Why This Season is Mike Tomlin's Best Coaching Job

Story by Yinzer Crazy Steelers Guru Adam Lovelace. Follow him on Twitter @98_lovelace

Much has been said regarding the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers, especially Mike Tomlin. After a 2-6 start it appeared as though Tomlin’s first losing season in 16 years was anything but a guarantee. This led to an onslaught of scrutiny from local and national media alike. 

There was speculation that perhaps Tomlin’s message and his various analogies had become stale, or he lacked the ability to win without Ben Roethlisberger. Many also criticized Tomlin for deciding to keep an inept offensive coordinator Matt Canada. This culminated in many Steelers fans calling for the Steelers to move on from Mike Tomlin.

Now, the Steelers are 8-8 and on the cusp of finding their way in the playoffs with one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and those calling for Tomlin’s job have suddenly fallen quiet. In truth, their calls for Tomlin’s job were mostly unfounded despite the Steelers initial struggles.

Firstly, the claim that Tomlin couldn’t win without Big Ben was almost a comical statement. Ask any head coach their success rate without their franchise QB. Bill Belichick has struggled without Tom Brady. Pete Carroll never won until Russell Wilson came along. Even the legendary Nick Saban failed in the NFL, because he never found a franchise QB. 

Point being, wanting to fire Tomlin because he struggled in his first year without a hall of fame Quarterback is laughable at best. Any head coach, even the best, struggles after their franchise QB. And now, it seems as though Tomlin has drafted yet another franchise QB in Kenny Pickett.

Those that wanted Tomlin gone also cited his lack of movement when it came to firing Matt Canada. As I have said before, firing Canada would have been an empty gesture. It would have never changed their offense and would have been a clear sign to his team, there was no hope in this season. 

It is clear that the clamoring to fire Mike Tomlin was an unfounded overreaction to one of the worst starts Steelers fans have seen in a long time. To put it simply, firing Mike Tomlin would be a silly move for the Steelers, because he would be nearly impossible to replace.

If most Steelers fans would look at this season objectively, it is clear to see that Tomlin has done one of his best jobs as a head coach. After a 2-6 start, most coaches would have struggled to keep their team motivated and believe in their playoff hopes. Yet Tomlin was able to keep his team motivated and to keep fighting and finding their way to have a chance to make the playoffs in the final week of the NFL season. 

The Broncos with their $295 million QB couldn’t manage that. Only the Green Bay Packers were able to turn a slow start into a playoff season, but they have back-to-back MVP Aaron Rodgers leading their team, not Kenny Pickett.

In looking at what Tomlin has had to deal with this season, the fact this team is even sniffing the playoffs is remarkable. The Steelers grabbed a veteran QB in Mitchell Trubisky who has had experience sitting behind Josh Allen to be their starter. The hope was clearly to allow Pickett to continue to develop while Mitch won them as many games as possible. 

Instead, Tomlin was forced to make the hard decision to put Kenny Pickett before he would have liked too. He was forced to try and guide Kenny through becoming an NFL quarterback in live action games with real stakes on the line, and Kenny has responded and continued to grow. Instead of riding with Mitchell he admitted his mistake and took a risk on his rookie. What a good head coach needs to do.

Tomlin also had to face keeping his team motivated after losing their reigning DPOY, TJ Watt in the first game of the season. We all know the struggles the Steelers face without TJ on the field, but the Steelers were able to not fall apart entirely, until TJ made it back onto the field. 

Now, Tomlin has his team unified, and is winning massive games. The defense has returned to form, and Kenny Pickett has been able to lead back-to-back game winning drives against the Raiders and Ravens. While they are far from in control of their own destiny, they are the better position now than any of us would have assumed. 

Tomlin has to be given credit for that. While Tomlin does have his flaws as a head coach keeping this team motivated and unified and the idea that they are in the position they are now, is directly because of him. Having the first rookie QB start for the Steelers in almost 18 years and injuries to some his best players, and still pushing to the playoffs, is a remarkable job from Tomlin.