Steelers’ Mike Tomlin's 2 Biggest And Unforgettable Mistakes Uncovered: "There's No Intervention From The Front Office"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have thrived under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. In his 17 seasons at the helm, he has never had a losing season—an extraordinary feat in the highly competitive NFL. However, a common criticism is that the team has not won a playoff game since the 2016 campaign, despite having talented rosters.

While many in the national media hold Tomlin in high regard, praising him as one of the best coaches ever, some Steelers fans have grown frustrated with his leadership. They believe he struggles to prepare his teams for big games, a notion that couldn't be further from the truth. Tomlin's leadership and impressive resume speak for themselves, despite a few unfortunate moments over the past decade.

Despite some fans' hopes for a change, the Steelers organization remains confident in Tomlin. They signed him to a three-year contract extension this offseason, ensuring he will be the head coach through the 2027 season.

For those seeking to highlight his shortcomings, Ray Fittipaldo joined The Joe Starkey Show to discuss some of Tomlin's biggest failures.

"Mike Tomlin handpicks his staff. There's no intervention from the front office or ownership when it comes to him hiring assistant coaches. The draft thing, I understand, Mike Tomlin has more of a say in that than other head coaches do, but Kevin Colbert, [and now Omar Khan], Art Rooney II, they're all ultimately in on that decision, especially for a No. 1 pick.”

The first failure Fittipaldo highlighted is Tomlin's approach to selecting his staff. Fittipaldo revealed that Tomlin has full control over his hires. The decision to appoint Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada and retain him despite his significant shortcomings is a major blemish on Tomlin's record.

Fittipaldo did not place full blame on Tomlin for the team's draft mistakes, but he did single out the decision to draft Kenny Pickett as a notable misstep in Tomlin's career.

"But Mike Tomlin watched Kenny Pickett grow up. He thought he could help this team, and it turns out that he wasn't ready for that. When you're looking at Mike Tomlin transgressions, I'd put Canada at the top of the list, and I'd put Pickett probably a notch or two down there.”

Tomlin has more influence over draft decisions than most head coaches, but he doesn't have the final say. In the 2022 NFL Draft, when the Steelers selected Pickett in the first round, they indeed needed a quarterback. Despite a weak quarterback class, the Steelers were enamored with Pickett, who had played college football at Pitt and was well-known to the organization.

Pickett struggled in his two seasons with Pittsburgh, primarily due to Canada's ineffective offensive system. Both issues reflect on Tomlin, as he was aware of the system's deficiencies when the Steelers drafted Pickett. Although the team was likely set on selecting Pickett, knowing the offense he was entering should have prompted a different approach.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Should Have Fired Matt Canada Faster

Many argue that Canada should have been fired earlier, a major failure often attributed to Tomlin. Pickett's struggles were evident, with just 13 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions over two seasons. After Canada was fired in the middle of the 2023 season, Pickett had one of his best games before getting injured. Subsequently, negative reports about Pickett emerged, leading to his offseason trade to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite some fans' dissatisfaction with Tomlin, his resume is impressive. He has been a great head coach but has faced significant postseason challenges recently. The 2024 season will be crucial for Tomlin; if the Steelers don't win a playoff game with their current roster, fans' displeasure will likely intensify.

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