Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers have been very agitated in recent years. Many have called for massive changes to be made, which sometimes includes demanding a new head coach. Mike Tomlin's status recently has been one of purgatory: he makes the team good enough to where they can't ever get a top pick, but he has not been good enough to have his teams be seen as a true threat in the playoffs in recent years. Despite all that, he still has his job, and he is under contract through the 2027 NFL season.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on as his team loses another playoff game at the end of the 2024 season.
During his weekly Q&A chat, insider Gerry Dulac was asked if this would finally be the year that Tomlin gets put on the hot seat if the Steelers once again fail to win in the playoffs. Dulac used history to guide his answer.
"No, I think we have seen he is Teflon when it comes to not winning playoff games," Dulac said. "If they miss the playoffs, he will be on the hot seat again, but only with the fans."
Like with Teflon, Tomlin has repeatedly proven to be able to not melt with the immense heat that he gets from the fan base. On top of that, the Steelers absolutely refuse to fire coaches. For everyone that does want a new leader, the best they can hope for is that his contract is not renewed at the end of the 2027 season. Even then, that is not a guarantee either.
While there is a group of fans that want a new head coach, there is also plenty of fans and analysts that appreciate Pittsburgh's Teflon approach to the hot seat. Those people believe that the Steelers can't thrive without his amazing leadership skills, and they want to see changes made elsewhere. The great Tomlin debate will likely never end: is he a great coach who continues to do more with less, or is he simply overrated?
AP Photo
Steelers Owner Art Rooney II (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) oversee practice during the 2021 minicamp in Pittsburgh.
The 2025 offseason had Tomlin's fingerprints all over it. He was the one pounding the table for Aaron Rodgers, even when numerous people within the facility reportedly did not want him. The Steelers are also known for their aggressive splash-play style of defense, which is why they traded Minkah FItzpatrick away after he only had one interception in the previous two years -- and they acquired Jalen Ramsey in the process.
If the Steelers have a great season with their new core, Teflon Tomlin will keep his seat extra cool for maybe another decade. If they continue to stumble and collapse, then that Teflon might finally begin to wear down, although he will still be the coach of the Steelers for the next few years. Another failure would just open the door for a potential exit after the 2027 season.
Steelers Will Make Many Other Big Changes Before Letting Tomlin Go
If the Steelers get embarrassed in the Wild Card Round once again, the front office won't likely direct their ire at Tomlin. Instead, there would likely be another massive roster overhaul, as numerous players can be released with little-to-no dead cap hit, and others will just be free agents. That won't be enough to satisfy the fans though, and it may not even satisfy the team executives.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Many of Tomlin's assistants will likely be let go after the 2025 campaign if things go south again. Whether it's for legitimate reasons, or just scapegoating, numerous key coaches are on the hot seat, and they are not made out of Teflon like the head coach is. The Standard will continue to be The Standard, whether fans are ok with it or not. Tomlin will be the team's leader for the next few seasons.
What do you think about Tomlin's "Teflon" nature with the hot seat? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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