For years now, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been complaining about the lack of change in the organization, starting with ownership being content with how things are done to the coaching staff and the unwillingness to adjust schemes. All in all, it has been a very frustrating bunch of years as the team doesn't seem to have the desire to be more than a playoff doormat. Little moves here and there won't appease the fans; they want some major decision to be made that will either make the team elite or allow it to tank.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin smiles as General Manager Omar Khan looks on during a team workout at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
While making an appearance on ESPN's Unsportsmanlike, Damien Woody talked about what the Steelers should have done to finally get out of this 9/10-win purgatory.
“You know what? Coming into the offseason I said that the Pittsburgh Steelers should seriously entertain trading Mike Tomlin,” Woody said. “I really felt like the Pittsburgh Steelers should have traded Mike Tomlin for a couple reasons. Number one, the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since what, 2016? It’s been almost a decade since the Pittsburgh Steelers, the six-time Super Bowl champions, have won a playoff game. Three Presidential Inaugurations. That’s been a long time. We all know and recognize the greatness of Mike Tomlin. We know he’s never had a losing season, but we’ve seen this over and over and over again. And even Mike Tomlin himself has always said the standard is the standard. Well, what’s the standard in Pittsburgh, the standard as an organization? It’s always about championships.”
Head Coach Mike Tomlin might be the most polarizing person in the NFL. There is a group of people that think he is being held back by everyone around, while others believe that he has no idea how to run a team in the 2020s. Either way, it's fair to question the leader of a team that has been struck in quicksand for nearly a decade. With the experience that someone like Tomlin has, the Steelers would get quality assets in return in a trade.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin high fives George Pickens after a huge play against the Commanders in Week 10 of the 2024 regular season.
Steelers May Have Given Mike Tomlin Theoretical Lifetime Deal
There is one major flaw with that line of thinking though: Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract. Even if he could benefit from a change of scenery, why would he want to leave a team that is known for its stability and proud tradition of not firing coaches? No team in the NFL would give the 19th-year head coach the same level of job security that the Steelers do. Many fans have claimed that he will be a Steelers until he doesn't want to be, and that could be a true statement.
A potential trade would be a risk, as the Steelers could struggle without their leader. Tomlin is one of, if not, the best coaches in the NFL when it comes to relating to players and motivating them. When Super Bowls are the goal, taking that kind of chance could be needed. That would also require the long-time head coach to waive his no-trade clause, and that likely won't ever happen.
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Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and Art Rooney II at training camp
No matter how much Woody, the fans, or anyone else want a new head coach in Pittsburgh, that won't be happening unless Tomlin retires on his own. His latest extension runs through the 2027 season, and there is always a chance that it gets re-upped prior to it expiring. He has repeatedly told everyone that he has no plans on leaving Pittsburgh, and there is no reason to not believe him on that.
What do you think about the idea of Tomlin being traded, as well as his no-trade clause playing a role in this? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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