Mike Tomlin ended last season receiving a lot of criticism. That was mostly because the Pittsburgh Steelers once again failed to win a playoff game. While the Steelers have yet to have a losing season under Tomlin, they also haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. That’s caused some restlessness among the fan base. Now, with the Steelers once again not looking like a postseason threat, calls for Tomlin’s job have gotten louder. However, former NFL head coach Mike McCarthy thinks fans should have more patience.
“I have the utmost respect for Mike Tomlin,” McCarthy said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show. “I’ve competed against Mike. I think Mike is really starting the second half of a Hall of Fame career. They’re playing for first place.
“They’ve been in these kinds of spots before. He’ll do a great job getting ready. Let it play out. Let this play out. He’s been in this spot a bunch of times. You’ve always got a chance because their defense is going to keep them in the game. Mike’s a great coach.”
McCarthy is correct that Tomlin has led the Steelers out of some holes in the past. In 2023, they were 7-7 going into Week 16, and looked like they were going to miss the playoffs. However, Tomlin rallied the troops, helping his team win the final three games of the season and qualify for the postseason.
They made a similar push in 2022 as well. While they didn’t make the playoffs, the Steelers were 5-8 and heading toward their first losing season since 2003. That didn’t happen, though. Tomlin’s Steelers pulled themselves together once again, winning their final four games to finish at 9-8.
Therefore, it’s possible for the Steelers to have another late-season push. However, that might feel more unlikely this year. While McCarthy points to the Steelers’ defense as a strength, it’s actually been a huge weakness. That unit isn’t what it once was.
Look at the Steelers’ most recent game. Their defense got run all by the Buffalo Bills over for almost 250 yards. It was an embarrassing performance, especially considering the talent that group has.
Perhaps Tomlin has another 20 seasons in him. However, he’s got to get through this season first. He might not be done in the NFL, but there’s no telling how much longer he’ll be in Pittsburgh. If Tomlin can’t salvage this season, his seat might get a little hotter.
While it doesn’t sound like Art Rooney II has any intentions of firing Tomlin, nothing lasts forever. This is Tomlin’s 19th season with the Steelers. Maybe he’ll eventually decide that he wants to try something new. For now, though, he’s focused on beating the Baltimore Ravens.
