Another playoff chance. Another playoff exit. And so the Pittsburgh Steelers’ drought continues. Though Pittsburgh has no problem getting to the postseason, winning a game in the dance has proven to be like climbing Mt. Everest.

With Monday night’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans, the Steelers have now lost an incredible seven-straight postseason games. A streak that began in the 2016 AFC Championship Game to the New England Patriots. The 2017 Divisional Round upset by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2020 Wild Card loss to the Cleveland Browns, a defeat that hurt even more. Ben Roethlisberger’s final game, a loss to the heavily favored Kansas City Chiefs in 2021’s first round. A blizzard postponed the 2023 Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills but couldn’t stop the Steelers’ streak – another defeat.

Last year’s collapse ending in Baltimore Ravens RB Derrick Henry leaving tire tracks all over Pittsburgh’s defense. And now 2025’s one-and-done exit, another lopsided score, and the pain of defeat one week after a thrilling AFC North-clinching win against those rival Ravens.

It’s not just an agonizing streak. It’s a historic one. Seven-straight playoff defeats just don’t happen. In NFL history, Pittsburgh’s current mark is fourth longest.

Longest Playoff Losing Streaks, NFL History

Detroit Lions – 9 (1992-2017, won in 2023)
Kansas City Chiefs – 8 (1994-2014, won in 2015)
Cincinnati Bengals – 8 (1991-2016, won in 2021)
Pittsburgh Steelers – 7 (2016-Present)

It’s the longest active streak in the NFL, breaking a tie with the Miami Dolphins’ six-straight losses. In total years, Miami still holds the longest drought, without a playoff win since 2000. For Mike Tomlin, his seventh-straight loss ties the all-time record by a head coach.

Pittsburgh had a real chance to break that streak this year. Winning the AFC North and hosting a playoff game was a sign of progress. The AFC felt more wide open than ever before. The Steelers didn’t face an elite quarterback like in past losses: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson. All NFL MVPs. C.J. Stroud is a talented quarterback but not on that level. Monday night sure showed it. Stroud played one of the worst games of his career. Houston still won by 24. The worst defeat of Pittsburgh’s seven losses.

The result is the same. Another first-round exit.

When will the streak end? Will it require a different head coach? Finally finding a franchise quarterback? All debates to be had in the days and weeks ahead. But the drought lives on for at least another year. A chart Pittsburgh doesn’t want to climb but seemingly can’t avoid ascending. Few teams can make the playoffs like Pittsburgh does. Good, bad, and middling rosters have punched their ticket. Few teams in NFL history have lost at the rate the Steelers have, too.