Mike

Tomlin

At 6-6 with a spiraling offense and a defense that has failed to live up to the hype, the Steelers are seemingly headed for, at best, another short-lived playoff run. They still need to make the postseason, likely by winning the AFC North, to even see another Wild Card Round loss. Pittsburgh fans have yet to experience a losing season under Tomlin. On the other hand, they haven’t seen a playoff win since 2017. His defense-first approach worked wonders when the offense took care of itself. That hasn’t been the case since Ben Roethlisberger retired, and it might be time for the team to try something new. Schefter notes that Tomlin is under contract through 20226 and his contract has a team option for 2027. The Steelers need to decide on that option by March 1. Declining the option could mark the beginning of the end for one of the most successful coaches in NFL history.

According to Schultz, “Pittsburgh is believed to be motivated to get a deal done at some point, though there’s still plenty of time before the season.” The report comes roughly three weeks after the Steelers traded George Pickens to the Cowboys, which created the issue at hand. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier today that the Steelers have spoken to the Dolphins about acquiring TE Jonnu Smith, who played under OC Arthur Smith with the Falcons in 2023. The Steelers desperately need a No. 2 wide receiver, but they are simply seeking a receiving weapon, regardless of position.

Specifically, Tomlin said that “training camp would kind of be a line of demarcation.” Reporters peppered Tomlin with inquiries about a decision-making deadline for Aaron Rodgers. Tomlin predictably stonewalled most questions but, per beat reporter Mike Kaboly, indicated that “it’s OK for Rodgers to miss OTAs and minicamp.”

Schefter also reports that “at least one team besides the Bears checked into the idea that it could somehow try to trade for Tomlin.” Any trade for Tomlin would require his approval, as the veteran head coach currently has a no-trade clause baked into his current deal. It’s a bold move by the Bears, but one that clearly shows their desire to nail their next head coaching hire after cycling through four different head coaches and interim head coach Thomas Brown since 2013. When asked earlier about the possibility of approving a trade to another team, Tomlin simply said, “Save your time.” We also know the Steelers don’t have any plans to move on from Tomlin, as previously reported by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Barring an unexpected turn of events, Tomlin, who signed a three-year extension last offseason, will remain with the Steelers in 2025.

Five straight losses left their mark on the fanbase and created some belief that the Steelers could move on from Tomlin. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that teams might call on Tomlin’s availability earlier in January. This was never really something that was set in reality, where Tomlin has been Steelers coach for 18 seasons without a losing record. Pittsburgh will likely see major change on the offensive side of the ball, and perhaps it’s possible that they move on from offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are both free agents. There’s a lot to solve for the Steelers outside of Tomlin.

In a run-on sentence for the ages, Schefter added loads of caveats including but not limited to teams wondering if they should inquire about the Steelers’ willingness to move on Tomlin. He quickly said he doesn’t expect a move to happen. Neither do we. The Super Bowl champion head coach has yet to see a losing record in 18 seasons on the headset. Pittsburgh is coming off back-to-back seasons with 10 wins. While the team hasn’t made it out of the Wild Card Round in seven years, it’s hard to pin that on Tomlin given Pittsburgh’s lackluster quarterback play during that stretch. Another first-round exit will keep the rumor mill turning, but all signs point to Tomlin sticking in Pittsburgh for 2025.

There has been no word passed regarding when kickoff will occur but both teams warmed up as usual before returning to their respective locker rooms. Fans are currently allowed to remain in their seats.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Tomlin is now under contract through 2027. Tomlin, who has yet to have a losing season in his 17 years as the Steelers head coach, continues to find ways to string together wins despite coaching the last several years with subpar talent at quarterback. He led the Steelers to a 10-7 record last season with the help of Kenny Pickett, Mitchell Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph but was one-and-done in the playoffs for the fourth time in the last seven years. Tomlin has an 8-10 career record in the playoffs but hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. With 2024 initially thought to be a do-or-die season for Tomlin, the front office is clearly ready to commit to him for another four seasons. While many unanswered questions remain at quarterback with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields now in tow, Tomlin’s defenses continue to carry the load. Under Tomlin, the Steelers’ defense has ranked in the top 10 in points allowed in 11 seasons and was sixth last season. Despite his team’s deficiencies, Tomlin always finds a way to keep the Steelers in the fight. While the roster still has holes to address before they can be considered a Super Bowl contender, the Steelers are willing to give Tomlin more time to solve those problems.

Tomlin is in the final year of his contract but continues to be one of the top coaches in the game. While his offense needs a lot of work this offseason, Tomlin still managed to coach his team to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth this season and has famously never had a season where he finished below .500 in his 17 years at the helm. Tomlin has a regular season record of 173-100-2 and currently sits at 13th on the league’s all-time wins list. His last playoff win came in 2016, but the Steelers could be a quarterback away from looking like legitimate contenders in 2024.

According to Rooney, who the team brings in as its next offensive coordinator is entirely up to Tomlin; Rooney added that he and GM Omar Khan share ideas regularly with Tomlin. The Steelers recently interviewed former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, whose days as the Titans’ offensive coordinator (2019-2020) helped land him his first head coaching gig, but other candidates have also been vetted, including Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson. Who the Steelers bring on as their next offensive coordinator could go a long way in determining Mike Tomlin’s fate with the team beyond 2024. Tomlin is in the final year of his contract and will be desperate to roll out an improved team after last year’s 28th-ranked offense did anything but carry them to their 10-7 record.