Steelers' 30-6 playoff loss sparks coach scrutiny and trade talk for T.J. Watt amid rebuild talks.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans, their seventh straight postseason defeat, has intensified scrutiny on head coach Mike Tomlin and sparked trade speculation around star edge rusher T.J. Watt, who remains without a playoff win and expressed frustration after playing through a collapsed lung. With the team considering a rebuild and Watt entering his age-32 season, the Steelers may explore trading the 31-year-old All-Pro despite a $32 million guaranteed salary through 2027 and a $30 million dead cap hit in 2026. Contenders like the 49ers and Cowboys are seen as potential suitors, with the latter having draft capital and cap flexibility to pursue him. The loss also raises questions about the franchise's long-term direction after Tomlin’s 19-year tenure.