Ben Roethelisberger Says This Steelers Team Has Killed The Steelers Culture | Pat McAfee Reacts 

If anyone says Tomlin deserves credit for the past success, then he 100% deserves criticism for the failures as well. The foundation of a team is the culture, and that starts with the head coach, which affects the entire coaching staff and roster.

Tomlin did A LOT of damage to this entire team by not only keeping Canada after last season, but by continuing to keep him for 1/2 the year this season, when it was crystal clear that it just wasn’t working. He lost a good bit of the locker room over that, and it took starting players complaining to the media to get Tomlin to FINALLY get rid of him. That’s really not good.

ben roethlesberger, known motivator and team leader.

Ravens fan here. Back when Big Ben and Ray Lewis were playing was some of the best and most entertaining football every year. Love to hate them but respected them at the same time. Football was more like football back then also, not flag football like it is now.

Growing up on the outskirts of Pittsburgh, people all around the area took so much pride in the Steelers. It’s a shame that’s getting harder to do.

As a Steelers fan for 40 years what Ben is saying is 1000% right

Crazy thing is even A.B was talking how Pickens is acting lol

What Ben said was right, but I think he fails to recognize his part in why this is happening. He made it impossible to draft a successor that can learn the "Steelers way" to be the next leader for the offense and even when they did draft QBs he'd be pissy and complain about why that doesn't help him win. He wasn't the best embassador either!

We need Troy on this show!! Why hasn’t it happened yet!??? Make it happen

I love the Steelers. Not my team, I live on the west coast. But whenever I feel nostalgia for the 1980s or 1990s I watch the a Steelers game. Old school baby, never change.

Ben is absolutely correct!!! The Steelers tradition is no longer. The Steeler's ran the AFC North for year. We lost our physically on offense and now it's starting to show on the defense.

Tomlins defensive philosophy worked well when he came to Pittsburgh - He inherited a veteran roster in one of the best defensive eras of the modern NFL. Tomlin refuses to evolve with the game though and his stubbornness has cost the Steelers for years now. The relationship has run its course and is now doing more harm than good.

Egos are turning football into an individual sport. These young bucks coming into the league aren't there for the team they are there for themselves... it's not just football it's the entire vibe of how the USA operates.

Ben is right I hate watching this team play. Even when they win it feels like they got lucky and didn’t earn it.

Big Ben is 100% right! Im a Ravens fan and I really miss Big Ben, Hines Ward big Jerome etc.. even though for the most part, the Steelers got the better end of those games, they were amazing games and there will never be anything like it again. I hated Ben but we all respected him for being one tough SOB.

Its was easy for him when he inherited Cowhers veteran defense and Big Ben. They have fizzled out every since superbowl 45!

Trouble is the whole NFL is headed that direction 😢

It's funny how the fans were all screaming to fire their OC, now that they've realized it didn't change anything, they want Tomlin gone. Newsflash, it ain't the coaching. 😂

The culture that forced Villanueva to apologize for standing up for the national anthem, as a prior Army Captain? F*CK PIT

The best days of big ben, Polamalu, harrison, hines ward, the bus bettis... now its a bunch of divas who cant punch their way out of a wet paper bag

Love how everyone except Ben lobs the defense in with the offense

The decline of the culture started with teams “lead” by Big Ben. And then not to mention all the divas they have tolerated for their talent. They loved the steeler way but they got lost

As a Bengals fan listening to the dysfunction that’s the Pittsburgh Steelers now is AWESOME! 😂

This team needs more attitude adjustments than edge when he slapped Cena’s dad.

Tomlin is the main issue at this point. He squandered a hof quarterback, #1 wr, and premier rb for several years. He has what, 3 playoff wins in the last 11 years? He has mismanaged the clock for all of his career. One important fact is Tomlin's teams lose to a team with the worst record in football on an annual basis. That is crazy. He cannot motivate his team and have them ready to play against weak teams. All of this comes down to a leadership issue. These players need discipline and guidance. Players used to fear going back to the sideline after making stupid mistakes when Cowher was waiting to yell with spit flying everywhere. You can't be their best bud. You have a job to do. Player conduct should be an absolute highest requirement as well. Too much money flowing not to expect something extra out of each and everyone of them. Lastly, how long do you think high quality players are gonna want to stick around with a coach and team that can't at least fight for a playoff spot?

