At this point, the best course of action is to accept the Mike Tomlin contract extension and move forward.
It’s unclear if you were hoping for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to be fired just ahead of his 18th minicamp and training camp, but it certainly seemed like you enjoyed discussing the possibility… a lot.
Unfortunately, that notion was crushed on Monday when the team announced that Tomlin had agreed to a three-year contract extension, securing his position in Pittsburgh through the 2027 season.
With a career record of 100-73-2 and no losing seasons, Tomlin is now the second-longest-tenured head coach in franchise history. This extension brings him closer to Chuck Noll’s 23-season legacy.
So, what’s left for Tomlin’s critics now? It once seemed like the perfect storm for his potential departure in 2024. After all, the lack of an extension last offseason with two years remaining on Tomlin’s previous deal raised questions about his future with the team.
The 2023 regular season appeared to signal possible change with the growing chaos surrounding the offense, Matt Canada, and the quarterback situation. But even amidst frustration, Tomlin led the team to a 10-7 record and a playoff spot, securing the AFC’s seventh and final playoff seed.
With GM Omar Khan hiring Arthur Smith as the new offensive coordinator and revamping the quarterback room by adding Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields, it was clear that Tomlin’s extension was imminent.
Now that it’s official, it’s time to move on.
There’s no need to rehash the usual criticisms of Tomlin; they’re repetitive and have been heard countless times before. No playoff wins in seven years. A job for life. Fears of firing him due to the Rooney Rule. Accusations of mediocrity. “Dumblin.” The cheerleader label. We’ve heard it all, and frankly, they’re outdated (and some are outright inaccurate). If Tomlin had been heading into 2024 as a lame-duck coach, sure, there would have been room for those debates. But that’s no longer an option. Arguing for his firing at this point feels like wasted energy.
If Art II endured over two years with Matt Canada as offensive coordinator and only let him go in the final weeks of his contract, it’s hard to imagine him firing the head coach with nearly five years remaining on his deal.
So, what’s next? Instead of fixating on mediocrity, maybe it’s time to focus on the excitement ahead.
The season is about to start. Let’s leave the “fire culture” behind and channel our energy into the possibilities of an exciting 2024 Steelers season. This isn’t the time for such debates. There’s plenty of time for that in the off-season.
In the words of a wise man: “We do not care.”
Source: https://www.fansfirstsports.com/steel-curtain-network/all-you-can-do-now-is-accept-the-mike-tomlin-contract-extension-and-move-on/