The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a rough patch, and the frustration is starting to bubble over in ways we haven’t seen in years. After dropping three of their last four, including a disappointing home loss to the Bills, they’ve slipped out of the AFC North lead - and the noise around the team is getting louder.
At the center of that noise? Head coach Mike Tomlin.
Steelers fans, known for their loyalty and patience, were heard chanting for Tomlin’s job during last Sunday’s loss. That’s not something you hear every day in Pittsburgh - a city that’s seen just three head coaches since 1969. But when the losses start piling up and the offense looks stuck in neutral, even the most faithful start asking questions.
One of those voices belongs to a man who knows this franchise inside and out: Ben Roethlisberger. The former Steelers quarterback, who won a Super Bowl with Tomlin back in 2009 and spent his entire career in black and gold, weighed in on his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. And let’s just say, he didn’t hold back.
“It’s being talked about around here a lot - 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. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best.”
That’s not a throwaway comment. That’s a franchise icon floating the idea that the Tomlin era - one of the most stable and successful in modern NFL history - might be nearing its end. Roethlisberger even threw out a wild-card idea: Tomlin heading to college football, specifically Penn State, where the Nittany Lions are still searching for a new head coach after parting ways with James Franklin midseason.
“You know what he would do in Penn State?” Roethlisberger said.
“He would probably go win national championships. Because he’s a great recruiter.”
Now, let’s be clear - there’s no indication Tomlin is eyeing a move to Happy Valley. But the fact that Roethlisberger is even entertaining the thought tells you just how unsettled things feel right now in Pittsburgh.
Roethlisberger wasn’t calling for a firing, though. In fact, he made a point to say that’s not how you handle a coach like Tomlin.
“Here’s what you don’t do - you don’t fire a guy like coach Tomlin,” he said. “He’s a Hall of Fame head coach, he’s respected. What you do is you come to an understanding and agreement, and it’s like, ‘Hey, listen, I think it’s probably best for both of us.’”
That’s a nod to how the Steelers have handled transitions in the past. Chuck Noll stepped down.
Bill Cowher stepped away. Both left on their own terms after long, successful runs.
Roethlisberger is suggesting Tomlin - now in his 19th season - might be nearing that same kind of crossroads.
And he’s not wrong about Tomlin’s legacy. He’s never had a losing season.
He’s won a Super Bowl, been to another, and consistently kept the Steelers competitive even during roster overhauls and quarterback changes. But at some point, even the best coaches hit a wall.
And with the Steelers sitting at 6-6, tied with the Ravens in the AFC North, that wall might be coming into view.
This week’s game against Baltimore is shaping up to be more than just another chapter in one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries. It feels like a turning point.
A must-win. Not just for the standings, but for the direction of the franchise.
Big Ben on Mike Tomlin:
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) December 2, 2025
“Maybe it’s a clean house time and I like Coach Tomlin I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin. Maybe it’s best for him too. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best.”#steelers
🎥Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger pic.twitter.com/WjyUBKDsZ5
Roethlisberger put it plainly: “It’s time to find that next guy. Who’s that next guy that could be here for the next 20 years?”
That’s the question looming over Pittsburgh right now. Tomlin has earned every bit of the respect he’s getting - and then some.
But even legends don’t coach forever. And if the Steelers are truly at a breaking point, the next few weeks could shape not only the rest of this season but the next era of Steelers football.