Is the Mike Tomlin Era in Pittsburgh Quietly Nearing Its End?
In the NFL, the end of a coaching era rarely comes with fireworks. It’s usually a slow burn-an accumulation of moments that, over time, become impossible to ignore.
And while nothing is official in Pittsburgh, what unfolded on Sunday felt like one of those moments that sticks with you. Not because it was dramatic, but because it was telling.
Let’s set the scene: Steelers fans, long known for their loyalty and tradition, booed during the playing of Styx’s “Renegade”-a rallying cry in Pittsburgh that typically ignites the crowd and the defense. Moments later, the defense gave up the longest run ever allowed at Acrisure Stadium.
That’s not just a bad sequence. That’s a symbolic unraveling of what the Steelers have long prided themselves on-tradition, toughness, and defensive identity.
And it happened against a Bills team that was missing key pieces on the offensive line and running a limited playbook. That’s not just a bad day at the office. That’s a gut check.
For years, Mike Tomlin has been the steady hand guiding the Steelers through transition, turbulence, and everything in between. He’s never had a losing season-an incredible feat in today’s NFL. But even that remarkable streak can’t fully mask the slow erosion of what once made Pittsburgh a perennial contender.
Since 2017, the Steelers haven’t reached the divisional round of the playoffs. And while they’ve remained competitive, they’ve also hovered around mediocrity-never quite bad enough to hit the reset button, but not good enough to make a real postseason run. That’s the kind of purgatory that can quietly drain a franchise’s momentum.
Let’s talk numbers. Since 2021, Pittsburgh ranks 15th in EPA per play allowed-right in the middle of the pack defensively.
This season, they entered Sunday’s game ranked 22nd. That’s not the kind of defense that strikes fear into opponents, especially not in a city where the Steel Curtain legacy still hangs heavy in the air.
Offensively, it’s been a grind. The Steelers haven’t finished in the top 14 in total offense in any of the past five seasons.
They’ve lived in the bottom third more often than not-23rd, 14th, 23rd again, 20th, and now 15th. Explosiveness has been hard to come by, and that’s by design to some extent.
Tomlin’s philosophy has always leaned toward complementary football-grind it out on offense, let the defense win the day. But in today’s NFL, where creativity and aggression are rewarded, that formula is starting to feel outdated.
Since 2021, only one season saw Pittsburgh climb out of the bottom 10 in plays of 20-plus yards-and that was with Russell Wilson, a quarterback who lives for the deep ball. The red zone has been another sore spot.
The Steelers have ranked near the bottom in touchdown efficiency and have faced more third downs than all but seven teams over the past few seasons. That’s not just bad luck-that’s a sign of systemic stagnation.
The quarterback situation hasn’t helped. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season, Pittsburgh has been stuck in the NFL’s version of quarterback limbo-cycling through short-term solutions without landing a true franchise guy.
And because Tomlin has kept the team competitive, they’ve never been in a position to draft one of the top prospects. It’s a paradox: Tomlin is too good to bottom out, but not quite good enough to break through.
That’s where the conversation starts to shift. Not because Tomlin isn’t still a high-level coach-he is.
He’s a Super Bowl champion, a respected leader, and a steadying force. But sometimes, even great coaches need a fresh start.
Think Andy Reid in Philadelphia. Bill Belichick in Cleveland.
Pete Carroll in Seattle (eventually). The move doesn’t have to be messy.
It can be mutual. Respectful.
Strategic.
Tomlin is under contract through 2027, and replacing him wouldn’t be easy. But this year’s coaching carousel is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory, particularly with defensive-minded candidates who fit the Steelers’ historical mold.
Names like Chris Shula, Jeff Hafley, Ejiro Evero, and Jesse Minter will be in the mix across the league. In another timeline, those are the types of names the Steelers would’ve considered back in 2007-when they hired a young, defensive coach named Mike Tomlin.
Make no mistake, if this decision is made, it won’t be made lightly. The Steelers are known for stability-just three head coaches since 1969 and six Super Bowl titles to show for it.
That’s not a legacy you disrupt on a whim. But when fans start booing their own traditions, when the defense gets gashed in its own house, and when the offense continues to sputter, it’s fair to ask whether the time has come.
This isn’t about scapegoating Tomlin. It’s about recognizing that even the most successful relationships can run their course. And when they do, the best organizations know how to pivot without losing their identity.
If the Steelers do decide to make a change, it won’t be loud. It won’t be dramatic. It’ll be deliberate, quiet, and calculated-just like the way this era has slowly drifted toward its conclusion.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s the right way to do it.