Insider Believes Steelers Could Fire Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers could use this offseason as a way out of Mike Tomlin’s contact.
NOAH STRACKBEINDEC 9, 2023 9:42 AM EST
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Insider Believes Pittsburgh Steelers Could Fire Mike Tomlin - Sports Illustrated Pittsburgh Steelers News, Analysis and More

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a tough spot as they try to climb themselves out of a hole following back-to-back losses to 2-10 teams. And after their latest fall to the Patriots, head coach Mike Tomlin’s future has been called into question.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittapoldo, during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, said there’s a 50/50 shot the team moves on from Tomlin this offseason.

“Fifty-percent chance, but I mean, here, let’s go through this, okay? Because I was thinking about this, this morning,” Fittapoldo said. “We’ll know pretty soon, after the season ends, what direction Art Rooney [II] is gonna go here, because if he does nothing and he brings him back for another year, you have to extend him. There’s no reason to bring him back in 2024 as a lame-duck head coach. You’re not gonna be able to go out and get a good offensive coordinator when the head coach is on a one-year deal, basically.

“So they’re either gonna extend him, or they’re gonna move on. And I think Art Rooney is at a crossroads here.”

Fittipaldo compared the situation to the Steelers in the 1990s when Bill Cowher went through losing seasons. Instead of moving on, the team decided to extend him, which eventually led to a Super Bowl win.

Obviously, the Steelers are at a crossroads with a large chunk of the fanbase starting to fear Tomlin isn’t going to find success further than winning seasons. But sometimes, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and Art Rooney II is certainly debating what side of the fence he’s looking to stand on.

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“I know Mike Tomlin can maybe change his mind here over the final month of the season, but it’s a really difficult situation and it’s a huge decision for the Rooney family here in about a month or so,” Fittipaldo said. “I honestly don’t know which direction it’s gonna go.”