The Pittsburgh Steelers remain in the midst of an unprecedented run in professional football. The organization has not had a losing season since the 2003 campaign and current Head Coach Mike Tomlin (employed since 2007) has yet to have more losses than wins in any given season. This is wildly appreciated by the national media, but fans in the Steel City have become restless with the future Hall of Famer. The team hasn't had a playoff win since the 2016 season, and patience is running thin. Despite the touch stretch, Art Rooney II is expected to extend Tomlin's contract once again before the 2024 season begins.
There is certainly a strong divide between those who root for the Steelers and others who cover the team. Many in Pittsburgh wanted to see Tomlin on a significant hot seat, especially after electing to retain Matt Canada for the 2023 season. The group still managed to win 10 games and make the playoffs, only to suffer a loss to the Buffalo Bills.
CBS color commentator Charles Davis has called a ton of Steelers' games throughout the years. He joined former NFL tight end Logan Paulsen and his co-host Craig Hoffman on the Take Command podcast. He had a strong message for the fans in the Steel City that aren't happy nor impressed with Tomlin's non-losing season streak being the most talked about thing on the coach's resumé.
"I love how all the Pittsburgh people are all upset with Mike Tomlin. 'I'm tired of us just, every year Mike Tomlin finishes over .500 like that's a big deal,'" Davis said when mimicking Steelers' fans. "That team last year had no business winning 10 games and they did. So they do this all the time and people act like it's no big deal."
There's no doubt that Tomlin's streak is incredibly impressive. Most franchises would take that in a heartbeat, but the organization in Pittsburgh has a reputation for winning championships, or at least competing for them. That hasn't happened in over a decade, and frankly, the team has barely even been close to raising another Lombardi Trophy. Being in the mix each year is fun for fans, but setting the standard at just that is unacceptable given the franchise's history.
Davis then came out with a strong defense for the head coach entering his 18th season with the Steelers. Anyone who thinks he is comfortable with simply cracking .500 on the season is completely off base.
"What I tell people all the time is, 'Do you really think Mike Tomlin is happy just being .500 every year?' No. They're trying to find a way to get better and get there too. But you know something? You want to have that or do you want to have one of those organizations where every two or three years, you're hitting a reset button and you're fighting to get to .500 in the first place?"
Overall, Davis has a good point. Steelers' fans would much rather be winning games and getting to the final week of the season in the playoff mix. The issue that has consistently risen is when the playoffs kick off. Whether it be getting dismantled by the Jacksonville Jaguars or Cleveland Browns on their home turf, or the simple fact of no postseason wins since 2016; regular season wins are a moot point.
Steelers Looking To Build Championship Roster In 2024 Offseason
It has been an exciting few months since the playoff loss to the Bills. Pittsburgh has revamped several positional groups and will have more of that occurring when the 2024 NFL Draft begins on April 25. Tomlin's extension is expected to be for two seasons, but non-losing seasons through 2026 won't earn him another. Rooney mentioned he is tired of the lack of playoff success and Tomlin may only have a few more seasons to get the job done.
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