Mike Tomlin says Steelers will not be ‘resistant to change’ in 2019

Mike Tomlin held his press conference to wrap up the Pittsburgh Steelers 2018-19 season. Most of it centered on the situation with Antonio Brown, but some other key things were said by the Steelers’ head coach.

Most of the questions fielded by Mike Tomlin were regarding what happened with star receiver Antonio Brown and whether or not he has formally requested for a trade. Tomlin reiterated time and again he would not get into any specifics after laying out what actually happened with Antonio this past week as they prepared to play the Bengals.

Something that was concrete from a Tomlin was when he addressed what will happen moving forward in 2019. Tomlin said he would not be “resistant to change” when it comes to the evaluation of the team and how they put their best foot forward for the 2019 season. Tomlin also stated the reasoning for this is to avoid the disappointment the 2018 season was.

This could mean many different things. It could mean the end for coaches under heavy fire like defensive coordinator Keith Butler or outside linebackers coach Joey Porter. It could mean the Steelers could honor Antonio Brown’s trade request (that Tomlin would neither confirm nor deny) and the Steelers would eat a $21.2 million cap hit in 2019. It could also mean countless other things that have to deal with schematics or player development. Tomlin would not go into specifics on change, but strongly implied change is coming to Pittsburgh.

After the season the Steelers just went through, change is not just a good idea, it’s nevessary. The amount of noise surrounding the Steelers this year was at an all-time high. Tomlin could earn a lot of credibility in making hard changes for the betterment of the team.

Significant change is what the Steelers need. Some may want the coach gone, but with Tomlin so adamant that things are not going to stay the same, he may be saving them from the mess this past season was.