10 potential replacements for Steelers HC Mike Tomlin
This time next season, Mike Tomlin may be coaching his final game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His contract expires at the end of the 2024 season but still needs to be extended.
Given the situation the team is in this season and the lack of playoff success since 2016, perhaps it’s time for some new blood.
Some Steelers fans had wanted Tomlin gone for years, but the Chargers fired Brandon Staley after Los Angeles lost 63-21 to the then-5-8 Las Vegas Raiders.
This put a bright spotlight on them.
2023.
Tomlin was credited with preparing the team for the underdog Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, a missed timeout at the start of the first half, a stupid penalty before the snap, and bad play in all three phases of the game.
That’s just part of what we did.
Tomlin’s current contract, which pays him an estimated $10 million, expires after the 2024 season.
He is the second longest-serving coach in the NFL after Bill Belichick.
From the sounds of it, Belichick’s days in New England are numbered.
In July, Jerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Steelers plan to take the same approach they took when they signed him to a three-year contract extension in 2021.
That means waiting until the offseason before returning.
But a lot has happened (or not happened) between then and now.
While that’s unlikely, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently listed several names that could replace Tomlin if the Steelers want to move forward after the season.
1
Ben Johnson [Detroit Lions OC]
2
Brian Johnson [Philadelphia Eagles OC]
3
Frank Smith [Miami Dolphins OC]
4
Brian Flores [Minnesota Vikings DC]
5
Mike Macdonald [Ravens DC
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
6
Shane Bowen [Tennessee Titans DC]
7
Chris Horton [Baltimore Ravens STC]
8
Frank Ross [Houston Texans STC
9
Raymond “Bubba” Ventrone [Cleveland Browns STC
10
Jim Harbaugh [Michigan HC]