If there is one thing nobody can say about Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, it's that his players don't believe in him. Throughout his nearly two decades in the Steel City, few coaches can match his reputation for being a "players' coach". He is often one of the first names out of players' mouths when asked what coach they would want to play for.
That said, fans of the Steelers are growing tired of the purgatory Tomlin can't seem to get the team out of over the past decade. Despite five playoff appearances since 2017, Pittsburgh has now postseason victories to show for it.
Things reached a fever pitch during the Steelers' last home game in Week 13, a miserable 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills. "Fire Tomlin" chants rang through the stadium, fans clearly tired of the product Tomlin was putting on the field.
A win over the Ravens in Week 14 seems to have quelled some of the fan base's unrest for now, but the conversation surrounding the chants is still a hot topic. ESPN's Brooke Pryor asked star defensive back Jalen Ramsey about his thoughts on the situation Saturday, and his comments are another example of the players holding Tomlin in high regard.
Jalen Ramsey slams Pittsburgh Steelers fans for their treatment towards HC Mike Tomlin
Ramsey did not mince words in his response to Pryor's question.
“Me, personally, I thought the chants were [expletive]. It’s comical.”
Asked Jalen Ramsey, who’s won a Super Bowl and played in 7 playoff games in an 8-yr career, how tough it is to win in the playoffs and about the “fire Tomlin” chants from the last time they played in Acrisure:
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 13, 2025
“Me, personally, I thought the chants were bullshit. It’s comical.” pic.twitter.com/SQwTugg2PW
Nobody should be surprised to see Ramsey defend Tomlin. Players are rarely, if ever, going to publicly agree with anything negative towards their head coach. Still, his response felt genuine, and he seemed like he was even holding back from saying more on the subject.
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Ramsey obviously hasn't been around for the past decade of missed opportunities and frustrating playoff exits, so it's hard to blame him for being dismissive of fans' complaints. He is in the building every day and clearly believes in what Tomlin is doing.
That being said, fans have every right to feel the way they feel. Tomlin even said as such when asked about the chants back in Week 13, and he seems to understand why Steelers supporters are losing faith in the franchise.
There is still time this season to finally change the narrative that has surrounded Tomlin and his team for the last decade, and holding onto the AFC North crown is the first step. A win on Monday night against Miami will go a long way towards accomplishing that, and it would give the home crowd something to cheer for instead of calling for his job.