New Evidence: Steelers, Mike Tomlin set to Still Part Ways

Following a three-game winning run to finish the season with a 10-7 record and a postseason appearance, Mike Tomlin seemed to have cemented his place in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. On January 7, Adam Schefter of ESPN stated that Tomlin’s future with the Steelers might not be certain.

On ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, Schefter said that Tomlin had the option to choose to leave the Steelers.

Schefter stated via Terrible Announcement, “They’re not firing Mike Tomlin, but here’s the thing that’s interesting.” “He has one more year on his deal, and some in the NFL think Mike Tomlin may ultimately choose to take a hiatus similar to what Sean Payton did. Consider taking a year off. We’ll check to see whether he is thinking about that.

“Mike Tomlin, not the Pittsburgh Steelers, gets to decide what transpires here. He won’t be let go. He intends to remain. But if he so chooses, he will remain.

Tomlin’s contract expires in one year. Should he leave Pittsburgh over the offseason, it would be akin to the departure of his predecessor.

Having served as head coach of the Steelers for 15 seasons, Bill Cowher resigned in January 2007 with one year left on his contract. Tomlin just completed his 17th season in the regular league.

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It probably wouldn’t be a smart move to fire Tomlin, despite some media commentators for the Packers calling for the team to do so because they haven’t been a reliable Super Bowl contender in recent years.

As an NFL head coach, Tomlin’s record stands at 173-100-2. In addition, he hasn’t had a losing season in 17 years. By starting Mason Rudolph at center in 2023, Tomlin was able to avert a possible losing season.

That, together with his devotion to wide receiver George Pickens, ignited a season-ending three-game winning streak.

It’s obvious that Tomlin still has a strong sense of team spirit and a great deal of respect in the Steelers locker room.

However, some of the Steelers’ summer plans may become clearer if Tomlin leaves the team this offseason.

When Tomlin has at least two years left on his current contract, the Steelers frequently give him a contract extension. However, that did not occur in 2023.

According to insiders, the Steelers do not plan to extend Mike Tomlin’s contract this season, but it does not imply that the 17-year head coach is under any pressure. This was reported by Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

It is noteworthy, however, that the Steelers did not extend Tomlin’s contract until 2021, when he was about to enter his last year.

Tomlin knowing this season was going to be his final one in Pittsburgh could also explain why the Steelers kept offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Despite poor offensive play in 2021 and 2022 and tremendous pressure from Steelers media, the team retained Canada for the start of the 2023 season.

But it wouldn’t have made much sense for the Steelers to hire a new offensive coordinator one year before making a head coaching change.

However, that’s pure speculation, as is, quite frankly, parts of Schefter’s report on Tomlin.

When speaking about his contract situation in July 2023, Tomlin didn’t sound like a coach in his last season.

“I haven’t even thought about it,” Tomlin said about a new contract extension, via SI.com’s All Steelers’ Noah Strackbein. “I’m just at the stage of my career where I don’t even think about contracts to be honest with you.

“I acknowledged that I’ve seen more days than I’m going to see. That’s just the nature of this thing. I’m appreciative of the opportunity, I’m singularly focused. I’m thankful I’m in a stage in my life and my career that it’s a non-issue for me.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter Connects Mike Tomlin to NFL Head Coach Openings

As the saying goes, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. But Schefter appeared to try that with his Tomlin report.

Although Schefter reported Tomlin could leave this offseason, the ESPN insider also included the word, “eventually” in his report. The inclusion of that word appeared to make Schefter less certain that the coach’s departure will happen at the end of the playoffs.

Furthermore, Schefter contradicted himself. After saying Tomlin would leave to take time off, he connected the head coach to job openings for this offseason.

“If he chooses to walk, then that’s an entirely different matter,” Schäfer continued. And who knows, maybe one of the teams out there would want to give the Steelers a call to see if they might end up doing anything with him? He’s from Washington, and his wife likes Los Angeles.

There is no doubt about that. The NFL media will probably keep making assumptions about Tomlin’s future until he decides to sign a new deal this offseason or leaves.