The Pittsburgh Steelers drama during Wild Card weekend wasn't just surrounding their disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills. It also wasn't the fact that both players and fans felt that the officiating during the game was atrocious. Head Coach Mike Tomlin walked away from the podium while addressing the media postgame which got national attention. This has led one Pittsburgh insider to imply that there is more to that story than just frustration with the question.
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After the Steelers lost 31-17, Tomlin and the players had to answer some tough questions. It was more than just about the specifics of the loss. The team has two major looming decisions - what to do about their quarterback and what will be the fate of Tomlin in Pittsburgh.
The question was asked by Brooke Pryor, a sports reporter for ESPN who has covered the Steelers for years. She started to say, "You have a year left on your contract..." Upon hearing that, Tomlin immediately turned and walked away. This promptly led to a maelstrom of negative comments from fans who were unhappy with Tomlin's performance over the past several years.
One of the comments that was made on X came from Gerry Dulac, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Dulac tweeted that he believes Tomlin walked off for a reason, with the implication being that Tomlin is not planning to return for the 2024 season.
There was a reason… https://t.co/hwkCMaBmP7
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) January 16, 2024
Dulac has not been shy about his feelings towards how Tomlin has been leading the team. Tomlin has just finished his 17th consecutive non-losing season, which is a record in the NFL. It is also something that many fans feel is not good enough - he has lost his last four postseason games. The last time the Steelers won a playoff game was in 2017.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin's Future May Not Be So Unsure
Tomlin currently has one year left on his contract. It was recently reported that Tomlin was not going to rush to make a decision and instead was going to take some time with his family to contemplate his future.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been heavily criticized, but sticking with his ways has resulted in a playoff appearance in 2023-24 for the team.
Most people who are involved with the team and know Tomlin and the Rooney family believe that the organization will never fire or trade Tomlin. Instead, they believe that the only way this situation changes is if Tomlin chooses to move on from the team. While some believe that is the case, most of the players have voiced their support of Tomlin.
This isn't the only time rumors have swirled about Tomlin, this is something that has been going on for the entirety of the 2023 season. Tomlin's close personal friend and Fox Sports analyst, Jay Glazer, is one of the reporters who fueled the trade talk. Glazer said that Tomlin might return to his home state of Virginia and take the position as the coach of the Washington Commanders.
Tomlin was hired as the head coach of the Steelers in 2007, taking over for Hall of Fame Coach Bill Cowher. Cowher had won a Super Bowl with the team, had been voted the AP NFL Coach of the Year, and was the Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year twice. Many believed that Tomlin would not be able to lead the organization in the same manner.
Regardless of how you believe he got there, Tomlin did lead the team successfully during his career. His career record in Pittsburgh is 181-110-2. He led the Steelers to the Super Bowl twice, winning one of them.
Tomlin is known to be a man of few words. He knows that there is not much he can say to the media that won't be misinterpreted, picked apart, and criticized. He is smart enough to know that fans are going to say and think whatever they want, regardless of whether that is for him to stay or go - a topic the fan base is firmly split upon.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers last two head coaches Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher.
While there is nothing anyone can say or do, we are in a holding pattern waiting for Tomlin to decide. The best-case scenario is that the decision is made sooner rather than later. Numerous other decisions have to be made, like who will be the quarterback? Who will be the offensive coordinator? Who will we pick up in free agency? The draft? The team has a lot of talented players, but there is of course work to be done and gaps to be filled. That process will be on hold until the head coach is solidified.
What do you think will happen with Tomlin? Do you think Dulac knows anything or is just fishing? Click to comment below.
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