Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin entered Week 16 on the NFL coaching hot seat with many wondering if he would join the list of NFL coaches fired after the season. Even before Saturday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals, it seems Pittsburgh had already made up its mind.
Tomlin, who turns 52 in March, replaced Bill Cowher as the Steelers’ head coach in 2007. Pittsburgh went 10-6 in his first season then 12-4 the following year, winning the Super Bowl. From 2007-’17, the Steelers had eight seasons with double-digit victories.
- Mike Tomlin coaching record: 171-100-1 in the regular season with the Pittsburgh Steelers
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However, the team has fallen on hard times in recent years by their historical standards. The Steelers haven’t won double-digit games since 2020, accomplishing it only once in the last seven years. While the team has never had a losing season under Tomlin, many fans and even former players were calling for a change.
While firing Tomlin was always unlikely, there was another alternative. In the weeks leading up to Saturday’s game, there was a buzz about Pittsburgh trading Tomlin to another NFL team. It would’ve provided one of the league’s best coaches with a fresh start and the Steelers could kick off a new era with a new leader at the helm.
However, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Steelers have no desire to make a coaching change. Despite some disappointing results in recent years, ownership and the front office remain extremely confident in Tomlin as the leader moving forward.
The 2024 season might not even be a prove-it year for Pittsburgh’s head coach. Florio also reported that the Steelers intend to offer Tomlin a contract extension this spring, wanting to ensure he is signed long-term before next season even kicks off.
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That’s not the only sign of Tomlin sticking around in Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ coach is reportedly also involved in ongoing discussions regarding the roster for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He’s also happy in Pittsburgh, another indicator that a coaching change isn’t coming.
With Saturday’s win over Cincinnati, the Steelers improved to 8-7 on the year. Even if they don’t make the playoffs, Tomlin will have two more chances to extend his record-breaking streak of 17 consecutive seasons to begin a coaching career without a losing season.
