Update reveals if Steelers' Mike Tomlin is in danger of being fired

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin heard chants of "fire Tomlin" from members of the home crowd during Pittsburgh's 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills that dropped the Steelers to 6-6 on Sunday. 

During a Monday morning edition of "SportsCenter," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter addressed whether or not the Steelers could give fans who want the club to move on from Tomlin what they want come January.

Who will decide if Mike Tomlin, Steelers part ways?

"It's hard to imagine that the Pittsburgh Steelers would ever fire Mike Tomlin," Schefter explained, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "I don't think that day will ever come. The question is, does Mike Tomlin wanna walk away? And he hasn't in the past, and he gets to stay in that job as long as he wants. He's almost tenured in that particular job."

Tomlin has never had a losing season since he became Pittsburgh's head coach in 2007, and he guided the club to a Super Bowl title in February 2009. He signed a three-year contract extension in June 2024 that reportedly pays him roughly $16M per year, and he works for an organization that has employed three head coaches since 1969. 

That said, he hasn't guided Pittsburgh to a single playoff victory since the 2016 season. Under his watch, the 2025 Steelers lost five of seven games from Week 7 through the final day of November. 

Mike Tomlin won't be shoved out of Steelers' building in January

"If Mike Tomlin wants to leave there, that would be up to him," Schefter added. "But there's been no indication for all the speculation in other recent years about him leaving. That has not materialized. We'll see if this is the year it finally does materialize, but in my mind, that's a choice that belongs to Mike Tomlin."

For now, Tomlin will focus on getting the Steelers ready to face the 6-6 Baltimore Ravens for a Dec. 7 matchup that will determine which team ends that day sitting atop the AFC North standings. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh as a 6.5-point road underdog for that game.