Steelers 1st Round Bust Devin Bush Absolutely Blasts Mike Tomlin And The Organization On Podcast

The Pittsburgh Steelers learned a painful lesson in 2019. They completed a draft day trade with the Denver Broncos to select Devin Bush Jr. with the 10th pick in the NFL Draft. Pittsburgh was trying to replace Ryan Shazier and they reached. Bush was not a complete disaster early in his career, but apologists cite a knee injury that he never really recovered from as the reason for his issues in the Steel City.

It is at best partially true because he could not handle being the dot linebacker and got by on pure athleticism as a rookie. It speaks to how great of an athlete he was coming out of college that he could get by at the NFL level on ability alone. The recovery from his injury robbed him of some of his gifts and without them, he did not process fast enough and could not get off the blocks that started finding him with regularity.

Steelers Bid Farewell To Devin Bush After Four Seasons

Bush was eligible for a fifth-year option, but the Steelers declined to bring him back. They benched him late in 2022 and the price tag for a backup linebacker who might not make the team was exorbitant, so they let him go. Bush signed a one-year prove-it contract with the Seattle Seahawks which could pay him as much as $3.5 million dollars.

The former first-round draft pick joined The Ian Furness Show to discuss his move to Seattle and when prompted, did not hesitate to take shots at Pittsburgh and his former head coach Mike Tomlin. Ian Furness opened up the sniping by asking Bush the reason he chose the Seahawks after leaving the Steelers.

“It had a lot to do with the culture,” Bush began. “The history behind it is what it is. Talking to Coach [Pete] Carroll on frequent occasions, I feel like it was a good fit. He is extending that culture he is familiar with and trying to get those guys in there that just love football. Watching them last year, you know they were in the playoffs.”

Pete Carroll and Tomlin are two of the most respected coaches in the NFL and both have impressive tenures with their respective teams. Both coaches are known for inspiring tremendous loyalty, and both have had high-profile divorces from star players. They are both defensive coaches, but Bush is obviously bitter from his time in Pittsburgh by implying that the culture in Seattle was more conducive to success.

Furness prodded Bush to go further in explaining the differences between Carroll and Tomlin. The draft bust who was demoted after being given every opportunity took the bait and ran with it.

“[Pete Carroll is] a different guy,” Bush said. “I walked into his office, and he had the music playing, he had the pictures up, you know he’s watching film, I just got the feel that he is dedicated. He’s all in and doesn’t think about nothing else but Seattle Seahawks and winning. If he puts that much time and energy into his work, I have to match him.”

The implication is that Carroll is busy with football and putting in maximum effort, so what does that say about his former coach? Coach Tomlin has faults, but intensity, teaching, and focus are not among them. Carroll is arguably a better tactician than the Steelers’ head coach, but implying that he works harder than Tomlin is not only incorrect, it is borderline blasphemous.

Bush was not done trashing Tomlin and the Steelers; he dragged his gas can over to the fire he had started and decided to go nuclear. Furness asked him to compare the Steelers and Seahawks and removed any doubt that the Steelers made the right decision to let him go.

“It’s way beyond the X’s and O’s, He obviously cares a lot about his team,” Bush continued, then dropped the bombshell. “180 completely. I can’t wait to get in there and go against my first opponent and shoot the lights out. I’m excited.”

Seattle fans should look forward to him shooting the lights out because if it is completely dark, they might not see his poor play, especially against the run. Bush had the opportunity to work with Brian Flores in 2022 and he initially improved, but eventually fell back into bad habits that he no longer can overcome by being faster than the other players on the field. Bush also openly sulked when it became apparent he was going to have to prove himself to remain a Steelers linebacker.

Bush was signed because of Jordyn Brooks's injury late in the season. Bobby Wagner was also brought back by the Seahawks and will be the top inside linebacker on the team. Seattle plays a hybrid defense, so Bush will have an opportunity to play, but if he continues to display uneven effort and a bad attitude, he will find himself relegated to anonymity sooner rather than later.

Pittsburgh is one of the best places to play in the NFL and the organization and city take care of their players. It is more than just having a loud stadium on Sunday; the Steelers are a family and when you are adopted by the organization and embrace it, you will find as close to unconditional love as any pro athlete can get. Bush was content to get by on ability and in Pittsburgh that is not part of the culture. Maybe he does belong in Seattle. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you surprised Bush would trash Tomlin and the Steelers? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.