On the Throwbacks podcast, Van Noy ripped the Ravens’ performance in those games, saying a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers “waxed us twice” and that the Ravens weren’t a good team overall, even if they were better that day. He credited questionable officiating and Rodgers seemingly calling his own offense for the Steelers’ wins, suggesting those elements helped Baltimore fall short. 💬😅
Van Noy also touched on Tomlin’s departure from Pittsburgh, implying the Steelers’ playoff loss and Tomlin’s resignation were connected to broader issues. He cited Art Rooney II’s comments that Tomlin stepped down for personal reasons, while a separate report from Ronde Barber suggested Tomlin had hinted 2025 could be his final year. Even if Tomlin had won a Super Bowl, Van Noy intimated he wouldn’t be back. 🧭
Beyond the talk, Van Noy’s own situation looms. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in March, having joined Baltimore in 2023 and posted a career-best nine sacks that first season, then 12.5 in 2024, dropping to two sacks in 15 games this past year. The numbers help explain why Baltimore wasn’t as dominant as the Steelers in recent years, and they echo Van Noy’s belief that Pittsburgh sometimes benefited from external factors in those games. 🧳
Overall, the piece underlines a heated, ongoing Ravens–Steelers rivalry even as leadership changes loom. The Steelers hold a 5-2 edge against Van Noy’s Ravens in the last three seasons, including Tomlin sweeps in 2023 and 2025, underscoring how the two franchises have intertwined fates even as personal fortunes shift. 🔄🏆
