Former Steelers Tight End Shares Why Mike Tomlin’s Unique Sideline Antics Matter

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the most interesting personalities in the entire National Football League at the head coach position in Mike Tomlin. Since 2007, Tomlin has continued his historic run of consecutive non-losing seasons. It's a very long football season that begins as early as May and ends as late as February for each NFL team, and head coaches have to find ways to keep their players in the right mindset. According to tight end MyCole Pruitt, Tomlin seems to do things a bit differently in Pittsburgh compared to other NFL coaches.

Early in the 2024 offseason, the Steelers were in desperate need of an offensive coordinator, after Matt Canada was officially fired about halfway through the 2023 regular season. Arthur Smith was quickly hired by Tomlin and the Steelers, which then signaled that Smith could end up stacking up the tight end group. Smith is famously known for his high use of tight ends and running backs within his offense, which goes into why Pruitt was signed last season to backup Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward. 

Recently, Pruitt, who now heads into 2025 as a free agent, spoke about his experience as a Steeler for one year with Steelers Takeaways. Pruitt spoke about both Tomlin and Smith and how they affected him last season as a player and a person. Pruitt revealed that Tomlin and players like Broderick Jones would playfully go back and forth on the sidelines. 

"The way Mike T. does things - it's always a bit different from other coaches," Pruitt said. "The way he interacts with guys. Broderick Jones and Mike would go back and forth on the sidelines playfully. Mike T. was less playful than Broderick. He would tell Broderick that if he did that again, something bad would happen to him, then would see me there watching and wink at me and keep going. Those are the things that help you get through a season."

Considering Jones' inconsistent 2024 season, especially early on, one might have to wonder if Tomlin was actually too playful. Nonetheless, keeping your players high in spirits is important for coaches, and Tomlin does a solid job of maintaining that. 

Pruitt saw some opportunities on the field for the Steelers as a blocker, but wasn't targeted through the air a whole bunch. His 2024 campaign with the Black and Gold concluded with six catches on 10 targets for 40 yards. Pruitt did snag a one-yard touchdown with the Steelers, but unfortunately, that came in an ugly loss to the Baltimore Ravens late in the regular season. Pruitt may not find himself in a Steelers uniform again, but his name could be called if Pittsburgh's tight end group gets banged up during the 2025 season.

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Has Huge Statement To Make In 2025

With the entire goal of 2024 essentially being to win a single playoff game, that goal looked quite possible when Tomlin and the Steelers reached a 10-3 record after 13 games last season. After the sudden turn for the worst, the Steelers were forced to head back to Baltimore for the second time and wound up getting dismantled in the Wild Card Round of the postseason. The Steelers increased their consecutive seasons without a playoff win streak from seven to eight last year, and a 2025 campaign without a playoff victory would make it nine years and counting.

If Pittsburgh is able to sign Aaron Rodgers, who still has not signed with a team or made a commitment for 2025, the expectations for the upcoming season will be the same as last year's. Tomlin needs to get at least one playoff win under this franchise's belt before they can even think about contending for a championship. Walking away from the 2025 season without a playoff win with Tomlin as the head coach and Rodgers as the starting quarterback would be a complete letdown. 

What do you think about Pruitt's information on Tomlin and the way he coaches? What will it take for Tomlin and the Steelers to win in the postseason? Let us know in the comments below.

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