Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor linebacker James Harrison had some harsh words for his former head coach, Mike Tomlin, on Monday’s episode of the “Deebo and Joe” podcast.
“I have never been a person that thought Coach Tomlin was a great coach,” Harrison said. “I thought he was a good… I’ll be honest, part of that is because, when I was slated to be the starter when Joey [Porter] left, he drafted, one and two, outside linebackers.”
Harrison was an undrafted free agent in the 2002 NFL Draft class. The Steelers signed him under the previous head coach, Bill Cowher, but it wasn’t until Tomlin was hired that the two-time Super Bowl champion had a career renaissance.
In the four years following Tomlin’s hiring, Harrison made four straight All-Pro teams.
His criticism of Tomlin extended to the entire coaching staff.
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“Right now, we have coaches on this staff,” Harrison said. “When I say coaches, I’m saying this: a coach is someone that tells you what to do, and it doesn’t matter if what they’re telling you to do is right or wrong. A good coach gets you to play to your potential. And right now the players we have on that team I have seen play; they’re not playing up to their potential. A great coach gets you to play beyond your potential.”
Tomlin is in his 19th season with the Steelers. He has a career record of 189-113-2 in the regular season and 8-11 in the playoffs, with his lone Super Bowl appearance coming in his second season with the team. His Steelers have not won a playoff game in eight years.
“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.”
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The Steelers have only employed three head coaches since 1969: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin.
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Featured image via Philip G. Pavely/Imagn Images