The Pittsburgh Steelers just dropped their third game in their last four contests, falling to 6-6 and losing control of their fate atop the AFC North. With the same record as the Baltimore Ravens, the pressure is mounting in Pittsburgh.
That’s why, after watching them struggle on both sides of the ball in a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Emmanuel Acho believes it’s time to make a major change.
Why Does Emmanuel Acho Want the Steelers to Move on From Mike Tomlin?
Talking on his “Speakeasy” show, the former linebacker claimed the Steelers need a long-overdue rebuild. He argued that adding aging veterans like Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, Russell Wilson, or Aaron Rodgers isn’t enough to fix the team’s core issues.
It’s time for the Steelers and Tomlin to part ways.
For the last 5 years, Mike Tomlin has simply tried to put a bandaid on things that need surgery.pic.twitter.com/xom4DUNUC1
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) December 1, 2025
“Mike Tomlin keeps trying to put a Band-Aid on things that need surgery. The roster needs surgery,” Acho said. “It needs a surgical overhaul. (Cam) Heyward’s getting older, (T.J.) Watt is getting older, everybody and their momma in the squad are getting older, including Aaron Rodgers, and Tomlin keeps trying to patch something that literally needs reconstruction.”
He added that while Tomlin is clearly a very good coach, the franchise has settled for being slightly above average over the past decade.
“Tomlin; he has to go because he’s not going to win another Super Bowl in Pittsburgh,” Acho said. “It’s been a long time since Mike Tomlin even sniffed the Super Bowl, let alone sniff multiple playoff wins.”
The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2017. While Tomlin’s streak of never having a losing record is impressive, it shouldn’t be enough for one of the most storied franchises in American sports.
How Does Mike Tomlin View the Fan Frustration?
Steelers fans let him hear it, booing and chanting ‘Fire Tomlin’ throughout the loss. The anger didn’t even stop during ‘Renegade,’ signaling that the fan base has reached a breaking point. If you asked Coach Tomlin, however, he understands exactly where they’re coming from.
“I share their frustration tonight. We didn’t do enough. That’s just the reality of it,” Tomlin said after the game, per ProFootballTalk.
Signing Aaron Rodgers was clearly an improvement, but the veteran quarterback doesn’t have much left in the tank. His 69.5 PFSN impact metric ranks 27th in the league among qualified quarterbacks, and he’s admitted he is likely to retire after the 2025 season.
Pittsburgh doesn’t appear to be a Super Bowl contender at the moment, and the organization may need to take a step back to take another leap forward.
