A report over the weekend pointed to the expected Steelers coaching scenario — Mike Tomlin returning for a 19th season — taking shape. Nothing has emerged to contradict it, and the veteran HC addressed the matter himself Tuesday.
Regarding any potential trade inquiries HC-needy teams may have, Tomlin told prospective suitors to “save your time” regarding such an effort. Moving closer to Chuck Noll‘s tenure duration in Pittsburgh, Tomlin said he is prepared to continue as Steelers HC in 2025.
Noll lasted 23 years at the helm, while Tomlin has moved past Bill Cowher (15 seasons). Even as Tomlin’s high-floor/low-ceiling routine has irked many Steelers supporters in recent years, he has made the team one of the safest bets in modern sports at avoiding poor seasons. Though, early playoff exits have mounted since the team’s run to the 2016 AFC championship game. And that Patriots matchup is the Steelers’ only conference championship appearance since Super Bowl XLV.
“I don’t make excuses for failure,” Tomlin said, via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor. “I own it, but I also feel like I’m capable and so as long as I’m afforded an opportunity to do that, I will continue, but I certainly understand their frustrations and probably more importantly than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”
Rumors about teams considering Tomlin trade offers surfaced in December 2023, and some uncertainty about his 2024 status circulated as well. Tomlin squashed those soon after and received another contract extension — his seventh as Steelers HC — this past summer. Although the Steelers have continued to hit a wall in the wild-card round, after having lost as a No. 2 seed in the 2017 divisional round, Tomlin has shown no indication he is fed up with the situation. That said, he met with ownership and GM Omar Khan on Monday and did indicate Tuesday there will be organizational changes.
While the 52-year-old leader declined to specify where changes were coming, quarterback will be a closely monitored situation in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson has repeatedly indicated he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, and while the organization has been tied to having the same sentiment, a Monday report suggested the team has cooled on its primary 2024 starter. Not tipping his hand, Tomlin offered neither an endorsement of his QBs nor a firm indication another new group will arrive.
“We don’t have a quarterback under contract. We are certainly open to considering those guys, but we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Tomlin said of Wilson and Justin Fields.
Adding to the uncertainty here, Tomlin did say both QBs can help the Steelers in 2025 and praised both players’ professionalism. The Steelers, however, did not threaten the Ravens in their Saturday wild-card loss. The team has now lost five consecutive playoff games, with its most recent win coming in a 2016 divisional-round matchup in Kansas City.
Tomlin’s streak of .500-or-better seasons reaching 18, however, continues to impede the Steelers when it comes to finding quarterback help in the draft. By virtue of their 10-7 record, the Steelers hold the No. 21 overall pick in this year’s draft — one not viewed as teeming with QB talent. Their last attempt to fill a need through the draft came in a worse draft for QBs, with the Kenny Pickett miss highlighting this shaky period for the organization at the game’s premier position.
Some veteran avenues may be open, but major questions would come with any of the high-profile options. depending on other teams’ actions.
Sam Darnold‘s shaky showings in high-stakes Vikings spots to close the season could certainly impact the team’s desire to use the franchise tag to keep him off the market. That would stand to intrigue a team like the Steelers, though Darnold’s free agency price tag should still be fairly high. Similarly, Kirk Cousins‘ stock dropped late in his season. The Falcons are likely to release the 36-year-old passer, who was part of Wilson’s 2012 draft class, as no trade appears realistic. Aaron Rodgers is still expected to be a Jets cap casualty. Rodgers has not committed to playing in 2025, and PFR readers were not high on a Steelers fit — as interesting as the increasingly outspoken QB pairing with Tomlin would be.
Names like Daniel Jones or even Jimmy Garoppolo could come up as lower-cost choices, but the Steelers would seemingly be more likely to keep Wilson or Fields than take one of those routes. Pittsburgh has been unable to find a high-end quarterback for a while now, with Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2019 elbow injury effectively ending his prime. The team has continued to rely on its defense since, and while that unit should still be formidable in 2025, Tomlin and Co. have several weeks to determine if there is a viable upgrade on the Wilson/Fields setup out there.