A celebrated era concludes with undeniable success, but a frustrating finish overshadows a remarkable, win-filled journey with Pittsburgh.
Yes, it was time for Mike Tomlin to part ways with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After 19 years, Tomlin had gotten stale as a coach. The Steelers won 10 games and the AFC North this season, but were boring and unimaginative. The offense looked like it was using a playbook borrowed from a high school team. The highest-paid defense in the NFL looked old and slow.
Tomlin also seemed different, at least publicly. He seemed to lack a spark and looked like someone who had one foot out the door. The players say Tomlin’s presence was still commanding, and who is to dispute them? However, something felt off.
Then came Monday night’s debacle when they were routed 30-6 by the Houston Texans at home at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers managed just two field goals, and it seemed they could have played four more quarters without scoring a touchdown. The defense played admirably before finally running out of gas in the fourth quarter, when the Texans scored 23 points and had two defensive touchdowns, turning a 7-6 lead into a 24-point win.
Making the loss even more embarrassing was the fact that it was the Steelers’ seventh straight playoff defeat, a streak that dates to the 2016 season. That sums up the Steelers’ fundamental problem. They have stalled as an organization, still good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to beat anybody once they get there.
So, there was quite a bit of celebrating in Pittsburgh when the Tomlin news broke on social media. Fans took to social media and talk radio to express their joy.
Granted, social media and talk radio aren’t always the best way to gauge fan reaction. Not many times will someone call a show and say the coach or manager of their favorite team is great.
Even the less vocal fans seemed to tire of Tomlin, though. What fans were left at the end of Monday night’s game booed the Steelers off the field.
However, it is unfair for Tomlin to leave the Steelers without getting credit. He won 192 regular-season games, tying the legendary Chuck Noll for the franchise record, led the Steelers to 13 playoff berths, won eight AFC North titles, and guided Pittsburgh to the last of its six Super Bowl victories in 2008. Famously, he also did not have a losing season during his 19-year tenure.
The fan anger is understandable after what happened on Monday night. However, time will eventually cast Tomlin’s outstanding run with the Steelers in a favorable light.
Regardless of how Tomlin’s tenure ended, there is no reason to dance on his grave.