Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin endured yet another tough-to-swallow playoff exit, sparking speculation about the 52-year-old’s job security.
The Steelers were eliminated by Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, 28-14, in their AFC wild-card matchup on Saturday, putting an end to Pittsburgh’s campaign on a not-so-competitive note. The team had undergone a recent trend in its last five games, averaging just 14 points and 263 yards under quarterback Russell Wilson, and when the time came for the Steelers to shake off the cold streak, Pittsburgh faltered and paid the ultimate price.
Yet, is that enough to warrant parting ways with Tomlin for good? Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan considers the thought of Tomlin leaving Pittsburgh ridiculous.
“Give me a break,” Ryan said on ESPN’s “NFL Countdown” on Sunday. “This man right here’s going nowhere and shouldn’t go anywhere. He’s one of the best in the league. Nobody thought this team was gonna win four games, and he gets them in the playoffs. I get it. They lost five in a row and that’s absolutely atrocious. They gotta look at it this way, this ain’t the same defense. They may have to make some changes but it damn sure ain’t gonna be Mike Tomlin and it shouldn’t be.”
Ryan added: “(Pittsburgh has) a JV roster. Come on.”
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Tomlin’s last six Pittsburgh teams have been bounced out of the playoffs, including four times consecutively in the wild-card round, allowing an average of 38.3 points to opponents. He’s the only coach in NFL history who’s won a Super Bowl and has endured a six-game losing streak in the postseason, logging a 3-9 playoff record since 2011.
The Steelers were proactive at the trade deadline, acquiring wide receiver Mike Williams and edge defender Preston Smith in November to prepare for the playoffs. But ending the regular season on a four-game losing streak squandered the team’s chance at clinching the AFC North over Baltimore while also hinting at Pittsburgh’s fate.
Tomlin remains among the NFL’s most decorated head coaches, amassing a career 183-107-2 record with the all-time mark for consecutive non-losing seasons (18). Sure, the extended playoff cold stretch isn’t a great look, however, Pittsburgh suffered elimination at the hands of a two-time league MVP in Jackson.
The offseason, if anything, should challenge Pittsburgh’s front office to bolster the roster for Tomlin next season.
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