When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Denver Broncos this Sunday, it will mark yet another opportunity for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to go up against a rookie quarterback. This game will be Tomlin’s 31st career matchup against a first-year signal-caller.
The rookie quarterback in question this time around will be Bo Nix, who was selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Tomlin has an impressive record of 24-6 against rookie QBs, making him a formidable opponent for young quarterbacks entering the league.
Earlier this week, Myles Simmons and I attempted to recall the six instances where Tomlin was bested by a rookie quarterback, based solely on the years of the losses. As the attached clip shows, our memory was not as sharp as we had hoped.
For those who want to test their own knowledge, the years when Tomlin suffered defeats at the hands of rookie quarterbacks were 2023 (twice), 2016 (twice), 2012, and 2007. But before we reveal the answers, here are a couple of filler paragraphs to keep you guessing.
During the previous season, the Steelers experienced two losses to rookie quarterbacks. In Week 4, C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans dominated the Steelers with a 30-6 victory. Then, in Week 11, it was Dorian Thompson-Robinson (!) and the Cleveland Browns who handed the Steelers a 13-10 loss.
The year 2016 also saw two defeats by rookie quarterbacks. Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a crushing blow to the Steelers in Week 3 with a 34-3 win. Later in Week 10, Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys outscored the Steelers in Pittsburgh, securing a 35-30 victory.
As the Steelers prepare to take on Bo Nix and the Broncos, Tomlin will look to add another win to his impressive record against rookie QBs. Will Nix be the next victim, or will he defy the odds and pull off an upset? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an exciting matchup between the Steelers and Broncos on Sunday.
