Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is expected to land in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day. He also could be nearing the end of his incredible career in the Steel City. Both statements can be true, and it's fair to assume that the organization could potentially benefit from a mutual parting of ways. Belief in the franchise is at an all-time low as the team navigates a wild and unpredictable 2025 season. The collective may be sitting at 6-6 with a chance to win the AFC North, but outsiders looking in would think everything was far from okay.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
In Week 13, Pittsburgh lost to the Buffalo Bills and the fan base was chanting for Tomlin to be fired. It is definitely starting to get a little bit complicated for ownership, as the individuals who pay to go to the games are truly tired of average and inconsistent play. The Steelers have been making headlines for the entire calendar year, but the events that transpired in Acrisure Stadium in Week 13 have uncovered even more than anyone thought they would.
Super Bowl champion Nick Foles hosts a podcast called The SZ with Nick Foles & Evan Moore. After a successful playing career, he embarked on a subtle media journey as many former players do. Recently, he was speaking about Tomlin and his words were quite shocking. After an 11-year stint in the NFL, he certainly came across hundreds of teammates. He took the time to call out Tomlin for his lack of accountability in the locker room.
"Mike Tomlin has to be the elite leader that holds guys accountable," Foles said. "The thing I've heard with guys in the past with Tomlin, though he's had an amazing career, an amazing legacy there, [he] maybe not always holds guys accountable the right way."
It's fair to not that Foles never played for Tomlin or the Steelers. Everything he said is simply via word of mouth. However, it's hard to imagine he was being untruthful. He went a step further, noting that certain players can do as they wish.
"Star players get away with a little too many things; they can be late to meetings," Foles noted. "That all adds up. When I was with Andy Reid, I don't care if you were a star player or not, he treated you the same and he held you accountable."
Anyone who has ever played sports competitively knows that not paying attention to the small little details can lead to more serious issues. If Tomlin truly has let certain guys slip through the cracks over the years, it's absolutely unacceptable. It's even more concerning that Foles was likely hearing this from a former player or players that were not treated equally. That can send a horrible message to any team.
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Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles holds up the Lombardi Trophy after leading his team on an improbably playoff run.
The Steelers are at a crossroads. They have to hear about the national media claiming that Tomlin would be hired by another organization in a second if he were fired by Pittsburgh. On the other end, fans want him gone because the franchise hasn't won a postseason contest since the 2016 campaign. Now, retired players are going on podcasts claiming that the leader of the locker room lacks the ability to hold certain individuals accountable. All in all, it's becoming a disaster for the organization.
Steelers May Finally Have To Make The Tough Decision To Let Tomlin Walk Away
While it would likely be a mutual parting, Pittsburgh's decision-makers may have to have a difficult discussion with Tomlin if there is no postseason success in 2025. There is still time to right the ship, and the best thing for the team may just be having a road game in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens. Tomlin, however, is running out of time. His fancy one-liners and unique approach to coaching may no longer be getting the job done in the Steel City.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation.com (Twitter/ X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin yells in the direction of one of his players as the team warms up prior to a professional football game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
Do you think that the Steelers need to have a hard conversation with Tomlin at the end of the 2025 campaign? Let us know in the comments below!
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