Steelers Now
Not everybody thinks it’s time for the Pittsburgh Steelers to part ways with head coach Mike Tomlin.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been under a lot of scrutiny following the team’s 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 12. However, not everyone believes Tomlin should be on the hot seat.
NFL analyst Ryan Wilson disagrees with the growing belief that it’s time for the Steelers to move on from their long-time head coach.
“You fire Mike Tomlin, but what’s Plan B,” Wilson asked on CBS Sports HQ. “Who’s gonna come in and do what Mike Tomlin has done, what Bill Cowher has done before him?”
Tomlin has been one of the best head coaches in the league since joining Pittsburgh in 2007. He holds the NFL record for the most consecutive non-losing seasons to begin a coaching career with 18 and always seems to have his team in contention for the playoffs at the end of each season. However, that record could come to an end if they continue playing the way they have.
The Steelers have already tied for the most such games they have allowed 30+ points (five) in the Tomlin era and still have six weeks to go with matchups against teams like the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions to come.
Wilson warns upset Pittsburgh fans that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, though.
“The other thing I like to point out is, how long do you think Mike Tomlin is going to be unemployed should the Steelers decide to move on from him? I set the future over/under at five minutes,” Wilson said. “You better have a plan in place, you better get the plan right, or you’re gonna wish for the days where you were going 9-8 every year and having a chance to make the playoffs without a franchise quarterback.”
That has proven to be true, but there have also been situations that a fresh start has worked out for both sides. Head coach Andy Reid had the Philadelphia Eagles stuck in mediocrity when they moved on from him after the 2012 season. He has since led the Kansas City Chiefs to three Super Bowl wins while the Eagles have won two more themselves.
That isn’t to say history will repeat itself with Tomlin and the Steelers. However, that scenario seems unlikely to play out anyway as Pittsburgh has a long history of sticking with their head coaches until they decide it’s time to hang up their whistles for good.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Analyst Believes Mike Tomlin Shouldn’t Be On Hot Seat
