Despite the overwhelming amount of success in his 17-year coaching career, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin still has his usual critics. Every season, like clockwork, there is always a small group of fans calling for Tomlin's job. Now this isn't to say he is perfect. His coordinator hires over the years have left a lot to be desired.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin at 2022 training camp | Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
As we know, the team doesn't have a playoff win since 2016 and hasn't made the Super Bowl since 2010. Tomlin has his flaws, but he remains one of the better coaches in all of football. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks another contract extension could be coming soon, as in this offseason.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said he "doesn't like to speculate" on Tomlin's contract in his recent interview on Steelers.com. It left fans wondering just what he meant and just possibly the Steelers current HC wouldn't be in Pittsburgh long-term. Between Tomlin, Chuck Noll, and Bill Cowher, the organization has prided itself on being stable throughout its history.
That starts at the top with the Rooney family and on down to the head coaches. Those three have occupied a vast majority of the team's history and success. Just two years ago, the Steelers signed Tomlin to an extension that ran his deal through the 2024 season. He remains one of the five highest-paid coaches in the NFL. Dulac made a great point in referencing the previous coaches' longevity in saying:
"The only time the Steelers made a change in their head coach is when Noll and Cowher each decided to retire. It didn’t matter that Noll once went four consecutive seasons without making the playoffs," Dulac said. "Or Cowher once went three in a row. It should not come as a surprise Tomlin has been afforded the same luxury."
Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Now, it's unclear if Dulac has any sources on this specific topic. It seems to be purely speculative based off the franchise's way of typically doing things. Rooney did recently say that the Steelers new regime, led by general manager Omar Khan, has already adapted different draft plans than what Kevin Colbert did. This could mean the franchise as a whole runs things differently in several different facets, but Tomlin still seems likely to stick around as HC for a long time.
What are your thoughts on this report? Where does Tomlin rank amongst the best coaches in the NFL? How long should they extend him until? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites, yinz!
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