After 12 weeks of NFL play, the Pittsburgh Steelers sit at 6-5. They once held a stranglehold on the AFC North division, but now they are behind the Baltimore Ravens. With a tough road the rest of the way, it's possible the Steelers could miss the playoffs.
It's hard not to imagine Mike Tomlin's team not finding nine wins this season to keep his non-losing record streak alive for another campaign.
A report released this past offseason claimed that the Chicago Bears contacted the Steelers regarding an intriguing trade. They wanted to check and see if Tomlin could be a possible option in their head coaching vacancy this past year. Pittsburgh quickly denied their inquiry, which led to Tomlin once again leading the franchise into his 19th season as their head coach.
The Bears eventually hired offensive expert Ben Johnson as their head coach, and early results have shown promise. They just beat Pittsburgh to improve their record to 8-3, and they're ready to win the NFC North. They might not be ready for the Super Bowl, but Johnson has made them contenders within their division, and it didn't take long for the Steelers to see what they're missing out on.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should've traded Mike Tomlin and replaced him with Ben Johnson
Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game since January of 2017. There seems to be no end in sight to break that streak, and the continued trends under his direction are troubling. While his reputation nationwide is strong, his profile in Pittsburgh is rapidly declining. Fans are tired of being an average franchise, and there is no room for improvement. Those stuck in the middle will never get out.
The only thing that seems to matter to Tomlin's teams is not being the first group of players to force their coach into a losing season.
It's some sort of weird pride thing. While the streak is commendable, it's also an ugly stain on Tomlin's record. Pittsburgh should consider moving on and trying something fresh. Fans are tired of seeing the same old routine, but the Steelers might've missed a terrific opportunity this past offseason.
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When Chicago called the Steelers this past offseason, Omar Khan and Art Rooney II should've considered it more. Either Tomlin agrees to be traded there, or he steps aside from his duties as head coach in a scenario that could be considered a "quiet firing".Tomlin has a no-trade clause, meaning he would have to approve any deal, but a quiet-firing scenario could still give the Steelers some leverage.
In this idea situation, Tomlin would've been traded to Chicago or elsewhere for a haul of draft picks, and Pittsburgh would've hired Johnson.
They need an offensive mind to bring them into the new age of football, and the Steelers vacancy would've been the most interesting option in the past hiring cycle. The recent game between Pittsburgh and the Bears highlighted why Chicago left the Steelers envious.