The 2021 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 89th season in the National Football League, their 22nd and final season under general manager Kevin Colbert and their 15th under head coach Mike Tomlin. They failed to improve upon their 12–4 record from 2020 and failed to win their division in back to back years for the first time since 2016–2017. However, they did make the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2014–2017 after defeating the Baltimore Ravens, combined with the Las Vegas Raiders defeating the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars upsetting the Indianapolis Colts, all of which took place during the Sunday games of Week 18. However the Steelers were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Kansas City Chiefs 42–21.