Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, having won six Super Bowls in their history. But in recent years, the franchise has become accustomed to burning out in the postseason.
Mike Tomlin has been at the helm since 2006 and coached the team to one of those Super Bowl titles. While Tomlin has never finished a regular season with a loss to date, it has been eight years since he led a team to victory in playoff game.
The Steelers are one of the most stable franchises in the league, having only had three head coaches over the past five decades. However, the lack of recent success in the playoffs has raised some doubts about whether Tomlin should stay put.
Still, Tomlin shrugged it off Tuesday when asked if he felt the Steelers were “stuck” after being dominated Baltimore Ravens in the wild card round on Saturday.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS ON FOXNEWS.COM
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
“It’s kind of a sense of helplessness to get stuck,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said. “And I don’t know that I feel helpless.”
STEELERS’ GEORGE PICKENS MAKES SECOND COMMENTS AFTER PLAYOFF LOSS TO RAVENS
Tomlin then acknowledged the frustration felt by everyone involved with the Steelers after the early playoff exit. “I’m definitely not in the mood for optimism or selling optimism,” he said. “I don’t know that it’s appropriate. You know it’s frustrating not to work. And that’s where we are.”
Mike Tomlin talks to his players during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 19, 2023. in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
And while there will certainly be changes on the coaching staff — most likely on defense after the Steelers were hurt during a five-game free fall in the standings — Tomlin doesn’t appear to be going anywhere as he enters the first season of a three-year extension he signed last June.
Tomlin believes he’s still “capable” of helping Pittsburgh end its longest playoff streak since Immaculate Conception more than half a century ago.
However, he also enters his third offseason in four years with questions at quarterback. Skylar Thompson, who signed with the Steelers on Tuesday, is the only quarterback under contract through the 2025 season. Russell WilsonJustin Fields and Kyle Allen — all of whom played in the 2024 season — are slated to become free agents when the league begins in March.
Kyle Van Noy #53 of the Baltimore Ravens tackles Russell Wilson #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025. in Baltimore, Maryland. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
While Wilson and Fields have expressed interest in returning and Tomlin said the team is “open to considering those guys,” there’s also a very real chance they’ll start 2025 with their fifth different Week 1 starter in as many seasons.
While the offense has made progress — particularly during a midseason stretch in which Wilson won six of his first seven starts — the Steelers have averaged just 14.2 points during their late surge, hardly enough to advance to the divisional round or beyond.
Tomlin also acknowledged that he understands the growing discontent among fans in an era that can best be described as his team’s “Groundhog Day.”
“I understand the frustration,” he said. “And frankly, I share that.”
The 12th-winningest coach in NFL history — he’ll move into the top 10 if the Steelers win at least eight games in 2025 — doesn’t think his message has lost its effectiveness, in part because he believes it’s a small component of his work. The vast majority deal with schemes, drafting and talent development, and he believes the team has evolved in that regard.
“I’m open to adaptation and change, and I have been,” he said. “So this is not a new discussion. It’s not like I did the same thing over (and over).”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Tomlin remains intent on trying to be part of the solution in Pittsburgh, saying teams with vacancies who might inquire about his willingness to move on should save their time.
“I don’t have a message,” Tomlin replied via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette when asked if he had a message for any team potentially looking to acquire him in a trade. “Save your time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital sports lighting on Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
