The Pittsburgh Steelers bowed out of the playoffs in the Wild Card round despite putting up a decent fight in their 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Amid another season in which the Steelers and their head coach Mike Tomlin pieced things together, they still managed to post a record of .500 or better for the 20th straight season.
Questions about Tomlin's future with the team had popped up midway through the season as the Steelers struggled, but Mason Rudolph's strong play under center helped Pittsburgh find their way into the postseason, which largely put those rumors to rest. Yet Tomlin brought them back to life after the loss to the Bills by storming out of his press conference when asked about his contract and future with the team.
On the surface, it seems like there's nothing to worry about for Tomlin and the Steelers, especially after reports came out on Tuesday that indicated he had no intention of leaving the team this offseason. But you cannot overlook his reaction to such a cliche question after Pittsburgh's season came to an end, and it's fair to wonder whether or not there's something Tomlin knows about his future that we don't.
What does the future hold for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers?
Tomlin just wrapped up his 17th season in charge of the Steelers, and while they've won just one Super Bowl during his stint, he's kept them competent every season during his time in charge. That includes as they experience some growing pains while transitioning away from the Ben Roethlisberger era and into the Kenny Pickett (or Mason Rudolph) era.
If Pittsburgh was playing poorly under Tomlin, there would be more of an incentive to move on from him, but to this point, that hasn't happened. They admittedly had a stretch midway through this season where they suffered four losses in a span of five games, with two of those losses coming at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots. But then Rudolph got the ball and helped guide the Steelers into the playoffs, and all seemed well.
The concerning thing is Tomlin's reaction to the question about his future after losing to the Bills. Tomlin is entering the final year of his contract in 2024, but that isn't a massive concern at this point. If the Steelers keep winning, and Tomlin wants to coach, the two sides will find a way to come to an agreement to keep him in town.
Pittsburgh might have lost, but Tomlin's future seemed secure. Heck, it still does after he shot down the notion that he's going to leave this offseason, But you can't help but be somewhat concerned with him walking out of his press conference when asked such a simple question. If there wasn't anything wrong, why would he have walked out midway through being asked a question? It doesn't make much sense.
Being on the receiving end of constant questions about the future is pretty common for NFL coaches, especially when they have been coaching for as long as Tomlin has. It's standard operating procedure until it isn't. Tomlin went out of his way to indicate that something about this offseason isn't standard; nobody knows what that is, though.
Anything can happen in the NFL, but right now it seems like Tomlin will be coaching the Steelers in 2024, despite his strange departure from his postgame press conference. But beyond the 2024 season, things seem to be up in the air. Tomlin only has one year left on his deal, so it's fair to wonder whether there's an issue that has popped up in the negotiations that he knows about.
Could Tomlin and the Steelers be bickering over the terms of a new deal? Or to take it a step further, could the Steelers have indicated they would move on from Tomlin after his contract ends? The first option seems more likely than the latter given that, again, Pittsburgh has remained a playoff contender in recent years, but you can't exactly rule out the latter at this point either.
Even as he reassures fans, and his own team, that he will be sticking with the Steelers, Tomlin has drawn quite a few eyes on himself and his future with Pittsburgh simply by refusing to answer a question about his future. Maybe it's nothing, and he was just not looking to discuss the subject after a tough loss, but there's also a chance that it's a signal that not all is well for him and the Steelers. There will be more clarity on this situation soon, but for now, Mike Tomlin has made his status worth watching over the next few days.
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