Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers left fans with a cliff-hanger of sorts when he walked away from the podium after taking a question about his future following his team’s January 15 wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills. But Tomlin didn’t leave his players hanging.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on January 16 that Tomlin told his team in a meeting the day after the defeat that he would return for the 2024 season.
“In a team meeting today, Mike Tomlin told Steelers players the speculation about him stepping away is unfounded, and he plans on coaching the team in 2024, sources say,” Garafolo wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“Tomlin, who is entering the final year of his contract, is expected to address the media later this week.”
Multiple Reporters Speculated Mike Tomlin Could Leave Steelers After 2023 Season
It’s been a hectic few weeks for the Steelers head coach. The team suffered a three-game losing streak in December, threatening the team’s playoff chances. Members of the Pittsburgh media also began to speculate during that time that the Steelers could fire or trade Tomlin after the season.
But when backup quarterback Mason Rudolph won three straight games to close out the season and led the Steelers to a postseason berth, speculation about Tomlin’s future continued.
In a team meeting today, Mike Tomlin told #Steelers players the speculation about him stepping away is unfounded and he plans on coaching the team in 2024, sources say.
Tomlin, who is entering the final year of his contract, is expected to address the media later this week. pic.twitter.com/GwBax5Dei4
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 16, 2024
“They’re not firing Mike Tomlin, but here’s the thing that’s interesting,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on January 7, via Awful Announcing. “He’s got a year left on his contract, and there’s some people around the league who believe that Mike Tomlin could decide, eventually, to take some time off, like Sean Payton did. Maybe take a year off. We’ll see if that’s something that’s on his mind.
“Mike Tomlin gets to dictate what happens here, not the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’re not firing him. He’s staying on. But he’s staying on if he wants to,” Schefter said, according to Awful Announcing.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio had a similar report on January 13.
“I’m told he’s going to step back after the season ends and make a decision about his future with his family,” Florio said during halftime of the first NFL wild-card game on January 13. “He loves the team. He loves the young players that they have there.
“But after the season, he’s going to have a talk with his family and make a decision about his future,” Florio said.
Tomlin Abruptly Ends Postgame Press Conference After Contract Question
Tomlin had an opportunity to end speculation on his future during his postgame press conference after facing the Bills. But the Steelers head coach didn’t bother responding to a question about his contract situation.
“Mike Tomlin leaving podium when asked about having a year left on his contract,” Steelers Depot posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Mike Tomlin leaving podium when asked about having a year left on his contract #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/HpymjGukze
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 16, 2024
Tomlin has one year remaining on his contract, which is a little unusual based on how the Steelers have conducted business in the past. But The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported in July that the Steelers planned to offer Tomlin a new contract with one year left on his current deal, as they did in 2021.
Garafolo’s report should settle any debate about whether Tomlin will sign the contract extension.
With Bill Belichick departing from the New England Patriots, Tomlin is now the longest tenured head coach in the NFL. He has posted a 173-100-2 regular season record. Tomlin is also 8-10 in playoff games with one Super Bowl victory.
