There’s an old axiom that says that if someone shows you who they are, you should believe them.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t take Saturday night’s season debacle as a statement, they are either blind, naive or both.

Not only did the Steelers dominate in a 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens — the fourth time they lost a wild-card game in the last five years — they also couldn’t keep up. They failed to be physical. At times they failed to produce the performance required of an NFL team.

As the offseason begins, there will be a winter of discontent in Pittsburgh. And if general manager Omar Khan and the owners are honest with themselves, it’s time to make sweeping changes to a mediocre roster led by a longtime head coach.

And the offseason discussion should start with Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin, 52, has been in Pittsburgh for 17 years and has never had a losing record. He also hasn’t won a playoff win since 2016.

There’s a strong argument to be made that Tomlin had little chance of making the playoffs in Ben Roethlisberger’s final seasons, followed by Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Russell Wilson. There’s also a reality where there isn’t a top quarterback in the Steel City given the free agent class, rookie generation and Pittsburgh’s consistently mediocre draft positioning. Maybe Sam Darnold will be available, but he’s probably the only hope for an upgrade before the 2025 season.

Given these facts, Khan should consider trading Tomlin. The Steelers need to bolster their roster and Tomlin could be the most attractive part of the organization.

Pittsburgh could probably get Tomlin. In 2023, the Denver Broncos acquired Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints for a first- and second-round pick while also getting a third-rounder back. Other coaches were also transferred high prices this centuryincluding Jon Gruden (two first-rounders, two second-rounders and $8 million) and Bill Belichick (first-, fourth- and fifth-round picks).

Looking around the league, how could the Chicago Bears not be interested in sending a premium pick or two for Tomlin after Chicago shuffled through four coaches in the last 12 years? What about the New York Jets? Who better to turn around a listless franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in 14 years, the longest active streak in North American sports?

Maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars? Since Jack Del Rio left town after the 2011 season, Jacksonville has been a hub for players and coaches. Tomlin would bring instant credibility to the franchise. And for Tomlin, he would inherit a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence.

If the Steelers decide to keep Tomlin, they should do so with a mutual understanding that a rebuild is coming.

Looking at Pittsburgh’s 2025 salary cap, there could be a sell-off that resets the cap and rebuilds the roster. The Steelers have seven players worth considering in any deal, including safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, edge rushers TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, tight end Pat Freiermuth, receiver George Pickens, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and linebacker Patrick Queen.

While no one would argue that it’s realistic to do all seven in a single offseason, here’s what their numbers look like after June 1st in terms of dead caps and cap savings: per Over The Cap.

Although Watt is the only one who could bring back a first-round pick (and in his case, that would be among other draft picks), both draft picks are worth moving on from.

For Watt, he is 30 years old and given his age, history suggests that a decline is imminent. He still had 11.5 sacks this season, his lowest total since his rookie year when he played at least 15 games. The contract of the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year also only runs for one year. Considering where Pittsburgh is competitive, there’s little reason to give him another megadeal.

Then there’s the enigmatic Pickens, who has elite deep-ball skills and has posted a 17-game average of 1,006 receiving yards in his first three seasons. It was also a challenge for him to stay focused. Now 23 years old and entering a contract year, are the Steelers willing to pay Pickens big money? If not, Khan should be on the phone trying to trade him for the best deal.

Elsewhere, Highsmith, 27, is a premier edge rusher and worthy of a top-100 pick. If Matthew Judon could get a third-rounder at age 32Highsmith certainly can too.

Finally, there’s Fitzpatrick. The 28-year-old is a three-time first-team All-Pro. He is an elite safety who can play all over the field. If Khan put him on the block there would be a lot of interest.

Even if you accept the setting of a full-blown flea market, some of these stars will return. But the Steelers have to be honest with themselves. She are not close to winning a Super Bowland they are nowhere near willing to seriously fight for one. They are a decent team that turns into cannon fodder in the playoffs.

If Tomlin wants to stay, he should know that a major overhaul is coming. And if it is dealt, it should be the start of a very busy few months for Khan & Co.

On Saturday night, this edition of the Steelers had a chance to prove the doubters wrong. Instead, they confirmed every criticism and presented a team and a coach who placed a lot of emphasis on brand and little on substance.

It’s time to believe in who the Steelers actually are. Just watch them.