Mike Tomlin Wins Coach of the Year
On that note, if the Steelers emerge as champions of the AFC North and make the playoffs from that crowded field, this could finally be the year that Mike Tomlin gets the recognition he sorely deserves. Even though they have not had much playoff success recently, the Steelers have consistently punched above their weight over the last few seasons. One could argue Tomlin’s best coaching job was in 2019 when the Steelers nearly made the playoffs featuring Mason Rudolph and Devlin “Duck” Hodges as the starting quarterbacks.
Of course, dark horse candidates emerge every year. Who could have thought Brian Daboll would have the New York Giants in the playoffs going into last year? Kevin Stefanski took the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 amidst a global pandemic. Matt Nagy won the award in 2018 and was gone three years later.
But as the ranks of head coaches get younger and younger, Tomlin’s tenured status becomes increasingly respected, as well as his lack of losing seasons. If he can break into the playoffs with a rebuilt roster in the post-Roethlisberger era, maybe he will finally get the praise he is rightfully owed.