Failures happen in life, but it’s the response that defines the moment. No NFL head coach understands that better than Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
Across his long career, Tomlin has taken more than his fair share of bumps and bruises—physically, mentally, and professionally. Leading one of the league’s most historic organizations is rewarding, but also unbelievably taxing. And right now, it feels like everything around him is leaning in the wrong direction.
Unsuccessful regular seasons simply do not exist in Tomlin’s vocabulary.
His ability to keep the Pittsburgh Steelers above water, year after year, is admirable—even historic. But that same consistency is also his biggest criticism. Winning records are nice. Memorable stretches of resilience are impressive. But none of it has translated into meaningful postseason success, and that’s the step Pittsburgh fans desperately want to see.
After an ugly Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Tomlin’s time at the helm feels more uncertain than ever. Acrisure Stadium echoed with boos last Sunday—boos that, for the first time, felt justified. But instead of hiding from the noise, Tomlin stepped forward on Tuesday afternoon and took full accountability.
“We played 30 minutes of acceptable football, and then we didn’t do what we needed to do in the third quarter in any phases of play,” Tomlin told reporters. “We were running uphill from there.”
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He wasn’t wrong. The Steelers blew a second-half lead and ultimately fell to Buffalo 26–7. Once the Bills grabbed momentum, Pittsburgh never got it back.
“You know, when you have a lead at halftime and you’re getting the ball to start the second half, there’s generally a good feeling there,” Tomlin added. “But we haven’t done enough with the football to start the second half and certainly haven’t done enough to defend grass once we’ve turned the ball over. That’s how things unfolded in Chicago and it is certainly a description of how things unfolded last week.”
It was blunt honesty—something Tomlin rarely shies away from. And the numbers didn’t help his case.
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Pittsburgh’s offense was putrid last Sunday, with a shocking 52% of their second-half plays failing to gain a single yard. The defense, meanwhile, wilted in the face of Josh Allen’s resurgence, allowing the Bills to dominate time of possession and dictate the game’s tempo. It was the profile of an unprepared, undisciplined football team—and naturally, the blame falls on the head coach.
Yes, Tomlin has earned respect for years. Yes, he has built credibility inside and outside the Steelers’ locker room. But can anyone confidently say that the same climate exists today? The results suggest otherwise.
Still, Tomlin isn’t tucking his tail or backing down. With a pivotal AFC North matchup against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens approaching, he made it clear he’s not done fighting.
“We roll our sleeves up and go to work. You tighten up your gameplay. We’re making some very pointed decisions—we lay the foundation for this plan this week,” Tomlin said.
It was a strong message. A response rooted in urgency. And maybe, just maybe, the spark Pittsburgh needs heading into their biggest game of the season.