Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh hangs in the balance as the 2024-25 season unfolds. With the Steelers making bold moves to build a championship roster, one former NFL executive thinks this could be Tomlin’s final chapter with the franchise.
The parallels to another legendary coach’s departure are hard to ignore, and the pressure has never been higher.
Why Does Mike Tannenbaum Think This Could Be Tomlin’s Last Year?
Ex-NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum drew a compelling comparison between Mike Tomlin’s current situation and the end of Andy Reid’s tenure in Philadelphia over a decade ago. “Let’s talk about Mike T. I think we’re on the precipice of this being Mike Tomlin’s last year,” he said.
“This feels like Andy Reid in 2012 with the Philadelphia Eagles. A very amicable departure of a Hall of Fame coach.” The context tells the story: Reid’s departure came after years of playoff frustration, despite consistent success, an arc that resembles Tomlin’s recent run.
Pittsburgh’s 2024-25 roster overhaul has raised expectations significantly. High-profile additions such as Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, and Jalen Ramsey have put the franchise firmly in win-now mode.
However, Tannenbaum questioned whether Rodgers can deliver at this stage in his career. “The more I think about Aaron Rodgers and the data, it’s almost impossible to me that he will play well at 41 years old,” he stated.
Backing up his concern, Tannenbaum added, “If we go back over the last three years, we have a great graphic here. He was 26th in yards per attempt and 29th in QBR since 2022. The only players that were worse than him were Ryan Tannehill, Bryce Young, Mac Jones, and Will Levis. That’s my mic drop.”
What Makes the Steelers So Loyal to Mike Tomlin?
Referring to NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, we can say that the idea of firing Tomlin is essentially laughable within the organization. “They’re never going to fire him. Now, would he walk away? I don’t know… We know the Steelers are going to be competitive. The question is how far can they go,” Florio said.
The Steelers’ organizational stability is unmatched across the NFL. Since 1969, they’ve had only three head coaches. Despite not winning a playoff game since 2016, Tomlin has never posted a losing season.
The organization values continuity and patience, even as playoff expectations remain unmet year after year. Pittsburgh hasn’t advanced in the postseason since the 2016 Divisional Round, the Steelers’ longest playoff victory drought in the Super Bowl era and the ninth-longest active streak.
Tannenbaum’s prediction might not reflect internal plans, but it echoes the mounting tension between expectations and recent results. Whether Tomlin chooses to walk away or proves critics wrong, the 2024-25 campaign may become a defining chapter in his already storied legacy.
