Mike Tomlin has had a profitable 18-season tenure in Pittsburgh.
Nevertheless, Steeler followers and even former gamers have been annoyed by the shortage of Tomlin’s postseason success, particularly after they have been defeated by the Ravens 28-14 within the wild-card recreation.
Regardless of hypothesis from NFL pundits and media members, the Steelers aren’t anticipated to maneuver on from Tomlin, in keeping with Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette. Nor ought to the Steelers hearth or commerce Tomlin, who has a no-trade clause and must approve any attainable transfer to a different crew.
Throughout his 18 years as Steelers coach, Tomlin has a file of 183-107-2, together with a Tremendous Bowl title in 2008. Since he turned the crew’s head coach in 2007, the Steelers have by no means had a dropping file.
Tomlin, 52, has an 8-11 postseason file and one Tremendous Bowl championship in 2008. Saturday was the sixth consecutive playoff recreation the Steelers misplaced below Tomlin’s watch.
The Steelers protection seemed lifeless throughout most of Saturday’s loss to the Ravens, permitting 299 dashing yards on 50 carries. Baltimore beat Pittsburgh in its personal recreation and out-physical the crew on the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball.
Pittsburgh’s protection was among the many greatest throughout the first half of the season. The Steelers allowed 14.8 factors and 306 yards per recreation throughout their first eight video games. Nevertheless, they allowed 25.6 factors and 353.6 yards of their remaining 10 video games, together with the playoff loss towards the Ravens.
“The defense was horrible, couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t stop the pass, couldn’t do anything right last night,” Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw stated throughout the Fox NFL Sunday pregame. “This doesn’t look anything like the Steeler teams we’ve seen.”
Adjustments are anticipated to be made to the Steelers’ teaching workers, together with defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Former Jets coach Robert Saleh, who was fired throughout the season, will interview for each teaching and defensive coordinator jobs this offseason.
If the Steelers transfer on from Austin, Saleh ought to obtain a name from Tomlin for a defensive coordinator interview. It’s most likely not the transfer Pittsburgh followers need to hear, however the grass just isn’t at all times greener on the opposite aspect.
“There were times we weren’t in our games, there were times we didn’t tackle well,” Steelers defensive sort out Cam Heyward stated through the crew’s web site. “Props to them. Between 22 [Henry] and 8 [Jackson], they had a lot of success.
“I wish we had a better outcome. Guys fought, but you start the game 21-0, didn’t really do ourselves any favors.”
Tomlin has gotten probably the most from some lackluster rosters throughout the previous couple of seasons. In 2023, in what many thought can be a down season, Tomlin guided the Steelers to a 10-7 file and a wild-card berth. Nevertheless, Buffalo rapidly extinguished Pittsburgh from postseason play.
Many anticipated the Steelers to overlook the playoffs in 2024, as they have been in a division with the Ravens and Browns, who each made the playoffs the earlier season and a Bengals crew that bought Joe Burrow again from harm. However in typical Tomlin trend, Pittsburgh completed second within the AFC North and made the playoffs, ending 10-7 as soon as once more.
The Steelers did lose 5 straight video games (together with the playoffs) to finish the season. Nevertheless, context is important when discussing whether or not a crew ought to transfer on from a coach.
As beforehand talked about, Pittsburgh wasn’t thought-about a contender. Some analysts predicted the Steelers would miss the playoffs and have their first dropping file since 2003, after they completed 6-10 below earlier coach Invoice Cowher. Two years later, Cowher led the Steelers to a championship in Tremendous Bowl XL in 2005.
The fact within the AFC is that this: When you wouldn’t have a high quarterback, it’s practically unimaginable to beat the Chiefs, Payments, or Ravens as a result of all three have elite sign callers (Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson). Pittsburgh went to the playoffs the final two years with Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and an growing old Russell Wilson below heart. That’s the equal of going right into a gunfight on the O.Ok. Corral with only a water pistol.
Wilson handed for 270 yards and two touchdowns towards the Ravens. Nevertheless, each touchdowns got here within the third quarter, when Pittsburgh was down by two scores or extra.
In the course of the Steelers’ remaining 4 regular-season video games, Wilson averaged 174.5 passing yards per recreation, threw 4 touchdowns, and dedicated 4 turnovers.
Contemplating the upcoming free-agent class, there isn’t any purpose to be optimistic except the Steelers can signal the perfect quarterback out there.
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold shall be a free agent in March. In 17 video games, Darnold handed for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions after main the Vikings to a 14-3 file and a wild-card berth this season.
Darnold is probably going the one alternative for the Steelers to really improve the quarterback in 2025. Aaron Rodgers could possibly be out there if the Jets resolve to launch him with a brand new regime and certain vital roster adjustments coming to Florham Park.
Pittsburgh might additionally use a high receiver choice for whoever shall be below heart subsequent season. In the event that they have been to amass Rodgers, his good friend and Jets teammate Davante Adams would additionally come to the Steelers.
Adams is below contract with the Jets for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, however his $76.7 million is non-guaranteed, and he must renegotiate his contract if he stays. On locker clean-out day final week, Adams informed reporters he might contemplate staying with the Jets if Rodgers didn’t return. Nevertheless, Adams will wait to see what occurs with Rodgers earlier than figuring out whether or not he needs to return.
This season, Adams registered 85 receptions for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns for each the Raiders and Jets.
“I don’t know what his plans are yet and where that’s headed,” Adams stated. “But I would imagine that would have something to do with it.”
Tomlin has a well-known catchphrase, “The standard is the standard.” If the Steelers need to regain that normal of competing for championships, they need to make each roster and training adjustments.
Nevertheless, these adjustments shouldn’t embody Tomlin, who, 12 months after 12 months, finds a option to get probably the most out of the Steelers roster.
