Mike Tomlin has officially put an end to speculation about his coaching future, assuring Steelers players that he intends to lead the team in the 2024 season.
The decision was communicated during a team meeting on Tuesday, as reported by NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo, following the Steelers’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round just the day before.
With one year remaining on his contract, Tomlin, a Super Bowl-winning coach, will be returning for his 18th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Throughout his 17 seasons at the helm, Tomlin’s teams have consistently avoided finishing a season with a record below .500. Notably, in his second season as an NFL head coach, he guided the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII.
However, the team’s recent postseason struggles, including a lack of significant wins since 2016 and three playoff misses in the past six seasons, had fueled speculation about a potential coaching change. Despite criticism of the team’s offensive performance, which led to the mid-season departure of offensive coordinator Matt Canda, Tomlin has chosen to continue with the current coaching staff.
Heading into the final year of his contract, Tomlin’s decision received support from star pass rusher TJ Watt, who expressed his endorsement for the coach, emphasizing his desire to play under Tomlin’s leadership.
