The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a quandary. On the one hand, they can continue to employ Mike Tomlin and slowly turn into afterthoughts in the AFC North. On the other hand, Art Rooney II can be bold and move on from the current coaching staff and risk the stability of the organization. It is a difficult choice, and no one in Steeler Nation can make it for them.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' last two head coaches, Mike Tomlin (left) and Bill Cowher (right).
The Steelers have employed three coaches since 1969. Chuck Noll was with the team for 23 years. Tomlin is in year 17 of his tenure. Bill Cowher had the shortest tenure at 15 years. Cowher’s end to his tenure was marked by a rumored contract dispute paired with the failing health of his late wife. Noll was forced out at the end of his tenure when he was plainly past his prime. Despite national media reports to the contrary, Tomlin is no longer in his prime.
Pro Football Talk
Steelers sometimes critic Mike Florio criticized Kirk Herbstreit's defense of Matt Canada on Thursday Night Football.
On Wednesday during The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller, Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller welcomed a familiar Tomlin apologist. Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk, who, in fairness, has started to evolve in previous appearances on the Tomlin question, made his first appearance on the program since the Steelers completed an unfortunate quinella by losing to the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. Mueller asked Florio to address the recent Jay Glazer of Fox Sports rumors about a possible trade of Tomlin to the Washington Commanders.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Florio flatly responded. “I mean Glazer, didn’t have to respond to it all. That device of a team calling another team and saying what would it take to get your coach, it doesn’t get used as often as it should. So it really wouldn’t surprise me if something like that happened.”
Florio has been no stranger to floating this trial balloon in the past. He has been a vocal proponent of the team’s trading coaches, advocating for them to explore free agency. Most of the head coaches in the NFL see one year remaining on a contract as a vote of no confidence. Tomlin is entering the final year of his contract in 2024, and Florio considers him a star in the profession.
“Proven winner, proven track record, turning around a team that would love to go 18 years without a losing record,” Florio observed about the Commanders. “They would like to go 18 months without a losing record, for crying out loud.”
Washington is just coming out of the Daniel Snyder era, and the franchise is damaged. Ron Rivera filled in admirably near the end of Snyder’s tenure and brought some stability to the franchise, but victories have not followed. The new ownership group headed by Josh Harris, who is a former minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, is desperately craving relevancy.
NFL Insider: Steelers Mike Tomlin Could Be Perfect Candidate To Trade To Washington Commanders
Tomlin could be the man to provide it. The question is if Harris was one of the minority owners who rebelled against Rooney and wanted the Steelers coach dismissed during the Antonio Brown fiasco. Rooney was said to have overruled his minority partners on firing Tomlin for a perceived lack of control in the locker room. If Harris was one of them, it may be a pipe dream wishing for a trade.
“We talked about it last week. At what point does Mike Tomlin say, 'I’ve had enough of this,'” Florio reiterated. “'Instead of you firing me, I’m firing you. I’m moving on,' and if the Steelers are looking at watching him walk away as a free agent after 2024 anyway, why not take what you can get now?”
Florio has defended Tomlin strenuously in the past, but his weekly appearances on the show have steadily worn down his resolve regarding the Steelers' head coach. He has gone from the pathetic national talking point that Tomlin would be hired immediately if the Steelers let him go, to a position where Tomlin may be so fed up with the fan base and local media, that he may elect to move on after the season.
AP Photo
Steelers Team President Art Rooney II (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) oversee practice during the 2021 minicamp in Pittsburgh.
It is a win-win scenario. No one in Steeler Nation wishes Tomlin any ill will. If he has success with the Commanders or any other team, it is unlikely that the fan base will begrudge him a second act somewhere else. It is easier to gamble on that for Steelers fans because the likelihood of Tomlin changing his philosophy at a new location is remote. It would be interesting to see if the Commanders insist on the retention of Eric Bieniemy if that trade did come to fruition as well.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Should Pittsburgh heed the advice of Florio and Glazer and trade away their head coach? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
#SteelerNation
