Steel City Blitz
Every Spring brings rain and every Winter brings snow. In Pittsburgh, the Fall brings demand for the Steelers to fire Mike Tomlin. In fact, so common is this seasonal tradition it almost feels like it’s the exact week when the calls for his termination begin. Let me save you some time and effort. Mike Tomlin will not be fired.
How many NFL franchises would have moved on from Mike Tomlin under the same circumstances? By ‘circumstances,’ I’m talking about a head coach who has coached 18 years at the same place. One who has a Super Bowl Title and another Super Bowl appearance but hasn’t won a postseason game in almost a decade. Would any of the other 31 franchises have given him his walking papers? The answer to that question is “yes.”
I cannot say for certain which teams would or which teams wouldn’t but I have no doubt that Tomlin would have been let go regardless of his ‘non-losing seasons’ streak. You see and hear this mentioned in every, single broadcast and to his credit, it irritates him as much as us. But this is a results-oriented business and Tomlin hasn’t produced results.
In case you’re new here, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had three head coaches since 1969. There are moments when the Cleveland Browns had that many in one season. The Steelers acquired their patient approach after years of futility. Prior to Chuck Noll, the Steelers would often go through coaches like I go through an all-you-can-eat buffet. But are they sticking to this “patient” approach way too stubbornly with Tomlin?
One of the common refrains I hear from Steelers’ fans is that “Tomlin won with Cowher’s players.” While about half of that roster was in fact held over from Bill Cowher allow me to point something else out. Cowher actually received contract extensions following losing seasons. Yes, he had them and Tomlin hasn’t. Yet the patient, build within approach stuck back then as it does now.
The only way Mike Tomlin isn’t the coach is if he decides not to be. There is pressure within the minority ownership – I can tell you that much – to move on but Art Rooney II has displayed zero interest in doing so. What has me most concerned is that in 2026, the Steelers are more than likely going to draft another quarterback high in the Draft. How do you feel about Mike Tomlin and this staff working with a QB who is supposed to be the next franchise guy?
It terrifies me to be honest. While Kenny Pickett’s unfortunate time in the Black and Gold isn’t a perfect comparison, it should serve as one nevertheless. What evidence do we have to believe that Tomlin and Arthur Smith (presumably) would be able to foster and grow a rookie into greatness? For me it’s none.
As I stated in the headline, why...
