NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: 'Even discussing firing Mike Tomlin is completely ridiculous'
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, despite noticeable crowd unrest at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are not entertaining the idea of firing head coach Mike Tomlin.
“Even discussing firing Mike Tomlin is completely ridiculous,” Rapoport said during “NFL Gameday Kickoff” on Monday.
“I don’t see any circumstances where Mike Tomlin gets fired by Art Rooney. I really just don’t see it based on my understanding of what he’s done. That relationship — his meaning to the entire organization.”
Rapoport advanced his opinion despite Sunday’s chants of “Fire Tomlin” and boos of “Renegade” during the Steelers’ 26-7 home loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“I heard the chants. I understand that that is the reality for some Steelers fans,” Rapoport said. “But based on my understanding of the situation, Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches in the NFL. If he ever became available, he would be snatched up in literally a matter of no time if he wanted to. He’s a Super Bowl champion. They make the playoffs every year. Most consecutive non-losing seasons, basically ever.”
A couple of things there:
1. They don’t make the playoffs every year. In the 14 years since their 2010 Super Bowl appearance, the Steelers missed postseason play in 2012, ‘13, ‘18, ‘19, ‘22 and perhaps this year. Twelve of those seasons ended without a playoff win.
2. Tomlin getting a job quickly somewhere else should have nothing to do with whether or not it is wise to fire him here.
3. Is he really one of the best coaches in the NFL anymore? Or does he just have one of the best resumes? Good coaches usually don’t go eight seasons without a playoff victory.
4. I was unaware that Tomlin never had a losing season. Thanks to Ian for pointing out this rarely advanced piece of previously unearthed NFL trivia.
But I digress.
Rapoport also said a trade is off the table, even if some think a deal with the New York Giants makes sense.
“I don’t see any situation where there’s any sort of coach trade. If Mike Tomlin is not going to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026, which at this point would be a major, major surprise, it will be because he takes a step back and doesn’t want to do that again,” Rapoport continued. “I don’t see that coming at all. They have a lot of season left to go, and they are in the thick of it, but that is my understanding of the situation, despite what some fans may chant.”
Yes. I suppose the Steelers are in “the thick of it” for an AFC playoff spot. But that’s only because the AFC North is so thin.
Are they chanting “Fire Harbaugh” in Baltimore yet?
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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