The Pittsburgh Steelers have fallen short of expectations this season, and with the team’s playoff chances dwindling, fans have called for Mike Tomlin to be the latest NFL coach fired. If the head coach is replaced, it appears the Steelers will not need to fire their coach.
Tomlin is widely regarded as one of the best NFL head coaches. While Tomlin, 51, has never been named NFL Coach of the Year and his team hasn’t won a championship since Super Bowl XLIII, his reputation in the league is high.
Mike Tomlin’s regular-season coaching record with the Pittsburgh Steelers is 170-100-1 (.631).
However, repeated quarterback issues and prolonged offensive problems have resulted in Pittsburgh having only one season with double-digit wins since 2018. Fans want Tomlin replaced as the team approaches its first losing season in decades.
Glazer stated on the FOX Sports podcast that a potential Steelers decision to part ways with Tomlin would immediately generate trade interest around the league. While the NFL insider gave no indication that a split was likely, he did state that there would be interest elsewhere.
“There would be teams lining up if Mike Tomlin was available.” Teams should be calling to try to trade for Mike Tomlin even if he is not yet available. If Mike Tomlin became available, teams would almost certainly be willing to fire their current head coach in order to hire Mike Tomlin. He is the man, according to other head coaches in this league. He is the grandfather. He is the person everyone looks up to. He has done an outstanding job over the years. To never experience a losing season? It’s completely absurd.”
The Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers immediately come to mind as possible landing spots. Tepper knows the impact Tomlin can have from his time as a minority owner of the Steelers, Raiders owner Mark Davis enjoys splash hires, and the Chargers want an experienced head coach.
Glazer, on the other hand, believes there is another NFL team to keep an eye on if Tomlin becomes available.
For the time being, Pittsburgh is committed to Tomlin for the rest of the season, with the expectation that he will return in 2024. However, it appears that several NFL teams will be inquiring about Tomlin’s availability this spring. If the Steelers decide to change coaches, Tomlin will take over as head coach of another team.
