Mike Tomlin couldn’t wait to hear the rest of the questions. After Monday night’s wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach left the podium in the guest interview room at Highmark Stadium after being asked, “Mike, one year left.”
Tomlin is under contract through 2024, but there has been much speculation about Tomlin’s future with the administration after an NFL-record 17-year undefeated run as a head coach. As he did last season, Tomlin, 51, is expected to discuss his future with his family and Steelers owner Art Rooney II during the offseason.
“He’s above my price point,” defensive end Patrick Peterson said when asked about the Steelers’ offseason. I love Coach T. Everything he has done has motivated this team and put us in a position to be successful. Veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, who is dealing with an injury during his 13th NFL season, also championed Tomlin’s return.
“I think Mike T will come back, but that’s not my decision,”
Hayward said. When asked about Tomlin’s role in leading the Steelers to the playoffs, Heyward said, “We put a lot of effort into it, he invested a lot into it. I don’t think any of the guys would have without Mike T. Tomlin.”
A tumultuous season that saw the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Canada midway through the season and serious injuries to Heyward, Kenny Pickett, Minkah Fitzpatrick and two Inside, the team replaced Mason Rudolph early in the fourth won 3 games in a row and ended the season.
“Mike T is a great coach,” Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris said. Sometimes I look at the players. Sometimes you don’t see your teacher.
“We just looked at the players and we didn’t do well,” he said. While the team was committed to Tomlin, Harris also shared some backstory. Harris said coaching isn’t the issue, but Harris said he wants to see changes in the team’s structure and discipline. But if we want to grow and get to where we are, something inside has to change. I feel like Coach T always tells me, ‘Just play running’ – and that’s something that’s always on our minds. But if we want to grow and get to where we are and achieve what we want, we have to change something inside. “
Harris explained the question of what needs to change. “Those are just the building codes,” Harris said. I’m not saying we don’t do those things; we come from an established place and just see that we can help those places. I don’t mean training or anything. I’m just saying this is a house rule.
Mike Tomlin did not answer questions about his future in Pittsburgh after the Steelers lost to the Bills on Monday. Rumors swirled about Tomlin’s role after this season, but the Steelers head coach didn’t want to discuss the topic so soon after the team was eliminated in the playoffs and a reporter tried to broach the subject in the postgame press conference, Tomlin walked off the stage.
“Mike you have a year left on your contr-” pic.twitter.com/TkzJHXxx98
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) January 16, 2024
“Mike, you have one year left on your contract…”
While the Steelers have no interest in moving Tomlin, reports suggest that Tomlin is unsure what he will do after this season. Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that Tomlin will discuss his future in the sport with his family, and that he will sign a new contract with the Steelers.
The options (as we see them) are: (1) sign a new contract with the Steelers; (2) resign and wait to see if another team contacts the Steelers about buying him out on a 2024 contract; (3) resign, sit out one year and see if another team contacts the Steelers for his rights in 2025; or (4) opt out of the extension and complete the contract in 2024 and become a free agent,” Pro Football Talk said in its report. Tomlin, 51, has been the Steelers’ head coach since 2007 and helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl in 2009.
As the wild card round of the 2024 NFL draft approaches, a report has surfaced, otherwise. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, undefeated in 17 years at the helm, is uncertain about his future in the Bridge City.
Tomlin is entering the final year of his current contract, giving him a chance to truly leave the team he has coached since he was 35 years old.
So, when a reporter asked him about his future at the end of a news conference after a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills, he didn’t let his question finish.
“Mike, there’s only one year left…” the reporter began, and Tomlin turned 90 degrees from the podium and walked away, “Under your contract,” he continued, but Tomlin was gone. But Mike Tomlin is great.
If Tomlin leaves, he will leave Pittsburgh looking for its third head coach since 1969. He has been plagued by the bad luck of being an average player in the division, winning only in the league.
Sometimes, his biggest enemy is face reconstruction. However, the coach has a record of 173-100-2 this season. He has the right to have a chance to think about his future. It’s okay to leave the forum and not talk in general terms.
Fans had this to say:
If the Steeler offensive skill players were that fast Pittsburgh would be playing next weekend 👍
— tom zapora (@TomsMoving) January 16, 2024
Let’s be honest – every single one of us has wanted to do this at some point. 10/10 for follow through.
— Janet💫 (@mcflygirl8) January 16, 2024
Good for him! Stick to questions pertaining to the game. He will be back.
— Evan Tarracciano (@Roto_Wizard) January 16, 2024
With the playoff loss to the Bills, the #Steelers have…
– Gone 7 years without a postseason win
– 3 playoff wins in 13 years
– Less playoff success than 23 teams during this spanAt some point, what happens in the regular season no longer matters. It's time for *real* change.
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) January 16, 2024
