The Mike Tomlin Problem

[WindyCitySteel]

Needs to step away from his self-proclaimed 'player personnel guru' and let the personnel org do their job:

He literally controls everything in Pittsburgh, which is why it kills me when people blame GM, DC, OC for all the failures. This is also likely why he has a no-trade clause and shot down the Bears inquiry — he’s not getting this kind of power anywhere else.

[Buzz]

Good article on the Depot

https://steelersdepot.com/2025/01/mike-tomlin-at-fault-for-steelers-personnel-woes-pryor-argues-he-creates-a-problem-and-then-he-solves-it/

[Eich]

It's a bit of a dark time for Steelers fans. We have Mike Tomlin, who is the same unchanging coach he always was. But no Troy on D and Ben on O to save us from it.

[feltdizz]

Bill won 11 games without Brady when Brady was injured in week 1 of 2008. Though I won't argue that he compares to Tomlin in the regular season overall when not having a franchise QB.

Mike Tomlin had the audacity to pair rookie first round QB Kenny Pickett with an offensive coordinator that was worse than not having one.

In an NFL that favors offense, I don't recall a less-exciting Steelers offense than what I've seen under Tomlin post Ben.

yeah, both of them have fielded comical offense once Brady and Ben left. Historically bad offenses.

[hawaiiansteel]

He literally controls everything in Pittsburgh, which is why it kills me when people blame GM, DC, OC for all the failures.

As the head coach, Tomlin has to accept his share of the blame.

But it's a team game, the owner, GM, DC, OC, players etc are also partially responsible both for the success and failure of the organization.

Nobody has ALL.

[WindyCitySteel]

As the head coach, Tomlin has to accept his share of the blame.

But it's a team game, the owner, GM, DC, OC, players etc are also partially responsible both for the success and failure of the organization.

Nobody has ALL.

Agreed, but perception outside of Pittsburgh is different. My best friend in Chicago is a Bears fan who likes Tomlin, said they just need to pick better players for him. People routinely called for Canada’s firing and now Austin’s, I don’t think they have as much say in the schemes as MT.

[NorthCoast]

Joey Porter (Sr) supporting his coach:

"That's just the price of doing business in Pittsburgh," Porter said. "I'm sorry that we're not sorry that we're spoiled to a point to where 10 games ain't good enough. So he's been on a hot seat in their mind, the city's mind. Not Mr. Rooney's. Mr. Rooney knows exactly what they have in a good coach like Mike Tomlin, but the city do this to him every year."

Here that... stop bitchin' 'bout the Stillers....

[Eich]

Joey Porter (Sr) supporting his coach:

"That's just the price of doing business in Pittsburgh," Porter said. "I'm sorry that we're not sorry that we're spoiled to a point to where 10 games ain't good enough. So he's been on a hot seat in their mind, the city's mind. Not Mr. Rooney's. Mr. Rooney knows exactly what they have in a good coach like Mike Tomlin, but the city do this to him every year."

Here that... stop bitchin' 'bout the Stillers....

Blah. I'm sorry that Porter is not sorry that we've become irrelevant since he was a player.

I've supported Tomlin plenty. But at some point, enough is enough. I reached that point this season. Ending it like that and then showing up in the wildcard against your most hated rivalry and getting punched in the mouth, looking like you don't want to be on the field? What is Tomlin really bringing to the team at this point? He's a defensive coach who has been shown to put the same scheme on the field year after year after year after year. And getting abused if we make the playoffs. It's been figured out. And on offense, he's married to playing not-to-lose football. This is the very definition of stale. And insanity.

How many seasons of this is enough for Porter? If we go another decade without a playoff win? I'm not sorry but 4 seasons with a playoff win out of 18 isn't good enough.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Blah. I'm sorry that Porter is not sorry that we've become irrelevant since he was a player.

I've supported Tomlin plenty. But at some point, enough is enough. I reached that point this season. Ending it like that and then showing up in the wildcard against your most hated rivalry and getting punched in the mouth, looking like you don't want to be on the field? What is Tomlin really bringing to the team at this point? He's a defensive coach who has been shown to put the same scheme on the field year after year after year after year. And getting abused if we make the playoffs. It's been figured out. And on offense, he's married to playing not-to-lose football. This is the very definition of stale. And insanity.

How many seasons of this is enough for Porter? If we go another decade without a playoff win? I'm not sorry but 4 seasons with a playoff win out of 18 isn't good enough.

^^^ What he said!

[WindyCitySteel]

Blah. I'm sorry that Porter is not sorry that we've become irrelevant since he was a player.

I've supported Tomlin plenty. But at some point, enough is enough. I reached that point this season. Ending it like that and then showing up in the wildcard against your most hated rivalry and getting punched in the mouth, looking like you don't want to be on the field? What is Tomlin really bringing to the team at this point? He's a defensive coach who has been shown to put the same scheme on the field year after year after year after year. And getting abused if we make the playoffs. It's been figured out. And on offense, he's married to playing not-to-lose football. This is the very definition of stale. And insanity.

How many seasons of this is enough for Porter? If we go another decade without a playoff win? I'm not sorry but 4 seasons with a playoff win out of 18 isn't good enough.

Porter’s son plays for MT, he’s MT’s boi, it is what it is.

BTW the worst part of this season’s finish was Tomlin promising big changes and a month later nothing has happened. There’s even talk about Wilson and Najee coming back, and trade talk for Pickens is non-existent.

There’s a 50/50 shot here that they literally just run it back.

[feltdizz]

We aren’t trading Pickens.

I definitely want to move on from the DC and I hoped someone would hire our OC but since it didn’t happen I know he is coming back.

The changes I want to see that could actually happen.

Play Fields at QB in 2025.
Play Bishop early and often.
Move Watt around early and often.
Jones on the left, Troy on the right or vice versa AND STICK WITH IT!! Don’t play musical chairs with the OL this preseason.

Draft DL in the first and 3rd. Draft a RB in the second. As much as I like Najee, he isn’t
going to flourish in this offense with Smith telegraphing running plays so get a flashier RB who can make guys miss and get upfield quickly. RB from Buckeyes please.

Bring in a legit QB coach/passing coordinator for Fields.

[Eich]

As hard as I will cheer the team on next season, deep down I expect the same results. Tomlin has proven himself incapable of real change. We'll be playing the same not-to-lose football in hopes of a "winning season".

[hawaiiansteel]

Peter: Ray, when is someone going to ask Rooney the real reason he won't fire Tomlin? The steelers are becoming a punchline now.

Ray Fittipaldo: The real reason is $50 million over the next three years. The question for me is why did he commit to three years last summer when the team hadn't performed well in the playoffs for years?

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2025/02/18/nfl-free-agency-draft-combine-omar-khan-mike-tomlin/stories/202502170092

[NorthCoast]

Peter: Ray, when is someone going to ask Rooney the real reason he won't fire Tomlin? The steelers are becoming a punchline now.

Ray Fittipaldo: The real reason is $50 million over the next three years. The question for me is why did he commit to three years last summer when the team hadn't performed well in the playoffs for years?

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...s/202502170092

Rooney answered Fittipaldo's question; Tomlin wins in the regular season. That was Rooney's logic for throwing $50M at the guy. And just like Roethlisberger, it was one extension too many.

[WindyCitySteel]

Rooney answered Fittipaldo's question; Tomlin wins in the regular season. That was Rooney's logic for throwing $50M at the guy. And just like Roethlisberger, it was one extension too many.

Wins in regular season and guys respond to him. Maybe vocally, but not on the field. That team looked defeated the last five weeks.