Instant Reactions to Mike Tomlin’s Departure

First off, it’s important to note that the Steelers retain Tomlin’s rights . Since he stepped down and was not fired, Pittsburgh has the opportunity to shop him on the trade market. Similar to how Sean Payton’s time in New Orleans ended, he could take a year off before becoming a hot commodity for head coaching jobs. Steeler fans will tell you his famous streak without a losing season is blown out of proportion. However, it illustrates his ability to coach his teams to punch above their weight. He’s often been dealt poor hands and still made it work, even if it wasn’t to the level Pittsburgh fans hoped. A change of scenery may do wonders for him, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll continue coaching.

It Was Time for a Change

Think Andy Reid with the Eagles. While Reid was clearly not the worst option available, his style and leadership had grown stale. Philadelphia needed a fresh coat of paint, and so the two sides parted ways. This is a similar case, as the recent teams Steelers teams fielded have failed to achieve meaningful success. Tomlin’s Steelers hold the NFL record for consecutive playoff losses with seven, and their nine-year drought without a playoff win is ranked the seventh-longest in the game. It’s been an endless shuffling of coordinators and quarterbacks. Everyone else has received the blame for the team’s shortcomings, except for Tomlin. All good things must come to an end, and you could argue Tomlin’s end has been due for a while.

A Long Rebuild Is on the Way for the Steelers

Suffering from success. The Steelers have been stuck in purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Everyone knows how it works in the modern NFL. You can’t make it work without a franchise guy at signal-caller. Due to Tomlin’s avoidance of losing seasons, Pittsburgh has not had a high enough draft pick to select a franchise-altering player at QB. Conversely, they haven’t been good enough to move the needle in the postseason. Couple that with their roster being the second oldest in the game, the outlook for the next few years is bleak.

What Comes After Tomlin’s Culture?

One of the things that has become synonymous with Tomlin’s Steelers is the culture. The emphasis on toughness, resilience, and hard work connects strongly to the city’s working-class roots. While that culture will forever remain in the hearts of Yinzers, will the same apply to the franchise itself? Whoever Pittsburgh hires will reflect the vision Art Rooney II has with the future of the team. Will he bring in another old-school coach who values toughness and fundamentals? Or, will it be a younger mind who embodies the modern trajectory of the league? Perhaps a mix of both? Whoever it is, they’ll have their work cut out for them.

Tomlin Ends His Tenure as a Legend

201 wins, one Super Bowl and plenty of good memories. That’s what Mike Tomlin brought to Pittsburgh. The teams under his leadership gave it their all every day, remaining competitive no matter what. Although those teams have plateaued as of late, the impact of Tomlin’s tenure will forever leave its mark. His strange yet unique “Tomlinisms”, and what at times felt like voodoo magic have, defined the franchise for nearly two decades. It’s a shame that he wasn’t able to bring home one more ring, but his name will forever be held in high regard around the league.

Wann know how Tomlin’s last QB played against Houston? Here’s another article grading the quarterback performances from Wild Card weekend.