Speculation about the Pittsburgh Steelers possibly parting ways with head coach Mike Tomlin emerged even before their 28-14 wild-card playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Saturday.
While reports indicate the Steelers “are not planning to make any move involving” Tomlin, questions remain about whether the team might entertain trade offers for their long-tenured coach after another early playoff exit.
“I don’t think the Tomlin trade happens yet, but at some point, it might,” an anonymous executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “Everyone will step back for a few days, but when staff changes come up, if Tomlin resists, there could be issues.”
Tomlin, a Super Bowl-winning coach who has never had a losing season since taking over in 2007, has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 and continue to search for a long-term solution at quarterback following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in January 2022.
“They play a conservative style and rely on their defense,” a rival coach told Sando about Tomlin’s Steelers. “That gets you to the playoffs, but also leads to first-round exits. Critics blame Tomlin, but this happens to teams that miss on first-round quarterbacks.”
After drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round in 2022, the Steelers traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles last year following two underwhelming seasons.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted that Gerry Dulac of the *Pittsburgh Post-Gazette* used the phrase “not planning,” which might signal that teams like the Jets, Saints, Jaguars, Raiders, Cowboys, and Bears could inquire about Tomlin’s availability. The Bears, in particular, appear open to trading draft picks to acquire a high-profile coach.
If approached with a trade, Tomlin could refuse and force the Steelers to release him, allowing him to become a free agent. However, as of now, all signs point to Tomlin staying in Pittsburgh as the team works to solve its quarterback dilemma.
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