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The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the AFC Playoff race, but after dropping three straight games there are questions about head coach Mike Tomlin’s future with the team.
Pittsburgh sits at 7-7 on the season and dropped consecutive games to lesser opponents — the Cardinals, Patriots, and Colts — so many wonder if Tomlin’s 17-year tenure in the Steel City is reaching its end. But would the longtime coach really be fired?
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer spoke on Tomlin’s future during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show where he sparked speculation that the Steelers coach could be traded.
Breer named the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders as options.
“I don’t think he’s getting fired. Let’s start there. I don’t think that will happen,” Breer said, via the New York Post. “I do see a path, though, to a place where he’s not the coach next year… Both [Commanders owner Josh Harris] and [Panthers owner David Tepper] have relationships with Art Rooney. They’ve both seen Mike Tomlin from the inside. And they both could very easily pick up the phone and say to Art Rooney, ‘What would it take to get Mike Tomlin out of there?
Albert Breer on if Mike Tomlin’s seat is starting to warm: “I don’t think they’d fire Tomlin. Let’s start there. Part of this is gonna be Mike Tomlin having a good plan to modernize where the Steelers are offensively." #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/xT072H61rW
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 6, 2023
“Additionally, for Mike Tomlin personally, both those places are geographically close to where he’s from. He grew up in the tidewater area of Virginia. So, I think Art Rooney would owe it to Mike Tomlin if those teams called to go to him and ask what he wants to do, and maybe that’s the circumstance where they both decide, ‘It’s time. It’s been 17 seasons. You’ve been here for two years longer than Bill Cowher. This potentially could be the time for us to reset.’”
The Steelers’ struggles have been highlighted by a lack of discipline from players and a lack of effort — specifically blocking from the wide receivers — on the field during key plays.
Pittsburgh takes the field on Saturday, December 23 against the division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium.
We’ll have to see if the Steelers can bounce back, or if the losing streak continues.
