Mike Tomlin ready, if needed, to handle Steelers’ D-coordinator duties — officially — Sunday
Mike Tomlin enjoyed being a defensive coordinator. But he has no desire to again making that his official job title.
“No,” Tomlin said Thursday with a grin. “No, I kind of like my paycheck.”
Tomlin could get the best of both worlds Sunday. With Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler in NFL covid-19 protocol, Tomlin said he is comfortable assuming the coordinator duties during the Steelers’ regular-season finale at the Baltimore Ravens.
Mike Tomlin on the plan with DC Keith Butler on the covid list pic.twitter.com/qUP39Sf0vS
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 6, 2022
Tomlin is known to have a heavy presence and significant input in making the in-game defensive calls, anyway. Officially, over 28 seasons in the coaching profession, he held the title of defensive coordinator for only one: in 2006 for the Minnesota Vikings.
The Steelers hired him as their head coach a year later. For the first eight years, veteran Dick LeBeau ran the Steelers’ defense. Since, Butler had worked under Tomlin.
Should Butler not be cleared by Sunday, Tomlin said he “certainly, certainly” can handle both head-coaching and defensive playcalling duties.
Tomlin said Thursday he missed “the strategic end” of that latter job.
“Chess pieces,” Tomlin said. “Putting guys in position to make plays was fun and attractive.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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