DeShon Elliott hasn’t been a Pittsburgh Steeler for long, but his frustrations with the team’s recent struggles boiled over in spectacular fashion after their Christmas Day loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Elliott, a former Baltimore Ravens safety now wearing black and gold, held nothing back in an expletive-laden rant that called out his teammates and coaching staff for their lackluster defensive effort.
“First off, guys can’t be f—ing wide open,” Elliott vented to reporters. “That’s the first thing. Do your job. It’s Week 18. We shouldn’t be having these problems in Week 18. That’s a Week 1 or Week 2 problem.” His pointed comments came after the Steelers surrendered 320 passing yards to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in a 29-10 loss, their third straight defeat.
The loss knocked Pittsburgh to 10-6 and put their once-promising AFC North title hopes on life support. Now they’ll need a win over the Bengals and help from the Browns to leapfrog the Ravens in the standings. Elliott’s meltdown, however, signals that cracks in the Steelers’ defensive foundation are becoming too big to ignore.
Deshon Elliot lashed out at Steelers teammates for lack of effort on Christmas Day vs. Chiefs
Elliott’s NSFW tirade was brutal and direct, pointing to issues of effort, communication, and accountability on a defense that has been exposed in recent weeks. His words hit even harder considering his reputation as a fiery competitor who gave everything to the Ravens during his four years in Baltimore.
Elliot's tenure in Baltimore never fully formed. He spent most of his time on injured reserve, never truly making an impact. After stints with Detroit and Miami, Elliott landed in Pittsburgh this year with high expectations. But his Steelers defense has failed to live up to its billing, giving up 90 points across their last three games.
Elliott isn’t the only Steeler voicing frustrations. Cam Heyward and (fellow former Raven) Patrick Queen echoed his sentiments after the game, each lamenting their inability to execute in critical moments. But while Elliott’s outburst might fire up the locker room, it could just as easily alienate teammates already feeling the pressure.
For the Ravens, watching a former player call out the Steelers during a losing skid is poetic. Baltimore has clawed back into the AFC North lead after weeks of Pittsburgh squandering opportunities, and the discord within the Steelers’ defense is just another sign that the tide has turned.
Elliott may have found a new home in Pittsburgh, but after this latest meltdown, it’s clear the honeymoon phase is officially over.