The Renegade: Top 6 Worst Steeler Moments of our Lifetime

Our last segment of "The Renegade" was all happiness as we looked at the top steeler moments of our lifetimes, but with that also comes the worst moments of our lifetime as fans starting around 2000. Being a Steeler fan is great as we have made the playoffs so many times during our lifetime, but with that comes disappointment when they do not make it to the Super Bowl. Grab a tissue, and stand away from any walls you may be inclined to punch, as we look at the worst moments of our fandom...

1. Rashard Mendenhall Fumble in Super Bowl 45

nytimes,com

This one hurts, it hurts real bad. The football floating in the air there symbolizes the Steelers hopes of winning a 7th Lombardi trophy floating away. It seemed like the Steelers had just assumed control of the game, but then this fumble happened leading to the Packer's deciding touchdown. This hurts even more knowing the Steelers have not been back since. 

2. 2017 AFC Championship vs. New England.... Ouchy

forbes.com

Welp nothing really went right for the Steelers on the night of January 22, 2017. No Gronk gave us hope. And they still got Gronk Smashed. Truth be told the worst part of the game was Chris Hogan, a former lax player and PSU alumn, aka the anti-us. But it wasn't until the 2nd half when the flood-gates opened and hope was lost by the end of the 3rd. 

3. Ryan Shazier's Injury

cbsnews.com

It was a Monday night game against the Bengals. Prime time against the dirtiest team in the league was enough to not want to play the game. But when we saw Shazy's hit and he didn't move, they should've just ended the game right then and there. #50 was coming into his own as a leader and possible All-Pro player. We will always love him for what he brought to the Steelers, now we admire him for his work to recovery and continue to cheer for him every day. 

4. The Jesse James... CATCH!

www.post-gazette.com

Being a young and broke graduate student, I do not get to attend many Steeler games... but this was one I finally got to attend. The fight for the number one seed in the AFC, two juggernaut teams going at it, and what a game it was. Back and forth all game.. and then the Jesse James play happened. When he scored, I never heard Heinz Field erupt so loud with joy and it was one of my highest moments as a fan; when they were reviewing the play, no one in the stands thought it could possibly be overturned like it was, then came one of my lowest points as a fan. I will forever believe that if the Steelers got the number one seed that year that they would have made it to the Super Bowl. 

5. The Kardashian Phase

Sportingnews.com

Man, screw this! Ever since the Facebook Live incident, all the way to March 2019. These two helped ruin the whole image of the Steelers franchise. All about themselves and all about the money. Good riddance. No matter the 2019-2020 record, this team is better without y'all. I'm ending this before I break my damn computer.  

6. 2017 Divisional Round Loss to Jacksonville

www.bigcatcountry.com

This might be the most underachieving Steeler team of our lifetime. 13-3 (should have been 14-2) going into the playoffs as the #2 seed in the AFC and all Steeler fans had a Super Bowl on their mind... then we all looked up and it was 21-0 Jacksonville. I was watching this game at Local in South Side with my fiancée and I was so angry after the first quarter that we had to leave and go back to her apartment. In a city that prides itself on defense, this was one of the worst performances I have ever seen. 

Honorable Mention

1. Fitz Touissant fumble against Denever in 2016 AFC Divisional Round
2. JuJu's fumble against the Saints- 2018 season

Wow, we are so sorry, that was truly painful to put together. There is a common theme here in our worst moments that involve the Patriots and playoff disappointment... Are there any bad moments that we missed on our list starting in 2000? Let us know in the comments below and thanks for reading!!

-Aaron and Ryan, TGYK