Tony Dungy Thinks Steelers Are Super Bowl Contenders
Maybe it’s because of his Steelers roots and connection with Mike Tomlin, but Tony Dungy is really high on Pittsburgh this season. So much that he tabbed the Steelers as Super Bowl contenders in 2024.
“They’ve been in the race, in the hunt. They haven’t had any good quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger. Now they’ve got a quarterback. You heard it here first,” Dungy said on NBC Sports’ FNIA Podcast. “I like Mike Tomlin and what he brings. They have that belief, they always have that. If Russell can win one or two more games for them, I think they’ll be in good shape.”
The Steelers have certainly improved their quarterbacks room with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but how far will it actually get them? Will the changes at least lead them to a playoff win for the first time in seven years? Time will tell, but the odds are not in the Steelers favor when it comes to being Super Bowl contenders.
The Steelers have +5000 odds to to win the Super Bowl this season, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Seventeen teams have better odds than Pittsburgh. Given the terms, Dungy’s statement seems pretty bold.
Former New England Patriots safety and NBC analyst Rodney Harrison found Dungy’s remark to be comical.
“Make sure you guys record this, because this is absolutely ridiculous,” Harrison said.
Harrison probably thinks Dungy has Steelers bias since he played and coached in Pittsburgh and served as a mentor for Tomlin in Tampa Bay, but the Hall of Fame coach made some valid points.
Tomlin led the Steelers to a 10-7 record and a wild-card playoff berth last season with Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph as his quarterbacks. The trio combined for 13 touchdowns. So, when you look at it from the angle and Wilson and Fields now in the mix, it’s plausible that the Steelers could get to 12-5 and make a deep playoff run. Dungy thinks Wilson makes the Steelers a game or two better.
Of course, all of this is hypothetical. Teams can change drastically from year to year. The Steelers also have a daunting schedule in 2024, especially on the back-end with six of their final eight games being AFC North contests.
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