Former Steelers Safety Ryan Clark Admits It's Imminently Time For Mike Tomlin To Move On From Team

Much has been made of the future of Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin over the last few weeks. The team has suffered some of the worst losses of Tomlin's 17-year tenure, which has led to outrage from the fan base. In the meantime, players are acting up and seemingly no longer responding to their head coach's message. Tomlin has always been seen as one of the better coaches in the NFL, particularly as a motivator.

Well, that hasn't seemed to work this season with the young roster that he has. One of Tomlin's former players, Ryan Clark, has been the most outspoken former Steeler over the past few weeks. He's a regular guest on ESPN's Get Up morning show, and he had some interesting things to say on Friday. Clark admitted that he thinks it's finally time that the Steelers and Tomlin move on from each other sooner rather than later.

"Coach Tomlin needs to be in a new place," explained Clark. "Coach Tomlin doesn't need to retire from coaching because he's one of the greatest coaches in football today. He doesn't need to be there anymore. The same way Andy Reid eventually had to move on from Philadelphia. It didn't mean that Andy Reid couldn't coach anymore, it meant that he shouldn't be coaching there. Coach Tomlin should now move on from Pittsburgh and everyone should line up to hire him because the frickin' man knows how to do it, but he shouldn't do it there anymore."

If it wasn't clear by the quote, Clark reiterates that Tomlin is still a good coach. Sometimes, for whatever reason, situations just don't work out and good things come to an end. Clark makes sure to acknowledge that Tomlin is to blame for some of the team's recent wrongdoings, including his inability to adapt to this younger generation. In the early part of his tenure in Pittsburgh, Tomlin adjusted his coaching style to the benefit of Clark and his players.

Over the years, as Clark stated, players have began to take advantage of that. Because of that, for the most part, a vast majority of the blame for this season's struggles is placed on the young players, like George Pickens. Tomlin has continued to support the young wideout and has yet to bench him. The former safety compares this situation to another legendary coach in Andy Reid. 

Are Steelers' Struggles More On Tomlin Or The Players?

Reid, known as one of the best play-callers ever, was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 years. After a ton of success there, the NFC East team fired him back in 2012. Ultimately, Reid found a new head coaching gig immediately that same offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was able to help them overachieve for a few years with some average quarterback play, but eventually, he got his franchise guy.

Since the team drafted Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Chiefs and Reid have been annual Super Bowl contenders. It's resulted in two rings thus far, and Reid may have plenty more to show for by the time he retires. In other words, Clark fully believes that Tomlin still has plenty left in the tank as far as coaching. If he does hit the open market, teams will flood to his lines to show interest in him.

Despite the recent struggles, it would still be hard to imagine the Steelers brass moving on from Tomlin. There would have to be some intriguing offensive minds on the open market for that to happen. One thing is clear: it's going to be a crazy offseason in Pittsburgh and it will be much-needed after this season's disappointment.

What are your thoughts on Clark's latest comments that the two sides should move on from each other? If the Steelers did the unthinkable and moved on from Tomlin, who would be a good target for their next hire? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!

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