Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin walks the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills in a 2024 AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Kirby Leei-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Two NFL coaches handle talk of their future quite differently

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 1/16/24

After an early playoff exit for both Pennsylvania teams, one NFL coach had a childish response when asked about his job security, and it’s probably not who you think.

Including playoffs, Mike Tomlin is 181-110-2 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s been 16 years since the team won a Super Bowl, but he’s never had a losing season in 17 years as head coach.

As the longest-tenured coach in the NFL, Tomlin certainly deserves some latitude when discussing his future with the team, but Steelers fans probably deserve better than this:

Mike Tomlin, asked about his future after the #Steelers playoff loss, walks off the podium. pic.twitter.com/mHLyivdU0q
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) January 16, 2024

On the other hand, Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni has been a coach for three years. In addition to taking his team to Super Bowl LVII, he’s also been known to exhibit childish behavior at times. Last season, he had some profane words for Colts fans after the team fired head coach Frank Reich.

This year, he had more vulgar language for Chiefs fans after his team’s improbable 21-17 win in Week 11. But when asked about his future following an embarrassing 32-9 loss to the Buccaneers on “Monday Night Football,” the 42-year-old coach did what Tomlin couldn’t and faced the music:

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni on his future with the team #Eagles pic.twitter.com/0epCWpiuF8
— Chris Franklin (@cfranklinnews) January 16, 2024

Kudos to Sirianni for being respectful to the media and the fans they represent. It may not be enough to keep him employed, but given Tomlin’s response, even the angriest of Philly fans should appreciate the effort.

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