The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a great 3-1 start. Their +22 point differential after four games is their best since 2020. Historically, The Steelers have started the season with a 3-1 record 15 times in the Super Bowl era. They only missed the playoffs twice in that timespan, in 1998 and 1980. Four of those 3-1 starts ended with trips to the Super Bowl, where Pittsburgh walked away with three rings.

Let’s look at the Steelers’ previous five 3-1 starts under Mike Tomlin.

2017

Similarly to this year, the 2017 team was on the road early and often, going 2-1 on their first three away games. Their Week 3 loss in Chicago went to overtime. Although the defense shut out the Bears in the second half, Pittsburgh gave up a touchdown drive on Chicago’s first OT possession. The Steelers ended the season with a record of 13-3 and a +31 point differential. They got a first-round bye, but their season was ended by the Blake Bortles travesty against Jacksonville.

2016

This Killer B’s offense scored 13 touchdowns in their first four games. Their loss was a thorough 34-3 whooping in Philadelphia. Pittsburgh finished the season at 11-5 with a +28 point differential. They won the AFC North and beat Miami and Kansas City in the playoffs, before stalling out in New England.

2010

Just like in 2024, this team started 3-0 by standing on the shoulders of their defense. They beat the Falcons 15-9 in overtime, thanks to Rashard Mendenhall’s walk-off TD. Next, they defeated Tennessee 19-11 with a 4-field goal Jeff Reed performance. Week 3 brought a Charlie Batch-led 38-13 rout of the Buccaneers before finally falling to the Ravens in Week 4, 17-14. Pittsburgh ended the season at 12-4 with a +36 point differential. They earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, where they beat the Ravens and Jets before falling to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

2008

This team’s only loss in September came at the hands of the Eagles in Week 3. They finished the season with a 12-4 record and a +19 point differential. The Steelers earned a first-round bye, then beat the Chargers and Ravens in the playoffs on the road to their epic Super Bowl XLIII victory against the Cardinals.

2007

Tomlin’s first season in Pittsburgh started with a 3-0 record. Their only loss coming in Week 4 in Arizona. Although the team lost three of its last four games, it still won the division. The final record was 10-6 with a +64 point differential. In the first round of the playoffs, the Steelers could not overcome a 28-10 deficit to David Garrard and the Jaguars. The game and Pittsburgh’s season ended with a final score of 31-29.