After nearly two decades of stability on the Steelers’ sideline, one of the franchise’s all-time greats is suggesting it might be time for a change - not out of frustration, but out of respect.
Ben Roethlisberger, who spent all 18 seasons of his Hall of Fame-caliber career in Pittsburgh - 15 of them under Mike Tomlin - recently shared some candid thoughts on the state of the team. And while he made it clear he still holds Tomlin in high regard, Roethlisberger acknowledged what many in Pittsburgh have started to wonder: maybe it’s time for both sides to consider a fresh start.
“It’s being talked about around here a lot: Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast.
“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 call for a pink slip - far from it. Roethlisberger was careful to say that Tomlin shouldn’t be fired. Instead, he floated the idea of a mutual parting of ways, the kind of decision that comes from honest conversations behind closed doors, not knee-jerk reactions to a rough stretch of games.
“Here’s what you don’t do: You don’t fire a guy like Coach Tomlin,” Roethlisberger emphasized. “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 kind of transition wouldn’t be unprecedented in Pittsburgh. The franchise has long valued coaching continuity - a hallmark of the Steelers’ identity.
Since 1969, they’ve had only three head coaches: Chuck Noll (23 seasons), Bill Cowher (15), and Tomlin, who’s now in his 19th season. But even in a place that prizes patience and loyalty, every era eventually gives way to the next.
Roethlisberger pointed to the transitions from Noll to Cowher, and Cowher to Tomlin, as examples of how the franchise has handled these crossroads before - with dignity, gratitude, and an eye toward the future.
“You go, ‘Hey, coach, listen, it’s probably best for all parties involved, let’s start over,’” Roethlisberger said. “It happened with Chuck Noll, it happened with Coach Cowher.
Coach Tomlin’s been here a long time. You’d give him a statue, whatever you’ve got to do, because he deserves it, he’s earned it.
But it’s time to find that next guy. Who’s that next guy that could be here for the next 20 years?”
The idea isn’t about dissatisfaction - it’s about evolution. Roethlisberger even floated the possibility of Tomlin taking over a college program like Penn State, where his charisma and leadership could translate into national titles thanks to his reputation as a recruiter. That’s the level of respect Roethlisberger still has for his former coach - not just a great NFL leader, but someone who could thrive in any football environment.
And if Tomlin is looking for inspiration, Roethlisberger pointed to Andy Reid. After a long run in Philadelphia, Reid was let go - and he’s since built a dynasty in Kansas City.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have found success of their own. Sometimes, change doesn’t mean failure.
It just means the next chapter is ready to be written.
“I think he might say it’s time for a fresh start,” Roethlisberger said. “Andy Reid, when he got let go in Philadelphia... do you think he for one minute regrets it? And now the Eagles have won since he left, and he’s won.”
That’s the vision Roethlisberger is putting forward - not a breakup, but a reset. A moment where both sides can step back, acknowledge all they’ve accomplished together, and ask the tough but necessary question: could we both be even better apart?
It’s not an easy conversation. But in Pittsburgh - a city that’s built its football identity on loyalty, leadership, and long-term vision - it might just be the kind of conversation that sets the stage for the next great era.