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Head Coach Mike Tomlin Takes Full Responsibility After Unwarranted Loss to Bears – And the “Secret List of 5 Names” That Has Steelers Nation Filled With Regret

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 11/25/2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers are inching dangerously close to what many fans are calling another disappointing season. After the 31–28 loss to the Chicago Bears — a game they controlled but let slip away — head coach Mike Tomlin finally broke his silence, stepping onto the press podium with a determined look and the full weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

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No excuses. No deflection. Tomlin spoke directly, in a press room packed with frustration and doubt:

“There’s no one to blame but me. The inconsistency, the slow adjustments, the way we let the game slip away in critical moments — it all starts with me. I have to be better, the Steelers have to be better, and if any major changes need to happen to return this team to where it belongs, I will be the first to take responsibility.”

The quote spread rapidly across social media, marking one of the rare moments Tomlin publicly acknowledged the severity of the team’s current situation.

But what came next shook Steelers Nation even more.
According to ESPN, during an emergency strategy meeting that lasted over two hours after the game, the front office presented a list of five players the organization now believes they “should never have let go” — players who, if still in Pittsburgh, might have changed the entire trajectory of the season.

The list, which immediately went viral, included:

  1. George Pickens – now second in the NFL in receiving yards with the Cowboys.

  • Najee Harris – believed to have left far too early with untapped value.

  • Pat Freiermuth – a tight end viewed as the future before injuries derailed everything.

  • Bud Dupree – a pass-rush anchor the Steelers have yet to truly replace.

  • Kendrick Green – departed right at the moment he began to break out.

  • Once leaked, the list ignited a storm. Thousands of comments poured in across social media, all sharing the same emotions: regret, frustration, and disbelief. It became painfully clear that the Steelers hadn’t just lost a game — they may have lost the foundation of what could have been a competitive future.

    Still, Tomlin continued to stand in the center of the storm, showing the same unshakeable demeanor that has defined nearly two decades of leadership in Pittsburgh.

    He closed his press conference with a promise:

    “We’re going to fix this. Starting with me, starting in the meeting rooms, and starting right now.”

    For the Steelers, the 2025 season is no longer simply a playoff chase.
    It may be the defining crossroads of the Mike Tomlin era — a chapter still being written… or possibly nearing its final pages.

    Just Three Hours After Being Released by the Packers, 2× Pro Bowl Star Deletes Every Post About Green Bay After His Attempt to Take a Pay Cut to Stay Was Rejected — His Vow Never to Return Leaves Packers Nation in Sympathy
    Green Bay, Wisconsin – The offseason took an emotional turn for the Green Bay Packers when the organization decided to release veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins as part of a salary-cap adjustment. But what happened just hours later turned the situation into one of the most emotional storylines of the week across the NFL. According to multiple reports, Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former All-Pro honoree — had attempted to negotiate with the team and even offered to take a pay cut in order to remain with the franchise that originally drafted him. The effort ultimately fell short as Green Bay chose to move forward with a roster reset, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Just three hours after the release became official, fans began noticing something unusual on Jenkins’ social media accounts. Every post connected to his years in Green Bay — from locker room celebrations to photos wearing the iconic green-and-gold uniform — had quietly disappeared. Jenkins had been one of the pillars of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Throughout multiple seasons, he built a reputation for rare versatility, capable of playing guard, tackle, and center at an elite level, and was widely regarded as one of the most reliable and flexible offensive linemen in the league. At his peak, Jenkins was often described as Green Bay’s “secret weapon” on the offensive front. He protected multiple quarterbacks over the years and helped anchor an offense that consistently remained competitive during several playoff runs. His ability to seamlessly shift across nearly every position along the offensive line made him one of the most trusted players inside the Packers’ locker room. At first, the decision to erase those memories surprised many fans. But once reports surfaced that Jenkins had been willing to sacrifice financially just to remain with the team, the reaction across Packers Nation quickly shifted from shock to empathy. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my journey truly began. But sometimes you fight to stay somewhere and still realize that chapter has ended, and when that moment comes, the only thing you can do is walk away with respect for every memory that was built there. While Jenkins did not criticize the organization, sources close to the situation say the emotional weight of the release influenced his decision to remove the posts. What surprised many even more was the report that Jenkins has told people close to him that he does not plan to return to Green Bay at any point in his career, choosing instead to start an entirely new chapter elsewhere in the NFL. Yet instead of anger, the reaction from Packers fans has largely been one of understanding. For many supporters, Jenkins’ willingness to take a pay cut simply reinforced what they had long believed. He wasn’t just protecting the quarterback on Sundays.He was trying to protect a home he once hoped would last his entire career.