NFL Legend Calls Out Steelers Great Mike Tomlin For Poor Hall Of Famer Resume: "How Many Playoff Games Did You Win?"

The Pittsburgh Steelers just saw their long-time head coach Mike Tomlin decide to step away from coaching in the NFL. It is a tough pill to swallow for the league, but for Steelers fans, there is a mix of emotions. They are excited about a new chapter while also deeply appreciating the leadership Tomlin provided for nearly two decades. Under his guidance, Pittsburgh remained a consistent contender, and his ability to keep the team competitive year after year became a defining trait of his tenure.

Tomlin’s legacy, however, is complicated. While he has never had a losing season, a remarkable feat in the modern NFL, he has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. That contrast has sparked debate among analysts and fans alike. He is praised for consistency and stability but criticized for not delivering recent postseason success. Still, the respect for his longevity, discipline, and leadership in Pittsburgh cannot be overstated.

Yet not everyone has kind words for the departing coach. One of his former stars, linebacker James Harrison, has been openly critical. After news broke that Tomlin was stepping away at just 53 years old, Harrison commented on aspects of Tomlin’s career that are hard to ignore, including what he sees as gaps in his Hall of Fame resume. While controversial, Harrison’s remarks add another layer to the complex story of a coach who has left an undeniable mark on the Steelers and the NFL.

"No," Harrison said when asked if Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach. "The thing I can't give him a Hall of Fame coach for is because he hasn't made disciples. You are trying to tell me you are a Hall of Fame coach when no one has followed you? That can't be the thing. He is the only coach that has coached this long and does not have a tree, bruh. Guys are just emotionally attached to him."

Players who played under Tomlin loved and respected him. Some argue that this respect has given him a lot of cover in terms of how he is viewed all time. 

Harrison, however, sees right through it and wants to call a spade a spade.

"Now a great coach, like dude, the measurement of greatness, it is not based on personal experiences and the relationships you had with them," Harrison explained. "It's purely on what you did as a coach. Did you get championships? Did you build disciples? Yes, all those wins are great, but those wins have to add up to championships, brother... How many playoff games did you win? When you look at all the greats like everybody is saying about him right now, nobody has a negative postseason record. I can go back, back."

Harrison makes a valid point, but on the other side of the debate is the fact that Tomlin enjoyed a great deal of regular season success. Former Steelers cornerback Joe Haden spoke on that same podcast, arguing that Tomlin’s legacy is secure and that he should be considered a Hall of Fame head coach when it is all said and done. While he will likely achieve that honor, Harrison does not view him that way.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Has A Complicated Legacy In The Steel City

Steeler Nation, however, appreciates Harrison’s honest viewpoint and the way he adds nuance to the conversation about Tomlin’s complex legacy. 

His perspective reminds fans that even celebrated figures can be viewed through different lenses and that leadership and results can be judged in more than one way.

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