The standard is the standard…
After the Pittsburgh Steelers yet again failed to advance past the Wild Card round in the 2024 NFL with Saturday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the critics of HC Mike Tomlin have been as loud as ever. Most, in fact, have called for his job, failing to mark a playoff win since the 2016 season, with what feels like constant late-season shortcomings and disappointments.
It doesn’t look like a change is coming, however.
The Steelers do not plan on moving on from Mike Tomlin, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday afternoon, citing sources close to the team.
It’s not surprising considering the team’s history of loyalty. After all, Tomlin is the team’s third head coach since the 1969 season, when Chuck Noll took over for Bill Austin after an 11-28-3 run over three seasons with the team.
Both the offense and defense have been a problem in the back half of the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of (if not both) the team’s offensive and defensive coordinators move on in Arthur Smith and Teryl Austin move on. Smith, specifically, has interviews lined up for the head coach openings with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears. Austin, though, is another story.
“Changes among the coaching staff are likely to be expected,” Dulac writes. “But the defense is basically devised and managed by Tomlin even though Teryl Austin is the defensive coordinator.”
Should the Steelers fire Mike Tomlin? If not, what changes do you want to see with the team to feel confident in its direction again?