The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the NFL’s most heralded franchises and have won six Super Bowls in their history. But in recent years, the franchise has become accustomed to flaming out in the postseason.
Mike Tomlin has been at the helm since 2006 and coached the team to one of those Super Bowl titles. Although Tomlin still has never finished a regular season with a losing record, it has now been eight years since he led a team to victory in a playoff game.
The Steelers are one of the most stable franchises in the league, having only had three head coaches over the last five decades. Nevertheless, the lack of recent success in the playoffs has raised some concerns about whether Tomlin should remain in place.
Still, Tomlin shrugged Tuesday when asked if it feels like the Steelers are stuck after being dominated by the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round on Saturday.
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
“Stuck is kind of a helpless feeling,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said. “And I don’t know that I feel helpless.”
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Tomlin then acknowledged the disappointment everyone involved with the Steelers felt after the early playoff run. “I certainly don’t feel in the mood for optimism or selling optimism,” he said. “I don’t know if that’s appropriate. You know, it’s disappointing not to work. And that’s where we are.”
Mike Tomlin talks to his players during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
And while there will certainly be changes to the coaching staff — most likely on defense after the Steelers were crushed during a five-game freefall through the standings — Tomlin doesn’t appear to be going anywhere as he enters his first season of a three-year extension he signed last June.
Tomlin believes he’s still “capable” of helping Pittsburgh end its longest playoff game streak since the “Immaculate Reception” more than half a century ago.
Still, he finds himself entering a third offseason in four years with questions at quarterback. Skylar Thompson, who signed with the Steelers on Tuesday, is the only quarterback under contract through the 2025 season. Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen – who all played in the 2024 season – are all scheduled to become free agents when the new league year begins in March.
Kyle Van Noy #53 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
While Wilson and Fields both expressed interest in returning, and Tomlin said the team is “open to considering those guys,” there’s also a very real chance they begin 2025 with their fifth different Week 1 starts at as many seasons.
Although the offense made strides — especially during a midseason stretch in which Wilson won six of his first seven starts — the Steelers averaged just 14.2 points during their late slump, hardly good enough to advance to the divisional round or beyond.
Tomlin also acknowledged that he understands discontent is growing among the fan base in what can best be described as his team’s “Groundhog Day” era.
“I understand the frustrations,” he said. “And to be perfectly honest, I share it.”
The 12th-winningest coach in NFL history — he’ll reach the top 10 if the Steelers win at least eight games in 2025 — doesn’t think his message has lost its effectiveness, in part because he believes it’s a small part of his job . The vast majority are on schedules, preparation and talent development and in those ways he believes the team has developed.
“I am open to adaptation and change and have been,” he said. “And so it’s not a new discussion. It’s not like I’ve done the same things again (and again).”
Tomlin remains intent on trying to be part of the solution in Pittsburgh, and says teams with vacancies who might question his willingness to move on should save their time.
“I don’t have a message,” Tomlin said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , when asked if he had a message for a team potentially looking to acquire him in a trade. “Save your time.”
