We've heard the rumors for years, but it seems like the heat on Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh is hotter (and more real) than ever before. Fans are frustrated with good-but-not-great seasons; media are starting to claim it may be time for a change; and former players are now chiming in to turn the heat up to the max.
Despite an important division win over their rivals in Baltimore last week, the "time for change" movement does not seem to be losing steam. Make no mistake, the Steelers have been disappointing over the past several years. Not like, Titans-level disappointing, but disappointing by the lofty standards set by Tomlin early in his tenure. After all, "the standard is the standard."
However, Tomlin's coaching is not the reason why this team has failed to achieve real success since Ben Roethlisberger retired. A revolving door of bad quarterbacks, a lack of any clear, consistent plan in roster building, and one of the toughest divisions in the NFL have all played their roles, among other factors.
Titans should be attentive to Mike Tomlin's situation in Pittsburgh
Of course, someone has to take the blame, and Tomlin has been the man in charge of all this mediocrity in recent years. However, this man has not forgotten how to lead, coach, and motivate a team, or how to develop young players. Those are all traits desperately needed by the rebuilding Titans, a team that is apparently casting a very wide net in its current coaching search. But if Tomlin really is let go, he should automatically become the Titans' list of candidates.
Why It Makes Sense for the Titans
Tennessee had its best run since the Jeff Fisher days under the leadership of an old-school, defensive-minded situational genius whose effortless charisma and no-nonsense reputation allowed him to uniquely connect with players, media, and fans. And no, this is not us still pining for Mike Vrabel and hoping for the next best option. Vrabel has proven to be an excellent coach, but he has a long way to go to even reach the same tier as Tomlin.
Tomlin is a Super Bowl champion and future Hall-of-Famer who has never had a losing season in 18-plus years as a head coach. Vrabel had two losing seasons in six years with the Titans. For anyone who might be under the misconception that Vrabel is younger and therefore better equipped for the modern NFL, Vrabel is 50 years old; Tomlin is 53. And for what it's worth, Tomlin is 3-0 against Vrabel head-to-head.
Hiring Tomlin would not only allow the team to move past the mistake of firing Vrabel; he would be an upgrade. He would bring credibility, experience, stability, and unquestioned leadership to a franchise that is lacking in all these areas. He is the total package as a head coach: a situational mastermind, a player's coach, and a leader of men. And we are confident that he knows the basic rules of the game.
Why It Makes Sense for Tomlin
If the Steelers do finally decide to pull the plug on the Tomlin era, he will certainly have no shortage of suitors. One would imagine he would be at or near the top of every team's list with an opening at head coach, or he could even decide to take some time away and do the media thing for a bit. However, Tomlin does not seem as though he is nearly done with coaching football, and we don't imagine he would take a job in the ACC.
With all the options sure to be available to him, many would ask why he would choose the recently dysfunctional Titans. To answer this, we ask another question, what is the biggest thing Tomlin's team has lacked for most of the past decade? The answer is a quality quarterback. Cam Ward has been far from perfect this year, but he has had to overcome terrible coaching, a lack of talent around him, and a surprisingly though division schedule. Given the right support, he undoubtedly can be special.
Tomlin had the most successful years of his career with a young, gunslinging quarterback who was at his best when the play broke down. Package this with a top-3 pick in the upcoming draft, a boatload of salary cap space, and a seemingly competent GM in Mike Borgonzi, and Tomlin could quickly rebuild the team to fit what both he and the young talent on the roster need for a turnaround. That shiny new stadium on the way can't hurt either.
For a team looking to redefine itself in the New Nissan Stadium / Cam Ward Era, who better to lead that team and help define its identity than Mike Tomlin. And while ownership and the front office politics may be a far cry from what he was used to in Pittsburgh, Tomlin does not seem the type to shy away from a challenge or an opportunity to imprint his unique mark on a new group of young men. Not to mention a new fanbase, which will actually appreciate him.