Steelers’ Slump Sparks Familiar Questions About Mike Tomlin’s Future
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the season looking like a team ready to make noise. A 4-1 start had fans buzzing, the defense flying, and the offense-while not perfect-doing enough to get the job done.
But fast forward seven weeks, and the Steelers have dropped five of their last seven. Now sitting at 6-6 after a deflating 26-7 home loss to a struggling Buffalo Bills squad, the conversation in Pittsburgh has shifted from playoff aspirations to something far more uncomfortable: Is it time to move on from Mike Tomlin?
That question is no longer just a hot take from talking heads or anonymous fans online-it’s coming from two of the most prominent voices in recent Steelers history. Former franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and defensive cornerstone James Harrison have both publicly floated the idea that a coaching change might be necessary.
Roethlisberger, who spent his entire career under Tomlin, suggested on his Footbahlin’ podcast that a “fresh start” could be what’s best for both the team and Tomlin himself. He even mentioned the possibility of Tomlin moving on to a job like the head coaching position at Penn State, which recently opened up.
“Maybe it’s ‘clean house’ time,” Roethlisberger said. “And I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin, but maybe it’s best for him, too.”
Harrison, never one to mince words, was more direct. He questioned Tomlin’s overall impact, saying he views him as a “good” coach, not a “great” one, and called for the franchise to break from tradition.
“Something has to be done,” Harrison said. “I know the Steelers historically don’t move on from coaches, but I think it’s time that history be made.”
To be clear, this is uncharted territory for the Steelers. Since 1969, they’ve had exactly three head coaches: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin.
That kind of continuity is unheard of in today’s NFL. And Tomlin’s résumé is nothing to scoff at.
Since taking over in 2007, he’s gone 189-113-2 in the regular season, won a Super Bowl in just his second year, and has never had a losing season. That’s 17 straight years of at least .500 football.
But for a franchise with six Lombardi trophies, regular-season consistency only gets you so far. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nine years. And for a fanbase-and former players-used to competing deep into January, that drought stings.
Cameron Heyward, one of the current leaders in the Steelers locker room and a longtime teammate of both Roethlisberger and Harrison, took a more measured approach when asked about their comments. He didn’t fire back or deny the frustration. But he made it clear the team’s focus has to stay internal.
“I don't worry about anybody who's not in the locker room,” Heyward said. “It's not a diss at them. I think we just got to worry about the guys in here and focus at the job at hand.”
That’s the kind of veteran response you expect from Heyward, a captain who’s seen the highs and lows of the Tomlin era. But even his calm demeanor can’t mask the tension surrounding this team right now.
Tomlin’s legacy in Pittsburgh is secure in many ways. He’s a Super Bowl champion, a proven leader, and one of the most respected coaches in the league.
But legacies don’t win playoff games. And in a league that’s always asking, “What have you done for me lately?”
the pressure is mounting.
The Steelers still have time to right the ship this season. But with the offense sputtering, the defense showing cracks, and the locker room under the microscope, the margin for error is razor-thin. Whether this stretch is just a bump in the road or the beginning of a major shift in Pittsburgh remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: the calls for change are getting louder-and this time, they’re coming from inside the family.