This is Ben’s way of saying Tomlin is trash without saying it.

Tomlin drafts ' splash play' type guys, Cowher drafted football players. Even just the defense you see the difference. Steelers have been near the bottom of the league in run defense for a decade now. They draft guys for sacks and for INTs, and in the meantime those players are putting no effort into stopping the run. Run the ball and stop the run... that is what the Steelers have always been. Watch Hines Ward on a run play blowing up Ed Reed, then watch Dionte Johnson not even attempt a block because run plays don't help his stats. Tomlin benefited so much from having Dick LeBeau as long as he did and because Ben didn't retire. I think now we end up as the early Browns, where we draft a QB in the first round every year for a decade, and then blame him and replace him for not winning.

Why don’t they move the kicker back to their own 25. All kick team minus the kicker starts at the opponents 40. Receiving team at their 30 with only two allowed at the 20 and 1 inside the ten. The ball travels into the end zone untouched in the air it is a touchback. However the ball is only returnable if it received from the ten to the 1 yard line. If it falls short of reaching the 10 it’s a penalty and the ball is placed on the 30yard line. If the ball hits inside the ten and 1 yard line and isn’t picked up it’s a live ball. If it happens to bounce into the end zone prior to being picked up it’s a penalty on the receiving team and ball is placed at the 20 yard line. Players are able to move once the ball is either touched or hits the ground

The Steelers pretty much sucked in the 80's until they were able to start drafting better talent in the early 90s. The Rooney's are the ones that kept rhe organization to a certain standard. Is time to make a change like when they pushed out Chuck Noll and replaced him with Bill cower? If they can push out Chuck Noll then they can damn sure push out Tomlin.

As a Bengals enthusiast, this situation strongly echoes the conclusion of the Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati. Let me state upfront: I recognize that Marvin Lewis is not synonymous with Mike Tomlin, and the Bengals do not mirror the Steelers. Despite my disdain for Pittsburgh, I can objectively acknowledge the historical identities of the Bengals and Steelers. That being said, Bengals fans fervently called for Lewis to step down for numerous years. It became evident that Lewis' communication was no longer impactful. Although he didn't secure a playoff victory, he guided the Bengals to the playoffs on five occasions. Yet, all I kept hearing from the national media was, "Be cautious about what you desire!"

Really glad u pointed out how love big Ben is in Pittsburgh. Ben will forever be a legend in Pittsburgh and any true fan knows how important big Ben was to this franchise. Big Ben could be mayor of the Burg in 10 seconds. Guaranteed. Anything Ben says will be taken very seriously by Steelers fans.

You're way overselling how *LOVED* Ben is in Pittsburgh lol We appreciate what he accomplished with the team and all but he's not especially liked as a person. At all.

Steelers fan. Live 30 minutes outside the city. He’s 100% right

I think Urinating tree would have a lot to say about how Ben carried the culture of the Steelers

Don't you think somebody there now would have learned from Ben. Or maybe the reality of the situation doesn't meet the memory of Bens. Wasn't he the quarterback that had the fiasco of Antonio Brown happened. And wasn't he the quarterback with all the Juju dancing, celebrating, posting videos from the locker room? Toughness

Big Ben.... An excellent leader who always cared about putting team first. He was such a model person I'd even trust him alone with my sister.

Ben Roethlisberger, now THERE'S a guy who doesn't take no for an answer!

He's right, but I also don't remember him doing that when AB was acting a fool or other wideouts were more worried about tiktok views

He is basically admitting to not leaving that culture with the steelers. Lol

When I was a young kid, in the 70's, I fell in love with the whole Steelers mentality. I mean, it was the steel town, the iron workers, the black and gold colors and practically the only thing pretty about the Steelers was Lynn Swan, it was the toothless Terry Bradshaw and Jack Lambert, Mean Joe Green, Jack Ham, L.C. Greenwood, Mel Blount, Mike Webster the hard working Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, who was a rookie running back when he was drafted into the army, went to Vietnam, got shot in the left leg and then a grenade bounded off another solder, landing by Bleier, sending shrapnel into his right leg, told he would not play again, he went back to Pittsburgh for a successful career. These were tough, tough men, that defense in 1976 had five shutouts in 9 games where they allowed 28 points total in those games. Now, to watch men walk off the field as every other player and all the refs are chasing a fumble that was picked up by the man you are supposed to block? Full grown men use social media to ghost their own team? They look like whiny little babies even when they were winning.

