bv. Darius Slay Reveals How Mike Tomlin Ruthlessly Ripped Into Steelers Defense After Bengals Loss
After the Steelers’ crushing 33-31 defeat to the Bengals, head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t hold back. Inside the locker room, frustration boiled over — and veteran cornerback Darius Slay has now revealed just how intense things got behind closed doors.
Speaking on The Richard Sherman Podcast, Slay admitted that Tomlin’s postgame meeting was short, sharp, and brutally honest. “You know Mike T, straightforward,” Slay said. “Ain’t too much positive. Only thing positive to come out of this is a learning experience of what we need to do better. We had a little meeting. One thing about Mike T, man, he thorough. He gonna tell you what it is… He ain’t gonna sugarcoat nothing.”
Tomlin’s words came after one of the most disappointing performances by Pittsburgh’s secondary this season. The Steelers brought in Slay and Jalen Ramsey to lock down top receivers — yet against Joe Flacco and the Bengals, they were repeatedly exposed. Slay, in particular, was singled out after allowing a deep completion to Andrei Iosivas and dropping what could’ve been a game-changing interception.
Reporters noted that Tomlin, while refusing to name names publicly, admitted the secondary hadn’t lived up to expectations. “We’ve got good players, but execution wasn’t there,” Tomlin said. “It’s not about talent — it’s about discipline and consistency.”
Despite the harsh criticism, Slay appeared to take it in stride. He told Sherman that the message from Tomlin hit home and that the defense knows it must respond. “One thing I know about being in this division — you always get another shot,” Slay added. “We got another chance at them. Can’t wait until that.”
With matchups against the Packers, Colts, and Chargers looming before a Week 11 rematch with Cincinnati, the Steelers defense faces a defining stretch. Tomlin’s tough love may have stung — but for Slay and company, it might just be the wake-up call they needed.
