The Pittsburgh Steelers' disastrous finish to the season has left fans reeling, and understandably so. Once in contention for the AFC North crown, Pittsburgh's hopes of making a deep playoff run quickly vanished as they lost their final four regular-season games.
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And then, to cap it off, the Steelers were humiliated by the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round, a 28-14 drubbing that has raised serious questions about the future of head coach Mike Tomlin.
After all, it's been eight long seasons since the Steelers last won a playoff game, which, in itself, raises eyebrows. Tomlin, now in his 18th year as Pittsburgh's head coach, has won just four playoff games during his tenure.
If any other coach experienced an eight-year dry spell like that, they'd be long gone. The frustration from Steelers fans is palpable, but NFL insider Adam Schefter offered some clarity on Sunday morning's "Sunday NFL Countdown" about Tomlin's status.
"Well, last week, we said there would be teams that would check into the availability of Mike Tomlin, and one did," Schefter explained. "One was told that Mike Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract. So anything that would happen in Pittsburgh with Mike Tomlin would come with his consent. A loss like last night's might allow further teams to look into it. There's no indication at all the Steelers are moving on from Mike Tomlin."
It's a tough pill for Steelers fans to swallow, but the reality is that, despite the overwhelming criticism, the Steelers aren't likely to move on from Tomlin anytime soon.
His contract extension, signed before the 2024 season, runs through 2027. And while the notion of trading Tomlin might seem tempting to some in Pittsburgh, it's essentially a non-starter due to that no-trade clause.
Sure, Tomlin's 18-year run with the Steelers is impressive, especially with his consistent ability to avoid a losing season. But that's also part of the problem. His teams have been stuck in neutral for years, and fans are growing increasingly frustrated by what seems like a ceiling of mediocrity.
The NFL, meanwhile, has evolved, with high-powered offenses and innovative coaching schemes dominating the league. When the Steelers go up against teams like the Ravens, they look like they're stuck in the past. It's a painful reality for a franchise that has prided itself on toughness and excellence.
The question is whether or not that evolution will ever come under Tomlin's watch. His message, while once powerful, seems to have lost its impact, and the Steelers have become increasingly irrelevant when it matters most. A change could be the answer, but with ownership's deep-rooted loyalty to the head coach—and that no-trade clause—there doesn't appear to be any real movement on the horizon.
At the end of the day, Tomlin is likely to be back in 2025. His track record speaks for itself, and in the eyes of ownership, his 18 years of steady mediocrity might just be enough to keep him around.
The Steelers have only had three head coaches since 1969, a testament to the respect the organization holds for stability. So, despite the mounting frustrations, Tomlin will probably remain in Pittsburgh as long as he wants. Change may eventually come, but it won't be anytime soon.