Big Ben was a perfect fit for the Steelers. Everything about him from his Play style to his toughness, just screams Pittsburgh.

I listen to Footbahlin every week. Ben always speaks his mind and is sometimes too honest for his own good. He’s speaking the truth here for sure.

Wide receiver room has been ruining that team for years. AB, Juju, Claypool, Diante, and now Pickens. Someone there has let them all become Divas. Whoever’s let this happen needs to go.

Big Ben! You crushed my Bengals

Ben is why Tomlin never had a losing season

I don’t know if I can trust a guy who can’t take no for a answer to talk about the “culture”

*Unfortunately with the changing of the guard "aka" the NEWEST GENERATION, This is just a reflection of people today in society & playing in the NFL!!! No Morals, No Heart, No Work Ethics, No Respect, PERIOD!!!*

The Steelers Culture hasn't existed for a while now in the offence, and Ben was still very much around when it started going down the drain. I mean he's right, but he's also not entirely bereft of blame. Of course it was not only his job to uphold the culture, but along with the coaches he was the one the young guys looked up to.

Haven’t been the same since the AB, JuJu, and Leveon drama. Rudolph getting smashed by his helmet after his hissy fit on Garrett sealed it

Every year I would watch the Steelers every game. Past two years Im missing more of their games because they're just not the same team Ive been watching for 20 years. Their magic is gone and this starts on the top.

Big Ben was that guy. A straight up WINNER!!!

I’d argue his radio show actually killed “Steelers culture” years ago

A few years ago I think it was Bens last year I was driving through Pitt 10 minutes before game day and I seen like 20 Ben jerseys in the gas station… I felt so outta place😂

Steelers culture died in 2018, and ben was a major part of that

as a browns fan, thoose 20 years of being dominated was worth seeing them implode like this, im going to savour it

Dude is one to talk. The culture's deteriorations started the last half of his career. Didn't he regularly throw his teammates under the bus?

When they play the colts they should honor the 1995 AFC Championship or Big Bens shoestring tackle.

*I agree 💯 because I've been a fan since the mid 80's when they suxed, but it was the 70's Defense and tradition that hooked me, and I have been a DIEHARD FAN SINCE PERIOD!*

Love Big Ben, Hines Ward and all them guys in that era. And Big Ben is 100%. I remember the day you could have took anyone on offense they could have played defense they were nasty. And Steeler fans loved it.

*For the 1st time since I became a Steeler's fan in mid 80's I have never seen my team like this! It's OBVIOUS the team needs leadership and players that want to actually play!!! I'm EMBARRASSED to watch WR's not blocking anyone and to watch huge offensive linemen just allow someone to come around and sack the QB SERIOUSLY!!! When Ben left we lost our General & Leader PERIOD!!! I NEVER thought I would say these words but I don't want them in the playoffs PERIOD!!! I'll sum things up in 4 words: This AIN'T MY STEELERS PERIOD!!!*

As a Steelers fan I agree I said something similar to this these guys just act like they’re there to get a check no sense of urgency. And agree with chuck essentially said Kenny ain’t it

46 year Steelers fan, never lived in PA , and only visited the city one time for about 45 minutes as a OTR truck driver. I bleed Black n Gold and what Ben said is completely true.

The head coach sets the tone for the team’s culture. It’s been like this for years. It’s time to let Mike Tomlin go and start fresh.

We haven't witnessed Pittsburgh Steelers football for years.

It's not just this team , it's a general cultural collapse. Without getting to deep, we're fd unless something drastically changes.

Manning only played the Steelers 3 times when in Indy. And had a 2-1 record. He faced the Steelers 1 more time with the Broncos and had a win there as well.

Ben is very gracious. he mentioned the 70's, yet he didn't acknowledge the Steelers of the 90's and 2000's. Which he was a part of the 2000 teams. And the players of those decades kept the tradition alive. And won 2 out 4 Super Bowls during those 20 years. So many Division Championships as well. God, the AFC North WAS the Steelers. They played smash mouth, in your face, football. If you played the Steelers, even if you won, you went home sore and with bumps and bruises all over your body. For all you new Steeler fans. Watch the 2008 AFC Championship game. And watch that Ryan Clark hit on that Ravens player at the end of the game. THAT was Steelers football.

