Should Mike Tomlin Be Fired?

The following article is an excerpt from Mando’s latest Sunday Recap. 

I was wondering as the clock approached zero during Pittsburgh’s surprising 45-42 loss to Blake Bortles and the Jaguars if this was it. Was this the last we would see of Ben Roethlisberger, who contemplated retirement last offseason? Apparently this question has already been answered, though, as Roethlisberger declared after the game that he looks forward to coming back for what I’m assuming will be his last season in 2018.

So the Steelers’ championship window remains open for at least one more year. Nonetheless, the pending departure of their Hall of Fame quarterback makes Pittsburgh’s future beyond next season hazy at best; and that also doesn’t mean that further shakeups shouldn’t take place after another premature playoff exit.

This brings me to Mike Tomlin, who, along with losing control of his locker room, has squandered too many opportunities over the past seven years to continue being the Steelers’ head coach. Let’s start by looking at his resume of late. For starters, it should be noted that Tomlin has never had a shortage of talent. In fact, I can’t think of another coach off the top of my head who has had a Hall of Fame quarterback along with arguably the best running back (Le’Veon Bell) and  best wide receiver (Antonio Brown) in football on the same team for at least five seasons. Perhaps Jimmie Johnson on those Cowboys teams in the ’90’s with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin is the only one (and look how much success he had).

Tomlin’s Steelers, however, have gone seven years without making the Super Bowl. No surprise, therefore, that each of these conference title-less seasons have ended in bitter disappointment. Of course, yesterday’s loss was arguably the most frustrating of them all, as the Steelers allowed Blake Bortles and company to march up and down Heinz Field at will in a game that was supposed to merely serve as a preamble for their “inevitable” rematch against the Patriots. But let’s not forget about their other recent letdowns:

• 2011: Lost to Tim Tebow and the Broncos despite being heavy favorites
• 2012 & 2013: Missed the postseason
• 2014: Home playoff loss to the Ravens in Wild Card round
• 2015: Lost to Denver in Divisional Round (admittedly, I give them a pass here because Pittsburgh was without A. Brown)
• 2016: Blown out by Patriots in AFC Championship

So despite all of that talent, every year in recent memory has ended in disappointment for Pittsburgh. And on top of that, clearly Tomlin has little control of the Steelers’ locker room. As many Jaguars players noted following their upset victory, what other top contender would openly discuss how they’re already looking ahead to their next opponent?

Plus, Tomlin is also culpable for many of the questionable in-game coaching decisions that have doomed the Steelers. Look no further than Pittsburgh’s two biggest defeats this season. What were the Steelers thinking on those two fourth-and-one play calls yesterday? How could an onside kick fail that miserably? And has anyone made sense yet of how Pittsburgh blew the New England game in Week 15?

Taken together, the case for Tomlin to be fired is stronger than the case for him to stay.

Posted by Mando

Co-Founder of Check Down Sports. Die-hard Boston sports fan (Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox -- in that order). Expert on all things related to the Super Bowl. Proudest life achievement: four-time fantasy baseball champion.