Steelers Mike Tomlin should be a Coach of the Year candidate

Although the Steelers season did not end the way we hoped, Tomlin was still able to deliver a strong and competitive team against all odds.

This past season was a tumultuous one for the Steelers. The team was ravaged by injuries to key players across the board, and these injuries played a huge role in the season ultimately ending in disappointment. However, Coach Mike Tomlin proved to be a true silver lining of the team’s difficult season.

Tomlin once again displayed to the organization and to the city of Pittsburgh why he is one of the best coaches in the National Football League. His efforts kept the team competitive and almost secured a playoff berth.

Many people believed that once Ben Roethlisberger suffered an injury, the season would be lost. However, Coach Tomlin didn’t accept this narrative. Despite the adversity the team faced, Tomlin made sure his players continued to play hard and fight for one another.

As the season progressed, the defense truly came together to become one of the most feared in the league. The development of young players such as T.J. Watt, Devin Bush, and Minkah Fitzpatrick are testaments to Coach Tomlin and his prowess as a players coach.

Every week, the team continued to impress – most notably in a Week 10 win over the defending NFC champion, Los Angeles Rams. The Steelers defense played tough and with a renewed confidence. They were able to hold one of the leagues most dangerous offenses to a mere 12 points. Cooper Kupp, who at the time was one of the leagues leading receivers, was held without a single catch.

What made this win so impressive was that each man, on the field and off, did their respective job and asserted their skills. This was an exciting performance that displayed the talents of Coach Tomlin, as his attitude and energy were what set the tone for the entire roster.

Regardless of the fact that their starting quarterback was up in the air on a week to week basis, the team remained unfazed. Some organizations who dealt with the same quarterback situation as the Steelers were unable to overcome.

For example, the Detroit Lions dealt with a similar problem and were incapable of compensating. While the Lions do have a talented roster, once Stafford got hurt their season was finished. The same can not be said for the Steelers as the team remained strong and continued to perform under Coach Tomlin’s tutelage.

The role of a coach is to inspire his players and teach them skills they need to be successful on and off the field. A good coach has the ability to deal with problems as they arise and preserve through them. Coach Tomlin has epitomized what a coach should be throughout his career as well as this past season.

Although the season did not end the way we hoped, Tomlin was still able to deliver a strong and competitive team against all odds. While Tomlin may be an underdog to win the award for Coach of the Year, he has certainly made his presence known.