Mike Tomlin is one of the most accomplished head coaches in the NFL. He’s been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007 and has never had a losing season. He’s been to two Super Bowls, winning one. Despite that, there’s some frustration within the fan base when it comes to Tomlin. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and Tomlin receives a lot of the blame for that. However, former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley doesn’t believe that Pittsburgh should move on from Tomlin.
“This is one of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around,” Haley said recently on the Mangia Cast on Bleav’s YouTube channel. “Smartest intellectually, smartest football. He’s phenomenal… All these Pittsburghers [say], ‘We need a new coach.’ No. Just get a quarterback that can play, and continue to find good players. You’re in good hands. He is really awesome. I was amazed by him every day.”
Opinions on Tomlin are mixed. However, people with NFL experience usually have nothing but good things to say about him. Add Haley to that list. Love him or hate him, Tomlin’s peers respect him deeply.
It’s easy to see why. For as much flak as Tomlin gets for his playoff record, it’s a testament to his skill that he’s kept the Steelers in the playoff picture for basically his entire career with them. They’ve made the postseason in 12 of Tomlin’s 18 seasons with them.
He can add another playoff appearance to his resumé this season. The Steelers are currently 5-3 and in first place in the AFC North. Many people didn’t expect them to be in contention for the division title, but that’s nothing new for Tomlin’s Steelers.
There are plenty of examples of the Steelers overachieving under Tomlin. The 2019 season may be the best example. The Steelers lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season in Week 2. That would’ve spelled doom for most teams, but not Tomlin’s Steelers. They battled all year, finished 8-8, and almost made the playoffs.
There are other examples, too. Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, but the Steelers have continued to fight for a playoff spot, even without a franchise quarterback. Like Haley says, the Steelers might be better off sticking with Tomlin and finding their next star under center.
It’s fair to criticize Tomlin. He’s got his flaws, and that includes the Steelers’ poor playoff record in recent years. However, firing him and finding someone better is easier said than done. The Steelers could step out of the frying pan and into the fire. Also, it doesn’t seem like Tomlin is going anywhere anytime soon, barring extreme circumstances. He’ll have this job until he doesn’t want to.
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