Steelers' Mike Tomlin Gets Taught Valuable Lesson From Eagles' Nick Sirianni

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans endured yet another Super Bowl without their beloved team. It's never easy for Steeler Nation to watch the big game without seeing its team in it, especially when late January and early February are usually filled with playoff hopes. While reaching those heights consistently is a challenge, the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and that’s a long stretch for a franchise with such a rich history.

Many fans feel that Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s message has started to lose its impact in the Steel City. The most frustrating part is that everyone knows Tomlin is a great coach and leader. But at times, it seems like he's stuck in his ways, and the modern NFL is passing him by. 

Tomlin often tells Steelers fans that he thrives in the uncomfortable, yet when critical moments arise in a game, he often chooses the least risky path. It's tough for fans to watch other competitive teams with explosive offenses taking chances while the Steelers opt to run the ball on 3rd and 8.

One key example of when aggression was needed came in Super Bowl LIX. With the Philadelphia Eagles already holding a commanding 27-0 lead late in the third quarter, they could have easily played conservatively, run down the clock, and stayed in a safe position. 

However, Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni saw an opportunity, and a viral clip has since emerged showing him in conversation with his now-former Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore. The two debated whether to call a home run play, and without hesitation, Sirianni pushed Moore to take the aggressive route, determined to leave no doubt about the outcome.

The game was likely already out of reach for the Kansas City Chiefs, but Jalen Hurts’ 46-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith on the first play of the drive sealed the deal. It was a knockout punch, and while it might not have been the most conventional football call (especially in that situation) it’s part of why the Eagles were in the Super Bowl in the first place. 

They’ve adapted to the modern NFL, and Sirianni wasn’t about to give Patrick Mahomes even a glimmer of a comeback. He pushed to be aggressive and finish the game decisively.

Steelers' Tomlin Would've Played It Safe

Now, if this were the Steelers in the Super Bowl, leading by that much, there’s little doubt they would’ve run the ball three straight times and punted it back to the opposition. That approach isn’t necessarily right or wrong, but it highlights how Tomlin has often played it safe, opting for conservative decisions. Sometimes, it's okay to be aggressive and live with the results. If Sirianni can take that risk in the biggest game of his career, surely Tomlin can do the same during the regular season.

Many Steelers fans believe this conservative approach is a major reason Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. On the flip side, there have been moments when Tomlin has been aggressive, using timeouts to give his offense a chance, only for those decisions to backfire. To be fair to Tomlin, it’s possible he feels limited by his offense's capabilities, and that’s understandable. However, if that’s truly the case, he must take responsibility for not improving it.

Other teams have faced similar challenges, yet they’ve been better equipped to rebuild and maintain strong rosters. A couple of things are clear: Tomlin and the Steelers need to be more aggressive offensively, and they must find players they trust to execute that aggression. If they don’t, they risk being left behind in an NFL that continues to evolve at an ever-faster pace.

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