Steelers' Mike Tomlin Absolutely Crushed For Purposely Hiring Poor Coordinators To Preserve His Ego

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL world were shocked to learn that Mike Tomlin would be stepping away from coaching. At 53 years old, Tomlin felt that his 19 seasons with the Steelers had been enough, and he was ready to pursue a new career path. While many in Steeler Nation are grateful for his leadership over the years, the decision marks the end of an era defined by both highs and lows.

Tomlin has long been recognized as a great leader of men and accomplished a lot during his tenure, but the last decade was a difficult stretch, to say the least. The Steelers struggled to consistently field contending rosters, and Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. These challenges, combined with inconsistent results on the field, left fans and analysts questioning the long-term direction of the franchise under his leadership.

One of the biggest criticisms of Tomlin has been his lack of a coaching tree. His former star linebacker, James Harrison, addressed the issue on the Deebo & Joe podcast, claiming that some of Tomlin’s offensive and defensive coordinator hires may have been intentionally weak to protect his own power and position in the league. It’s a bold accusation and a controversial take, but Harrison made his case nonetheless, sparking conversation across Steelers circles and the NFL at large.

"You think that is a thing he is bad at doing or do you think that is a thing that he [Mike Tomlin] purposefully does to keep his position and power? I am not saying that he's self-sabotaging," Harrison said while speaking with Joe Haden. "Is it enough spotlight? Is it enough spotlight to go around? You gotta realize a lot of coaches when they get this head coach thing, there is a lot of ego that goes with that."

Harrison was very direct with Joe Haden when asking that question about Tomlin. For decades, many have criticized Tomlin’s offensive and defensive coordinators, as well as countless other assistants on the staff. 

Some have reasoned that Tomlin is simply too loyal and doesn’t want his staff to take the blame for what he views as a collective failure. Then, of course, there’s the fact that the Steelers rarely fire coaches.

Tomlin kept Matt Canada and Teryl Austin on the staff far longer than many felt was appropriate, along with numerous others. Harrison questioned whether this was simply a case of Tomlin not hiring the right people, or if he was truly worried about losing his grip on power and his position. It’s a far-fetched idea, which is why Haden pushed back aggressively, insisting that Tomlin would never intentionally act in that way.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Cares Too Much About Winning To Do Such A Thing

Many of Tomlin’s greatest fans feel the same way. He’s a smart coach who would welcome anyone who could help his team generate more wins. His status within the organization was about as secure as it could be, which makes Harrison’s claim seem surprising. Still, the accusation is undeniably interesting and adds fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding Tomlin’s controversial legacy.

Tomlin cared deeply about winning. From the sounds of his exit meeting with the team, he took full responsibility for the struggles. He recognized his failures and openly accepted the blame for them. In the eyes of many Steelers fans and pundits, he cared about winning too much to ever intentionally make poor hires.

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