How the Steelers can fix the Mike Tomlin problem

What the Steelers should do next offseason

Again, let me lay out what my assumption is. Tomlin and the Steelers limped to a winning record, but once again missed the playoffs. This has become the standard season for the Steelers in recent years, and I don’t see a reason to assume that changes given the current state of this roster.

During the year-end review (that I assume happens once the season wraps up), I would sit down with Tomlin and lay out what he will need to do to keep his job. No, I am not firing him after this season, but he will be on a very short leash. He has been allowed to craft the team as he wants, and now it is time for results.

Simply put, the Steelers need to both make the playoffs and win at least one game in the postseason, something that hasn’t happened since 2016. If Tomlin achieves that, he will be reassessed the next offseason, but he will still have a coaching job with the team. If he doesn’t, then he will be fired after the next season concludes.

That may seem harsh, but it is warranted. The Steelers have a rich tradition of success, but that hasn’t been apparent in recent years. Look back to Lovie Smith with the Bears. He was a successful coach but lacked success in the postseason. He was fired after a year that he went 10-6 for those reasons.

The only other change I would want to make is finding an actually competent offensive coordinator. You could look at a name like Darrell Bevell in Miami as a prime candidate, but any offensive-minded coach would do. We can’t replace Matt Canada with another middling coach to lump blame on.