Before the Bengals-Steelers game in Week 16, we reported on NBC’s Football Night in America (and posted here) that: (1) the Steelers will not be firing coach Mike Tomlin (who at the time was caught in a three-game losing steak); (2) the Steelers intend to extend his contract after the season; and (3) the Steelers had received no indication whatsoever from Tomlin that he wanted to do anything other than continue to coach the Steelers.
After I said what I said about it, Tony Dungy (who hired Tomlin in Tampa Bay more than 20 years ago) said Tomlin wants to stay in Pittsburgh.
Over the weekend, a pair of insiders said some things about Tomlin that have created the impression he might walk away, as soon as upon conclusion of the current playoff run. It’s important to look at their exact words.
First, Jay Glazer of Fox: “Mike Tomlin, couple weeks ago people were asking for him to be gone. Are you kidding me people? He’s never had a losing season. So Mike Tomlin, it’ll be his choice if he goes back to the Steelers or not. And it will be his choice.”
Second, Adam Schefter of ESPN: “They’re not firing Mike Tomlin. But here’s the thing that’s interesting. He’s got a year left on his contract. And there’s some people around the league who believe that Mike Tomlin could decide eventually to take some time off, like Sean Payton did. Maybe take a year off. We’ll see if that’s something that’s on his mind. We’re leaning safe, but Mike Tomlin gets to dictate what happens here, not the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’re not firing him. He’s staying on. But he’s staying on if he wants to. If he decides that he’d like to walk, well that’s a different subject. And maybe there’s a team out there — he’s from Washington, his wife loves Los Angeles, maybe one of them wants to lob a call into the Steelers.”
Both reports confirm the idea that the Steelers aren’t firing Tomlin. (Of course, both reports came right after the Steelers finished the season on a three-game winning streak, not in the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/playoff-run-ends-mike-tomlin-111705829.html
Author : ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-11 11:17:05
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