When u hold a team hostage for 16 years not looking for anybody on offense then

As a life long Steelers fan, we've been spoiled a lot in recent times, getting to enjoy 2 Super Bowls just a generation ago and (even though they were horribly wasted) the Killer B's were so, so fun. But...every organization gets down here and there. Pittsburgh isn't excluded. I think a lottttt of fair weather Pittsburgh fans need to come to terms with the fact that Pittsburgh's due some pain now. Life is cyclical. Bound to happen eventually.

"Jim Irsay needs to pipe down" 😂

Steelers should have signed Gardner Minshew, guy is the prototype Steelers QB.

I don't even want to hear Pagano's mouth on what he thinks Ben should say or not say. We the fans already were thinking exactly what Ben was talking about. This attitude stuff where people are not running routes correctly or not trying to block has become so pervasive that its killing my love for the sport. Its easy to root for winning teams. But we fans stick around during the lean years if you try to do the best you can. The Steeler's offense certainly isnt capable of it. And its not all on the QB. Just because you were an HC someplace else doesn't make you an expert on The Steelers.

Great podcast.

Why is he acting like the Steelers have never been bad before?

Glad the famous woman respecter Big Ben has standards and morals

I think we need some former player on this coaching staff to get us back to the steeler way. Bring in Hines ward in some capacity. He has coaching experience and has been apart of winning teams. Great mind for this offense

It's been going downhill for awhile now. Everyone raves cause of Tomlin's mediocre winning regular seasons. Steeler culture is about playoff wins and Lombardi's period! Time for change.

They still have the culture of cheap shots

Never been a better time to be a browns fan 🎉

We need the Power of Bill Cowher!

The crazy thing is I've felt this way since the killer B's left. With the exception of a couple guys on the O-line. Ntm let's all not forget, A top 5 QB, the number 1 WR & RB in the League and Tomlin STILL couldn't get it done. Chuck, I love ya, but don't talk to me about QB. There is a lot of truth to it but our problems are MUCH bigger than that!

If I played professional football, I’d have 0 social media presence.

Every single Yinzer should also be subscribed to PittsburghDad too🖤💛👍🏾

The Steelers used to be 1 of the toughest,feared, intimidating, and most physical teams in the league but now they are a complete joke that no one fears or respects.💩💩

Everybody dunking on Ben ignores that he is right, and even the year he retired he was still better than anybody the Steelers have run out since then. Please tell me a franchise quarterback to just roll out the red carpet for their successor? It is just people who personally dislike Ben shitting on him. If you dislike Ben, that's fine, but he's speaking truth and if you don't see the problems around the team, you are crazy. That or a Tomlin bootlicker.

I don't think a rapist's opinion matters.

This is directly Ben's fault. He could've stepped aside two years earlier instead of forcing us to trot his corpse out there after his surgery. We had to hire Matt Canada because we needed an OC good at getting the ball out quickly because his frail arm and body couldn't get the job done anymore. Ben isn't just complicit, he's directly responsible.

Keep calling out Mike Tomlin past players...Love every second of it. He has killed this team year in and year out.

Please get Ben in the studio for a show

Steelers under Tomlin have been self destructing for a long time.

So it would be safe to say Ben is the one who failed in passing on tradition

Big Ben was a tall meat head who could throw a football and wasted the Steelers 10-0 start a few years ago for not being able to get the ball past 5 yards because of the steeler way! They kept him around 3 years too long honestly

Time for big Ben’s return. Mario 2.0 return

This steeler team died when #36 retired. No more Bus or steel curtin defense. We are now a terrible towel.

I was done with the Steelers, when they all took a knee and stayed in the locker room, snubbing the National anthem. The entire NFL is a DISGRACE!!!

This is the product of the Steelers offensive line being the softest group of 5 in the league. Mason Cole doesn’t hold himself accountable, seomalu was a waste of a FA pick up, Dan Moore hasn’t developed, jones is a rookie that just recently earned a starting spot and James Daniels isn’t pulling these guys together at all. Just a bad group

His last few years was the start of that

someone who cares about culture for a team wouldn't do what you did in milledgeville georgia while being on said team

BIG BEN SAVE US

7:20 pat looks like he had vietnam flashbacks as soon as chuck mentioned that polamalu c gap play