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Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger suggested it might be time for the team to move on from head coach Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons.
Tomlin is the NFL’s longest tenured head coach. In the Steelers’ 26-7 loss, fans booed and called for Tomlin’s job, and it appears Roethlisberger doesn’t disagree with the Steelers faithful’s sentiments.
“Maybe it’s clean house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said on a recent episode of “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.”
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) drops back to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The game took place in Kansas City, Missouri on January 16, 2022. (Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)
Roethlisberger, who played 15 of his 18 seasons under Tomlin, said he likes his former coach, but a fresh start could be what he needs.
“Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best. Whether it’s in the pros, maybe become Penn State’s head coach. You know what he would do at Penn State? He’d probably win national championships because he’s a great recruiter,” Roethlisberger said.
Penn State still hasn’t hired a full-time head coach since firing James Franklin in October.
Roethlisberger isn’t the only Steelers legend to hint that a change may need to be made, as linebacker James Harrison said “something has to be done.”
“I’ve never been a person who thought Coach Tomlin was a great coach,” Harrison said on his “Deebo and Joe” podcast.
STEELERS HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN GIVES SURPRISING ANSWER WHEN ASKED ABOUT FANS CALLING HIS JOB
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin warms up for a game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 30, 2025. (Barry Reeger/Imagn Images)
“I thought he was a good (coach). … A good coach makes you play to your potential. And right now, the players we have on the team that I’ve seen play, they’re not playing up to their potential. A good coach makes you play to your potential.”
The Steelers are 6-6 and tied for first in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens, but they have struggled of late. They have lost five of their last seven games as their once seemingly large lead in the division has disappeared.
The Steelers had a chance to run away with the division after a 4-1 start. The Ravens were 1-5 and the Cincinnati Bengals struggled to find their footing after losing Joe Burrow, but now the Steelers’ path to the playoffs looks murkier than ever.
They took a 7-3 halftime lead over the Bills, but things unraveled quickly in the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, Bills edge rusher Joey Bosa crushed an unsuspecting Aaron Rodgers to force a fumble, which was recovered for a touchdown.
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The Bills never looked back, and the Steelers’ offense never got anything going.
While outside noise about Tomlin’s job has grown louder amid the team’s struggles, he has never had a losing season as a head coach. In 304 games, Tomlin has a record of 189-113-2.
The Steelers will look to quiet the outside noise about Tomlin’s job when they take on the Ravens in a crucial game on Sunday at 7 p.m. 13 A.M.
