Mike Tomlin reacts to Steelers fans chanting for him to be fired during loss to Bills

Angry Pittsburgh Steelers fans chanted for the club to fire head coach Mike Tomlin during its 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills that dropped Pittsburgh to 6-6 on Sunday. 

Following the defeat, Tomlin suggested that he understood why paying customers made their voices heard at Acrisure Stadium on the final day of November. 

Mike Tomlin as frustrated as Steelers fans? 

"Man, I share their frustration tonight," Tomlin said about the chants, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "We didn't do enough, and that's just the reality of it. ... I know how restless and frustrated I was, and so I assume they were in the same state we were in." 

In the summer, reports indicated that Tomlin wasn't facing any kind of mandate regarding his job after he was responsible for zero losing seasons from 2007 through the 2024 campaign. He signed a three-year contract extension in June 2024, and the Steelers have had just three head coaches since 1969. Additionally, Tomlin likely would become arguably the top coaching candidate of the upcoming hiring cycle if he and the Steelers were to part ways in January.

That said, the Steelers haven't earned a playoff victory under Tomlin since the 2016 season. More recently, Pittsburgh started the ongoing campaign at 4-1 before losing five of seven games. 

Aaron Rodgers voices support for Mike Tomlin amid criticisms

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined the Steelers this past June to play for Tomlin. Following Sunday's loss, Rodgers seemed to call some Pittsburgh receivers out for not attending film sessions and for not always knowing the "right route" to run during games. Rodgers also voiced his support for Tomlin. 

"I believe in the coaching staff," Rodgers explained. "I believe in Mike Tomlin. That's why I came here. Players need to take accountability, myself included, and I will, and I will continue to. I got to play better, but there's 11 starters on offense, 11 on defense, plus with the personnel groupings that we run. We're going to have a Monday-to-Saturday that we can be really proud of, our best Monday-to-Saturday, and go out and play our best game and take control of the division."

Rodgers is attempting to play with a fractured left wrist he suffered on Nov. 16. Against the Bills, he completed just 10-of-21 pass attempts for 117 yards. Early in the game's third quarter, he lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. 

The good news for the Steelers is that they and the Baltimore Ravens began December sitting atop the AFC North standings at 6-6. Pittsburgh next plays at Baltimore on Dec. 7.

As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Steelers as 6.5-point road underdogs for that game.