-time Pro Bowler and starter for the Eagles Super Bowl LIX championship team. The Steelers also traded for CB Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins, sending S Minkah Fitzpatrick back to Miami, where he started his career. Pittsburgh picked up TE Jonnu Smith in the Fitzpatrick deal as well, who will join Pat Freiermuth in the tight end room. Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro, teams up with Slay and Joey Porter Jr. in the Pittsburgh secondary.
Coaching Staff
Head coach Mike Tomlin enters his 19th season as head coach of the Steelers and is the longest-tenured head coach in the league. With a career coaching record of 183-107-2, Tomlin has never coached a team that finished below .500 and led the Steelers to a Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.
Arthur Smith will coach the Pittsburgh offense for the second season after previously serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23. He also spent time with the Tennessee Titans as their offensive coordinator.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has been with Pittsburgh since 2019, serving as the team's senior defensive assistant and secondary coach until he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2022. Pittsburgh has ranked top 10 in turnover ratio and points allowed all three years of Austin's defensive coordinator tenure.
Series History
As long-time division opponents, including years spent in the AFC Central, the Bengals and Steelers have played 111 times. They split the season series last year 1-1.
What To Watch For
Watt had success against the Bengals in the teams' first matchup of the year, but he was kept off the stat sheet in Cincinnati's Week 18 victory in Pittsburgh. OT Amarius Mims will have another offseason under his belt after a solid rookie year, while OT Orlando Brown Jr. also returns on the outside for the Bengals against the pass rush of Watt, Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith.
Pittsburgh allowed 98.7 rushing yards per game last season, but Bengals RB Chase Brown averaged 5.8 yards per carry against the defense in his lone matchup against them (Brown missed Week 18 with injury). Brown came on down the stretch last season, going for at least 100 yards from scrimmage in five straight games and finishing 12th in rushing yards from Week 9 on despite missing Week 18.
Finally, the Steelers' new look secondary, featuring Ramsey, Slay and the incumbent Porter Jr., will match up with a Bengals receiving corps that got the best of most units in 2024. WR Ja’Marr Chase caught 16 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in two games against the Steelers last season.
View the best photos from Bengals-Steelers matchups of years past
WR Tee Higgins celebrates a touchdown against the Steelers, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to unload the ball while in the grasp of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker David Pollack (99) in first quarter NFL action Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger threw outbounds incomplete on the play.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
QB Joe Burrow throws the ball during the Bengals Week 13 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, December 1, 2024.
DE Sam Hubbard attempts to sack the opposing QB during the Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Week 1 game on Sunday, September 11 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) comes down the ball with Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson (22) defending during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates a stop against the Steelers, Sunday, September 11, 2022.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II (20) deflects a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during an NFL football game on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
In this Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 file photo, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton passes in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cincinnati. Three cornerbacks hurt, a linebacker and a running back in concussion protocol. The Bengals are paying the price for their acerbic, season-dooming loss to the Steelers on Monday night at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals play the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)
S Vonn Bell rushes the quarterback during the Bengals-Steelers Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 11 2022
QB Joe Burrow runs the ball during the third quarter of the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Cincinnati Bengals' Giovani Bernard (25) runs past Pittsburgh Steelers' Cameron Heyward (97) for a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LB Logan Wilson prepares for a snap against the Steelers at Paycor Stadium Sunday, November 26, 2023
DE Trey Hendrickson stares down QB Russell Wilson against the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18, Saturday, January 4, 2025.
OT Orlando Brown Jr blocks a Steelers defender during a game at Paycor Stadium Sunday, November 26, 2023
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
TE Mike Gesicki celebrates a first down against the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18, January 4, 2025.
TE Drew Sample runs through a Steelers defender, Saturday, December 23, 2023.
WR Ja'Marr Chase makes a catch on the sidelines against the Steelers in Pittsburgh in Week 18, January 4, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins catches the pass in the air during the second quarter of the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 11 of the 2022 season.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (80) attempts to catch a pass during an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Cameron Sutton (20) breaks up a pass intended by Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins (85) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Laveranues Coles (11) makes a catch as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) and Troy Polamalu (43) close in to defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday Nov. 15, 2009 in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Don Wright)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (84) falls forward after catching a pass against Pittsburgh Steelers defender Tyrone Carter (23) in the first half of their NFL playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) and Jordan Evans (50) look to recover a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
CB Cam Taylor-Britt returns his interception for a touchdown during the Bengals Week 13 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Sunday, December 1, 2024.
