A report over the weekend pointed to the expected Steelers coaching scenario — Mike Tomlin returning for a 19th season — taking shape. Nothing has emerged to contradict it, and the veteran HC addressed the matter himself Tuesday.
Regarding any potential trade inquiries HC-needy teams may have, Tomlin told prospective suitors to “save your time” regarding such an effort. Moving closer to Chuck Noll‘s tenure duration in Pittsburgh, Tomlin said he is prepared to continue as Steelers HC in 2025.
Noll lasted 23 years at the helm, while Tomlin has moved past Bill Cowher (15 seasons). Even as Tomlin’s high-floor/low-ceiling routine has irked many Steelers supporters in recent years, he has made the team one of the safest bets in modern sports at avoiding poor seasons. Though, early playoff exits have mounted since the team’s run to the 2016 AFC championship game. And that Patriots matchup is the Steelers’ only conference championship appearance since Super Bowl XLV.
“I don’t make excuses for failure,” Tomlin said, via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor. “I own it, but I also feel like I’m capable and so as long as I’m afforded an opportunity to do that, I will continue, but I certainly understand their frustrations and probably more importantly than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”
Rumors about teams considering Tomlin trade offers surfaced in December 2023, and some uncertainty about his 2024 status circulated as well. Tomlin squashed those soon after and received another contract extension — his seventh as Steelers HC — this past summer. Although the Steelers have continued to hit a wall in the wild-card round, after having lost as a No. 2 seed in the 2017 divisional round, Tomlin has shown no indication he is fed up with the situation. That said, he met with ownership and GM Omar Khan on Monday and did indicate Tuesday there will be organizational changes.
While the 52-year-old leader declined to specify where changes were coming, quarterback will be a closely monitored situation in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson has repeatedly indicated he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, and while the organization has been tied to having the same sentiment, a Monday report suggested the team has cooled on its primary 2024 starter. Not tipping his hand, Tomlin offered neither an endorsement of his QBs nor a firm indication another new group will arrive.
“We don’t have a quarterback under contract. We are certainly open to considering those guys, but we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Tomlin said of Wilson and Justin Fields.
Adding to the uncertainty here, Tomlin did say both QBs can help the Steelers in 2025 and praised both players’ professionalism. The Steelers, however, did not threaten the Ravens in their Saturday wild-card loss. The team has now lost five consecutive playoff games, with its most recent win coming in a 2016 divisional-round matchup in Kansas City.
Tomlin’s streak of .500-or-better seasons reaching 18, however, continues to impede the Steelers when it comes to finding quarterback help in the draft. By virtue of their 10-7 record, the Steelers hold the No. 21 overall pick in this year’s draft — one not viewed as teeming with QB talent. Their last attempt to fill a need through the draft came in a worse draft for QBs, with the Kenny Pickett miss highlighting this shaky period for the organization at the game’s premier position.
Some veteran avenues may be open, but major questions would come with any of the high-profile options. depending on other teams’ actions.
Sam Darnold‘s shaky showings in high-stakes Vikings spots to close the season could certainly impact the team’s desire to use the franchise tag to keep him off the market. That would stand to intrigue a team like the Steelers, though Darnold’s free agency price tag should still be fairly high. Similarly, Kirk Cousins‘ stock dropped late in his season. The Falcons are likely to release the 36-year-old passer, who was part of Wilson’s 2012 draft class, as no trade appears realistic. Aaron Rodgers is still expected to be a Jets cap casualty. Rodgers has not committed to playing in 2025, and PFR readers were not high on a Steelers fit — as interesting as the increasingly outspoken QB pairing with Tomlin would be.
Names like Daniel Jones or even Jimmy Garoppolo could come up as lower-cost choices, but the Steelers would seemingly be more likely to keep Wilson or Fields than take one of those routes. Pittsburgh has been unable to find a high-end quarterback for a while now, with Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2019 elbow injury effectively ending his prime. The team has continued to rely on its defense since, and while that unit should still be formidable in 2025, Tomlin and Co. have several weeks to determine if there is a viable upgrade on the Wilson/Fields setup out there.
I’d also work with another +/-$40m on the books from the team.
and half that in ur wallet
Hall of Fame coach. Hopefully he stays another 18 yrs. You Steelers fans who want him gone are delusional
You must be keeping track of our postseason success then. If you settle for mediocrity, then go find another fan base.
