Ben Roethlisberger knows what it takes to win in Pittsburgh. He lived it for nearly two decades, delivering two Super Bowl titles and helping define the Steelers' identity in the 2000s and 2010s. So when Big Ben speaks about the current state of the franchise, people tend to listen - especially when the topic is head coach Mike Tomlin.
During a recent episode of his Footbahlin podcast, Roethlisberger suggested that maybe it’s time for a change - not just for the Steelers, but for Tomlin himself.
“Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said.
“I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin, but maybe it’s best for him, too.”
That’s not a shot - it’s more of a reflection on where things stand after another up-and-down season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are currently 6-6 and locked in a tight AFC North race with the Ravens. And while that record still keeps them in the playoff hunt, the product on the field has raised plenty of eyebrows.
Roethlisberger even floated the idea of Tomlin taking over at Penn State, where he believes Tomlin’s leadership and recruiting chops could translate into national championships.
“You know what he would do in Penn State?” Roethlisberger added. “He would probably go win national championships, because he’s a great recruiter.”
That’s high praise - and also a pretty bold hypothetical. But Roethlisberger isn’t the only former Steeler raising questions about Tomlin’s current fit in Pittsburgh.
James Harrison, the fearsome linebacker who played under Tomlin for parts of 10 seasons, shared his own take on his Deebo and Joe podcast. And he didn’t hold back.
“I have never been a person that thought Coach Tomlin was a great coach,” Harrison said. “I thought he was a good [coach]...
A good coach gets you to play to your potential. And right now, the players we have on that team I have seen play, they’re not playing up to their potential.
A great coach gets you to play to your potential.”
That’s a tough critique from a guy who helped deliver a Super Bowl under Tomlin’s watch. But it speaks to the frustration that’s been simmering in Pittsburgh - a franchise known for its stability, but also one that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
This isn’t the first time Roethlisberger has stirred the pot on his podcast. Back in November, he downplayed the chances of Joe Flacco and the Bengals replicating their Week 7 success when they visited Pittsburgh in Week 11 - and he was right. The Steelers handled business, winning 34-12.
In October, he pointed to Cincinnati’s white uniforms and field paint as a possible reason for an Aaron Rodgers interception during a narrow 33-31 loss at Paycor Stadium. And in 2022, he didn’t mince words about his feelings toward the Bengals, saying he “always hated playing” them because he feared “something dirty, something cheap.”
Roethlisberger’s candid takes have become a staple of his post-playing career, and while some of his comments lean into the rivalry-fueled nature of AFC North football, his thoughts on Tomlin are more nuanced. They reflect a growing sentiment that maybe, after 17 seasons, the time has come for both sides to consider a new direction.
It’s not about disrespect - it’s about evolution. Tomlin has never had a losing season, and that alone puts him in rare company. But in a league where the bar is always rising and expectations never rest, even the most successful coaches face questions when the results start to plateau.
Whether Tomlin stays in Pittsburgh or finds a new challenge elsewhere, one thing is clear: the respect from his former players is still there - even if the belief in his current fit might be wavering.