Mike Tomlin has been with the Steelers for a long time, but is a head coaching change needed?
The Pittsburgh Steelers are arguably one of the most successful franchises in the history of the NFL. From the 1970s dynasty to Big Ben, six Super Bowls, and numerous division titles, this franchise has had success in every decade. What sets the Steelers apart from other big names is the fact that, through all of their successes, they have only had three coaches since 1969, and all of them have won the coveted Lombardi trophy for the franchise. Through all of this historic success, the last decade of Steeler football hasn’t lived up to the coveted “Steeler Way”, thus leading to questions surrounding Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
Coaching Career
Mike Tomlin’s coaching career, like most, started at the collegiate level, serving as Wide Receivers coach for VMI, and a few other brief stints at smaller schools, including Cincinnati and Arkansas State. Coach T would make the quick jump to the pros in 2001, becoming the Defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Bucs, staying for five seasons, and winning his first Super Bowl ring. In 2006, Tomlin would take his brief coordinator job with the Minnesota Vikings, staying for just one year, until he would interview for a place he has called home for nearly two decades. In 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers would interview the young, defensive-minded coach Tomlin to replace the legendary coach (and chin) Bill Cowher. In January of the same year, Tomlin was hired by the Steelers, becoming just their third coach in thirty years. Tomlin had big shoes to fill as a young coach, but after just two seasons, it became clear that Pittsburgh had its guy.
Immediate Impact
The newly led Pittsburgh Steelers in the 07/08 seasons rattled off 22 regular-season wins, winning two division titles —the first Steeler coach to do so. The ‘07 defense was the best in the NFL, and though they lost in the divisional round, it was clear that Tomlin’s defensive mindset was building something special with the black and gold. The 2008 Steelers would go on to defeat their bitter rival Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship for a bid to the Super Bowl, cementing Tomlin at the time to be the youngest coach to do so. To cap it off, the Steelers led one of the most clutch drives in Super Bowl history, defeating the Cardinals 27-23, winning the current league’s record sixth Super Bowl title. Tomlin’s efforts were recognized by Steeler Nation and beyond, as he would be recognized league wide as 2008 Coach of the Year, cementing his legacy as not only a rising star, but one of the best coaches in the game.
Recent Struggles
Though Coach Tomlin’s early career proved legendary, the Hall of Fame coach has run into recent struggles, even with elite talent. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since their 2016 playoff run, which resulted in a loss to the elite Patriots dynasty in the AFC title game. Since then, the Tomlin’s Steelers are 0-5 in playoff games, including two losses to division rivals, one of which was a complete disaster at home in 2021 against the Cleveland Browns. Tomlin’s struggles of late aren’t just a lack of playoff performance, but regular season struggles as well. Since 2017, the team has won over 10 games just once, with last year’s team having an utter collapse in the 2nd half of the season, starting at 10-3, and ending at 10-8. Tomlin has struggled within the last decade, and it appears his style might be outdated.
Time for a Change?
It is clear that Coach T is a legend in the ranks of NFL coaching, but sometimes, styles become outdated and need to be replaced. Tomlin’s style of run-heavy, defense-first football was a perfect fit for the 2000’s NFL, but in an air-raid era of football, and growing size and skill on the defensive side of the ball, it may be time for a new leader in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has struggled since its last Super Bowl, even with elite talent such as the killer B’s, begging the question, is it really time? Being a die-hard Steeler fan, I can beyond appreciate what Coach T has done for my Steelers. I have also seen the locker room issues, utter collapses, and playoff blowouts this team has produced in recent years and understand it falls a lot on our Head Coach. I believe this season is make-or-break for Coach Tomlin’s future and winning a playoff game is an absolute must. If he doesn’t manage to win a playoff game, it could be an end to the hilarious “Tomlinisms” we get week to week. After all, Coach T does preach “The Standard is the Standard”, and the Steelers aren’t living up to it.
