pittsburgh steelers Coach Mike Tomlin is not being fired, but he has an important decision to make early next year.
After this season, Tomlin will have two years remaining on his contract – a team option in 2026 and 2027. But according to league sources, the Steelers have until March 1 to decide whether to pick up the option on Tomlin’s contract.
Sources said there will be organizational meetings and decisions, but not until after the season, with all appropriate parties given their full share of the work for review.
No one in the Steelers organization or around the NFL expects Pittsburgh to fire Tomlin; The organization has not fired a head coach since 1941.
When Steelers fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada In November 2023, it was the franchise’s first season coordinator change in 82 years. Pittsburgh rarely fires coaches and has never done so with coaches of Tomlin’s stature.
But the options in Tomlin’s contract are the real test. If the Steelers decline to pick up Tomlin’s option, they will allow their head coach to enter the final year of his contract next season, which teams typically prefer not to do.
And if neither side has any commitment to the other after 2026, it will open up multiple options.
There have been and continue to be arguments on both sides. Tomlin’s critics point to the fact that the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016. But Tomlin has also been such an effective coach that he never suffered a losing season during his 18 seasons in Pittsburgh. With the Steelers at 6-6, it has a chance to be the 19th consecutive season in that streak.
Some have suggested that the Steelers should consider trading Tomlin after this season, but that would not be possible without his permission. Tomlin’s contract includes a no-trade clause, allowing him to block any move by the Steelers.
So despite Steelers fans calling for Tomlin to be fired during last week’s loss buffalo billThe Steelers are not considering him. He and his future are at stake Sunday in Baltimore when they face the Steelers crows For first place in the AFC North.
This is partly why the team is no longer willing to consider coaching options. There are five games left in the regular season, and Pittsburgh is focused on the task at hand, not what might happen in the future.
If the Steelers win on Sunday, Tomlin will move into the East tie denver broncos Coach Dan Reeves has the 10th most wins ever in the regular season with 190. Interestingly, Reeves once faced a situation not entirely dissimilar to Tomlin’s.
Former Broncos owner Pat Bowlen extended Reaves’ contract before entering his final season. The one time he did not do so was entering the 1992 season, which was Reeves’ last season in Denver. The two sides parted ways after that season.
But the Steelers and Tomlin are far from making any decisions. He’s more focused on getting this team back to winning ways, beating Baltimore, and securing first place in the AFC North.
Still decisions are coming. Due to the outrage of some Steelers fans who have made their feelings known, the Steelers may not make a decision regarding Tomlin’s future at the end of this season. But soon afterwards they face a significant crisis.
