Without a doubt, Mike Tomlin is the most polarizing person associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While most coaches and players have a general consensus in terms of support or disdain from the fanbase, Tomlin is constantly split down the middle with almost no grey area.
Fans point out his sustained success, having never suffered a losing season in his tenure despite some ugly seasons lacking talent. His enemies are quick to point out that his postseason success has waned, and he has also underachieved when the Steelers had some elite talent.
This season is no different, although 2025 will boast his biggest challenge yet. Even if Aaron Rodgers signs, Pittsburgh appears lost in the shuffle of the offseason. They added some old veterans, seemingly gearing up for another run, but then ignored the quarterback room while also trading away one of their top receivers for future draft picks.
In short, all of this is gearing up for Tomlin to win coach of the year.
This is an accolade that has eluded Tomlin despite numerous seasons of success. 2025, on paper, wouldn’t seem like the year to get this award. However, assuming the team performs as they usually do, Tomlin could be in line for his first ever award.
Mike Tomlin could exceed expectations for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The general consensus is that the Steelers will perform poorly this year, with their ceiling being the classic 9-8 record that has sustained Tomlin’s record of never having a losing season.
If this team can exceed that and make it to the playoffs, then the conversation has to start. If this team can somehow win a playoff game, Tomlin may be a lock for this award.
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I am not as down on the Steelers this year as others are. Even if Mason Rudolph is the starter going forward, I think this team can find some success.
It starts with the offensive line, a group that has heavily been invested in. If they can take a few steps forward (something that needs to happen sooner than later), this offense could chug along.
No, Rudolph doesn’t possess elite traits, but he is a fine system fit for Arthur Smith’s offense. The run game, behind an improved line, would be the heart of the team. Jaylen Warren can serve as a multi-tool and could easily put up his best season as a pro. Kaleb Johnson could find more success on the ground than your average third-round pick.
The passing game would move through D.K. Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth, while names like Calvin Austin, Darnell Washington, and the aforementioned Warren can serve as extra options to target. If Roman Wilson finds some success, all the better.
On defense, this defensive line is younger and should be better long term. The linebackers are stout and deep. You have some long-term questions in the secondary but that shouldn’t wind up impacting the defense this year.
In short, if the offense can work like Smith’s did in Tennessee, I think this team can replicate last year’s record and sneak into the playoffs. That alone shouldn’t win Tomlin Coach of the Year, but if he can finally shake the monkey off his back and win a game in the postseason, it will be hard to ignore Tomlin as the coach of the year.
There are a lot of moving parts here, but like him or not, Tomlin could factor in as a potential coach of the year if this team finds success like it did last year. Time will tell if he can actually get this team a playoff win in 2025.