ESPN Mike Tomlin receives a suspension letter from the Pittsburgh Steelers management due to his reactions towards…
At least, that’s what it seemed like when he b-lined it away from the podium mid-way through a question about his current contract and future with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The question came following a rough 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Super Wild Card Weekend.
Tomlin, who is the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL with one team, having been at the helm for 17 years, was clearly frustrated, but it was likely more about the result of the game rather than the question by itself.
Tomlin won a Super Bowl in 2008 and lost a Super Bowl in 2010, but in recent years he’s been colder than the weather in Buffalo come playoff time. The team has not won a postseason game since 2016, a seven-year drought that is the longest in franchise history since the NFL merger. Pittsburgh’s five straight playoff losses during that span also equal the second-longest active playoff losing streak in the league.
Despite the Steelers’ recent postseason struggles and Tomlin seemingly sprinting from a question about his immediate future with the team (Tomlin’s current contract expires after the 2024 season), the long-time coach is unlikely to be going anywhere in the near future. That’s just how the Steelers do business.
Those dubious stats and the rumors swirling that he’s going to decide on his future with the team after the season notwithstanding, Steeler nation shouldn’t expect any changes at the top—nor should they want any.
When Tomlin had an elite roster, he made regular trips to the AFC Championship Game, and with the spare parts he’s been dealing with in recent years, he’s still managed to keep the Steelers competitive year in and year out while maintaining his record streak of 17 seasons to start a coaching career without a losing campaign.
That is an oft-touted stat, but it’s worth mentioning, because it means that Pittsburgh has played in just one meaningless game in 17 years with Tomlin on the sideline. Nearly every single week of every single year, there’s something for Steelers fans to cheer about while droves of other franchises spend the final month of seasons with nothing to play for.
And even with the recent struggles, the Steelers have still been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL during his 17-year tenure—both in the regular season and the playoffs. Tomlin’s eight playoff wins during his career leave the Steelers tied with perennial contenders like the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, and their total doubles the Dallas Cowboys’ four postseason victories over that span.