The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, and fans shouldn’t forget that. Over the last several decades, their track record creates a resume that most NFL organizations would only dream of.
Steelers.com
Despite the heat Head Coach Mike Tomlin has faced over the last several years, he’s still the right person for the job. Here's why...
1. Respected
It’s an old NFL cliché, but a head coach is a leader of men. There arguably isn’t a stronger leader of players than Tomlin in the entire league.
Tomlin is known as a players’ coach, as he hangs out in the locker room with the guys to gauge the room's pulse. Even though that label has somewhat of a negative reputation, Tomlin isn’t afraid to tell players the hard truth. That brutal honesty is something that people around the organization love because they know exactly where they stand with him and what they need to do to get better.
He also has the unique ability to establish relationships with players on both sides of the ball. Tomlin’s background is on defense, but he can have tremendous dialogue with his offensive players as well.
2. Malleable
There are specific coaches and teams fans automatically respect when looking at NFL or college football betting lines. Everyone knows that Tomlin and the Steelers have proven themselves as a near lock to be competitive every season, which is something most franchises can’t say. One of the main reasons Pittsburgh is always in the playoff hunt is Tomlin’s ability to adjust.
On average, NFL rosters turn over about 30 percent year over year, which means that coaches are constantly dealing with new players. They’re tasked with figuring out how to shift their strategy and mindset based on the overall roster they have year in and year out.
Tomlin has been exemplary at exacerbating his rosters’ strengths. Tomlin wasn't afraid to let his offense play aggressively when he had Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, and others. When he’s had subpar quarterbacks, but a tremendous defense, Tomlin has slowed the game down and limited possessions. In an era where so many coaches are stuck with one system, Tomlin has proven that he can shift his thinking based on his team's talent.
3. Super Bowl Experience
The biggest reason Steelers fans might want to get rid of Tomlin is his lack of recent playoff success. While that’s understandable, it isn’t like he hasn’t ever been a strong postseason coach.
He’s coached in two Super Bowls, winning one of them. Tomlin’s not likely forgotten what it takes to win at the highest level, or the game has completely passed him by at age 53.
Tomlin’s teams are always in the mix to make the playoffs, which is the baseline for any contending team. However, his path has been blocked by great quarterbacks in the AFC, which has been the main reason for his lack of recent postseason success.
