After Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin became the NFL’s longest-tenured coach.
But, if recent rumors are to be believed, Tomlin might be out the door shortly after Belichick. Tomlin did little to dispel such speculations on Monday when he walked away from the platform without responding to a question about his future.
Now it looks that we have an answer.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Tomlin spoke with his team on Tuesday to notify them that he will return as coach in 2024.
The 51-year-old has been with the organization for 17 years and has an impressive 173-100-2 record (.633 win percentage). He’s made the playoffs 11 times, including two Super Bowl appearances. Tomlin guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to victory against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43 before falling to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45.
However, Pittsburgh has struggled in recent years. Particularly following the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger questioned his old coach earlier this season, when the Steelers were on a three-game skid.
“Maybe the tradition of the Pittsburgh Steelers is done,” that’s what he stated.
“Who is grabbing someone by their face mask and saying, ‘That’s not what we do.'” “Is that happening?” Roethlisberger said. “Yes, you have defensive players doing it, but you also need players on both sides of the ball doing it. You need someone to get up in that room, on offense, and say, ‘Hey, this isn’t what it means to wear the black and gold.
Was that enough to make Tomlin reconsider his future with the Steelers?
Probably not.
But it’s evident that something happened, and Tomlin’s status in Pittsburgh only became clear on Tuesday.
