Many, if not all, Steelers fans came into the season with optimism. Hope. Excitement. But guess what? Nothing has changed. It’s the same thing that we have seen continuously from this team and from this coaching staff, for the last several years. And I am sick and tired of it.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, under Mike Tomlin, haven’t won a playoff game in seven years. That's the standard? If so, the standard is an embarrassment. As long as Art Rooney Jr. is the owner of this team, nothing will ever change. Why? Because he will never fire Mike Tomlin, so sorry to say it, but don’t ever expect anything to change. He has given Tomlin way too much authority over this football team. Jr. is nothing like his Father and Grandfather, and it's a shame that he isn't.
The Steelers “loyalty” to their coaching staff, is the reason why this team will struggle to ever be successful under Mike Tomlin. Year after year, this team is putting out the same product as the year before. And that product is nothing to be optimistic, hopeful, or excited about. I understand that I will get some heat for some of these comments, but Mike Tomlin needs to be on the hot seat. This is an absolutely disgraceful football team and coaching staff.
Look at Mike Tomlin‘s coaching tree - he has not produced any high-level coaches, or any coaches for that matter, who have been successful elsewhere in the NFL. And the reason why they haven’t been successful elsewhere is because they are not successful with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So who in their right mind would want to hire them? And that all starts with Mike Tomlin.
Who cares that the Steelers haven’t had a losing record in 16 seasons? What do they have to show for it? A Super Bowl - but guess what? That Super Bowl, that team, and that coaching staff was Bill Cowher’s. I know all Steelers fans are calling for Matt Canada’s head. And I absolutely agree with that - he should’ve been fired two seasons ago. And the reason he hasn’t? Mike Tomlin. He never admits his wrongdoings, and never will.
Since 2021, the Steelers have led the NFL in the most losses by 22+ points. It has happened six times in the last two years. I’m sorry, but Mike Tomlin does not have this team prepared week in and week out. His players do not fear him if they make mistakes. If you made a mistake, and your parents didn't discipline you, then guess what, you're probably going to keep doing it. And that is exactly what we have been witnessing in Pittsburgh for years.
It is time for a change of scenery in Pittsburgh.
I know many of you will say “but Tomlin would have phone calls lined up from numerous teams trying to make him their next head coach”. Cool, awesome. Let him. Let him try and take his “greatness” somewhere else because he has gotten this team and this city absolutely nothing to show for it.
Look at the Eagles in 2014, for example. They fired Andy Reid because he simply was not putting out the results needed to be a championship-caliber team. If the Eagles ownership had the wherewithal to let go of Reid, then shame on the Steelers ownership for not doing the same with Tomlin. Talk about living in your fears.
Imagine watching the same exact boring movie year after year every Sunday and thinking that the script will change. That’s exactly what it’s been like for the Steelers over the Tomlin years. The same exact product has been put onto the football field each and every Sunday, and nothing has changed. And as long as he is at the helm, nothing will ever change.
I know The Chief is rolling in his grave over what this team has become. The Steelers used to be feared by every NFL team. But that is not the case anymore. This team has become a laughingstock in the NFL, and I am sick of it. And you should be too.