A third head coach in 50 years of the Pittsburgh Steelers was about to be introduced on the South Side of the Steel City, as this certainly was something relatively new and needed to get used to for the first time in 15 years with Hall of Fame Coach Bill Cowher undoubtedly leaving his mark on such a historic franchise.
Times were uncertain, especially after an average eight-win 2006 regular season. Cowher resigned over health-related issues pertaining to his wife, who tragically lost her battle with cancer later on. Over a decade of stability, continuity and familiarity are now all vanished in a blink of an eye. The changing of the guard was here, and whether the next in line could maximize the potential of a stable franchise with a legitimate quarterback at the time in Ben Roethlisberger remained to be seen.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 17: Bill Cowher during a hall of fame halftime ceremony during the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks game at Heinz Field on October 17, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The date is January 22, 2007, and at 34 years of age, the young and upcoming Coach Mike Tomlin was about to embark on quite the journey that not even the Rooney family would know what to expect. Russ Grim and current Washington Commanders Head Coach Ron Rivera were also finalists for the job, but ultimately the opportunity was Tomlin's to accept. Surely enough, a never before seen coaching staff leader had big shoes to fill, but in a lot of ways, the new guy certainly embodied what Pittsburgh brass envisioned as the Steeler Way.
With 16 seasons (2022 still in progress), two Super Bowl appearances, and one Super Bowl title later, Coach Tomlin has stayed the course and positioned himself as one of the best in the business. What stands out, losing seasons are unheard of at 15/15 on .500 records or better. What's more, only three playoff victories have been accumulated since 2011, their very last Super Bowl appearance in Dallas versus Green Bay.
This is where the rubber meets the road, and it's also why Steeler Nation is as divided as ever. If you happen to know any fellow Steelers fans, you'll quickly come to the conclusion that 50 percent either are supporting him or 50 percent are wanting him fired. There's zero medium ground here.
Since 2007, Tomlin has amassed 160 wins, 93 losses two ties, a .631 winning percentage, 10/15 seasons resulting in playoff appearances, eight total playoff victories and not a single losing season to date. Accumulating dozens of winning seasons is great and all if you're a fan of a team that doesn't succeed nearly as much as the Steelers franchise does, but zero playoff victories since 2017 is not something to look over either.
After all, 'The Standard is The Standard' in Pittsburgh. If you aren't winning in the postseason, Pittsburghers will discard you quicker than trash down the dumpster. Expectations are that much higher here in this city, and this is something non-Steelers fans can't quite grasp when just viewing the regular season records of Tomlin.
Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Out of all the current head coaches in the NFL right now, there's no denying he is in the very top echelon. No other has been able to do what Tomlin has, and that is being as consistent as he's been. No tanking, settling for less or experiencing a huge drop-off. He has been everything a team could ever desire from its coach, and arguably more.
If you don't see the issue in Tomlin or you're asking why would Steelers fans want him gone, the answer is very simple. Playoff success. That's what matters most to Yinzers all across the globe. No playoff wins equals no job. Patience is growing thin albeit the fact Tomlin's reliability and trustworthiness are top-notch.
Let's examine the reasons why people want him gone. First, he hasn't won in the playoffs in almost going on 6 years now. Secondly, he has a tendency to just promote from within and not truly consider hiring the best overall candidate for that respective position, hence a buddy system.
Thirdly, Tomlin has too much control over his assistants, particularly the defense even though Teryl Austin is the Defensive Coordinator. Lastly, he far too often cultivates an unprepared or undisciplined team on and off the field. Getting curb-stomped in the last three playoff appearances (Jaguars, Browns and Chiefs) and having been called out by opposing teams and fans alike for using the same playbook or schemes over and over again are just a few of many other problems.
Putting that aside, the Steelers sit in a very odd place, head coaching-wise. You'll get your annual winning seasons all right, but what about that very same consistency in the playoffs? Is Tomlin entirely to blame for the lack of postseason success? And who do you hire over Tomlin that's actually better than him going forward since the likes of Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, John Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, Sean McVay, Sean McDermott, Matt LaFleur, Pete Carroll and Nick Sirianni are most definitely not accepting a job in Pittsburgh?
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on October 17, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
An unproven or lesser-qualified candidate would not fare well in place of Tomlin, since Steelers fans would immediately be wishing that they'd kept the other guy after spending years calling for his dismissal. This is where things stand, and that's what makes it extremely weird yet fascinating altogether.
Does Steelers Head Coach Tomlin Have An UnCertain Future In The Steel City?
As of right now, one shouldn't expect the franchise to give Tomlin the boot. In fact, his job is as safe as still water. And if they find a way to close out the regular season with nine wins, then there will be some level of appreciation for the head coach he has been and always will be. But the real question is this, will Steelers fans be satisfied enough with the result, considering the lack of higher expectations from the national media upon them this year? Heck, will they ever be satisfied with anything they demand out of Tomlin in the coming seasons?
There are more questions than answers. You don't just land the gig to coach the most prestigious NFL franchise out of nothing, yet simultaneously always have something more to prove no matter what you've achieved over 16 seasons. The Tomlin enigma is one sophisticated equation to solve, but it can only be correctly answered with playoff wins for the next three to four years.
If that's not the case, it very much appears that Tomlin's biggest critics will get their wishes, yet also receive the exact opposite of what they had hoped for, and that is a worse-off successor who will not be liked much, if at all. Like with all things, if you aren't performing at the level required, then the hammer must be brought down at some point. But the grass is not always greener on the other side, and that could mean bad things if fans and the city itself don't start appreciating the good they possess at the moment.
Credit: Jared Wickerham/Pittsburgh Steelers
With a new era of Steelers football underway, what everyone is closely watching is to see whether or not Tomlin can continually lay his stamp on the rest of the league with a rookie quarterback in Kenny Pickett. Being handed a future Hall of Famer under center and not having to worry about your quarterback situation for 15 seasons is fantastic. Now is the time for Tomlin to prove his worth. Great coaches reinvent themselves, despite who the franchise guy is. And that moment of proof has officially begun.
What do you think about Tomlin, and what would you like to see differently from him? Let us know in the comments below!
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