Guy has been keeping the team relevant the last 8 years with an out of shape Big Ben, a nobody, a guy with the nickname Duck, a career backup and the ghost of Russell Wilson. The only fault he has is he’s too good to get you a draft pick good enough to draft your next franchise QB.
@Mad Man and most Steelers fans like him have no clue how good they’ve had it. Making or being near the playoffs basically every year well above average, there are teams that would kill for that. End of the day get a difference maker at QB ask Any Reid and Jim Harbough what a difference an excellent QB makes.
@CoolKid – he doesn’t have stars because the team drafts poorly even in the middling spot they always hold, do enough to hover around .500 but can never beat good teams so they go one and done in the playoffs. A firm lock on mediocrity. They have never hung with the best teams.
You could be settling for worse than mediocrity if you ditch Mike Tomlin.
I think we just found the Pirates fan…lol.
No sir you are delusional
Tomlin going 9-8 in 2036
There will be 20 regular season games and no pre-season by then.
So, 10 and 10?
Why would Tomlin want to leave. Job security and a big fat paycheck to blather a few cliches at postgame conferences and glide right into the ground each season after securing his “no losing season” victory. And blind supporters who blame anybody but Tomlin for when the team doesn’t make it to AFC title game anymore.
As a fan of a team that has lost 10+ games 7 of the past 8 seasons (NYG) and having had to deal with bouncing from McAdoo to Shurmur to Judge to Daboll to surprisingly not another coach in 2025….you should value your stability along with the fact your team has still been competitive past Halloween EVERY YEAR.
While the Giants have also had 2 SB wins and a third appearance since 2000 and the 2 wins were a bit more recent, it feels longer when you have to suffer through 3-14 seasons. Stitching together 8-10 win seasons with a way past prime Ben or two backups that you didn’t give $40M a year to is a lot better than some teams have done. I’ve almost forgotten how it feels to be engaged in division and playoff races after Thanksgiving!
Would you rather be the Cowboys, have more hype and drama, get the 12 win seasons but never go anywhere in the playoffs then get the down seasons?
This sort of reminds me of the Red Wings in the NHL. They had their 20-something straight playoff appearances but for the last 6-8 years of it, they were basically a 7 or 8 seed and were quickly bounced in the 1st round. As a fan you respect it, but it truly gets to the point where you’re ready to say f**k it and flop to get a high draft choice. But with the Steelers picking between 26 and 30 over the last decade and a half they haven’t been able to get that elite QB. Not a fan of the team but can for sure relate.
OK, but the Wings tore down and have been spinning their wheels for years now and have shown no signs of being any better than OTT or BUF, etc.
Steeler fans think it will go like this…
1) Fire Tomlin
2) Become the next NFL dynasty
This is a cautionary tale. 8-year playoff drought, including a few last place finishes. If the Wings make the playoffs this year, they’ll be a Wildcard team and probably out in 6 games.
Who cares if a chef can turn chicken **** into chicken salad UNLESS he can turn it into award winning chicken salad? Loser.
If you know Steelers fans you know that they CANNOT accept mediocrity in anything except themselves.
What I find amusing is that most of his local media critics couldn’t sniff mediocrity on their BEST day but cannot tolerate anything less than excellence from Tomlin.
Tim Benz had a radio show here that failed. Went to Boston to do a radio show and failed. Came back to work for DK, FFS. And only remains in his gigs because he works cheap now.
Mark Madden is “number one” which, when you break it down, means he beats a variety of shows that feature Chris Mueller. Stiff competition there. Take a bow. Oh, right, he used to beat Logan, Paulsen and Crow back in the day, too. Give the man his due. Hid out in afternoon drive in a non-top 20 market, finding a pond small enough that he could be the big fish and never dared to leave. “Women of the night” won’t take his money. Lives alone with his long dead mom’s cats. Hairs bands who haven’t died yet, his only joy.
They won’t accept anything short of excellence, you see.
Fair enough.
All kinds of fore mike comments everywhere, why, because of two QB’s that couldn’t produce on other teams?
Send him to Cleveland then..
I forgot my favorite critique…”his message isn’t getting through anymore.”
Yes, his message of “beat teams significantly better than you” just isn’t working for some reason.