The Pittsburgh Steelers are the main team on many major network's minds, as no one can ignore what the fans chanted during their Week 13 loss. There is no doubt that almost everyone outside of the facilities is tired of the mediocrity and the lack of progress being made in recent years, and that includes many former players. Most of the anger is being directed towards Head Coach Mike Tomlin, and he may be starting to feel the pressure after all those chants that demanded the team fires him. This is a horrible situation all around.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin greets fans after a win against the Browns in Week 14.
While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked about the odds that the fans would not get their wish, and Tomlin remains in Pittsburgh. According to him, Steeler Nation may get its way if the season continues to go south.
"If things continue down the same road, and let's say they continue to play bad football and they're 8-9 or 7-10 -- I really feel strongly about this after watching this team the last couple of weeks -- I think it would be like 30 or 35%," Fittipaldo said. "I think it would have a decent chance of happening if that scenario unfolded."
Again, that's a 30% or 35% chance that Tomlin sticks around in 2026, which means there is a 65% or 70% chance that he is gone if the Steelers finish the season with a losing record and they continue to play poorly. The fans may be getting their wish if bad things continue to happen.
The end of the season is very tough, so there is a strong possibility that Pittsburgh fails to reach that 9-8 threshold. Time will tell as the season progresses on.
AP Photo
Steelers Owner Art Rooney II (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) oversee practice during the 2021 minicamp in Pittsburgh.
Of course, that's only if things continue to go bad. As strong as Fittipaldo felt about Tomlin being gone after a bad end, he seemed to feel even stronger about the fact that the head coach will stick around if Pittsburgh wins at least nine games and maybe a playoff game. Tomlin still has time to turn the narrative around and get fans back on his side, but the clock is ticking. It could cost him his job if he doesn't fix things now.
At the end of the day, Tomlin will almost certainly be in the Hall of Fame, and he still won a Super Bowl. Those are all great things, but sometimes, owners need to just thank their legends for what they did and move on so they can look towards the future. That seems to be what the Steelers need to do at this point. Get out of the past and focus on winning Super Bowls in the future.
Steelers Should Take Advice From Other Champions
The New England Patriots' dynasty needs no introduction, and Bill Belichick was there for all six championships. His shelf life lasted much longer than others, but he didn't get a lifetime contract because of it. They still had no problems firing him a few years removed from his last title, and just one year removed from a playoff appearance. Now, they are 11-2 and the favorite to win the AFC.
Don Wright / AP photo
Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Patriots' Bill Belichick walk off the field after a game.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have tried to be just like the Philadelphia Eagles from a roster standpoint, but they are not as willing to make the tough decisions. The Eagles fired Super Bowl champion Doug Pederson just two seasons after winning a title, and Nick Sirianni was seemingly on the hot seat a year after he won the NFC. That was enough to make him get back on track and end up winning the whole thing.
The past is great, but it should not dictate the present. If it did, Ben Roethlisberger would still be quarterback, and Troy Polamalu would still be playing safety. It's time to look forward.
What do you think about Tomlin's odds of sticking around versus leaving in 2026? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation
