Steelers' Mike Tomlin expects changes heading into 2021 season

With another early playoff exit fresh in his mind, Mike Tomlin offered a succinct assessment Wednesday when asked whether he is “all in” for the 2021 season, which would be his 15th as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.

“You bet.”

The question is, who will be along for the ride as the Steelers try to rebound from the upset loss in the AFC wild-card round to the Cleveland Browns? The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016 and have reached the conference championship once since last appearing in the Super Bowl a decade ago.

And for the second time in as many playoff appearances, the Steelers were one-and-done, losing to a lower-seeded team despite being a prohibitive favorite.

At his end-of-season press conference, Tomlin acknowledged that the Steelers team that begins the season in September will look different than the one that was upset by the Cleveland Browns, 48-37, on Sunday night.

That goes for assistant coaches as well as players after the Steelers experienced a late-season collapse for the third year in a row. In this one, they lost five out of their final six games following a franchise-best 11-0 start.

“I’m not going to maintain the status quo and hope that the outcome changes,” Tomlin said. “That’s the definition of insanity.”

Speaking three days after his team’s stunning playoff exit, Tomlin said the loss was “tough to swallow, tough to accept.”

“We understand that we better make some changes in terms of things that we do,” he said. “We better look at every aspect of it — schematics, personnel, approach to business. I’m committed to that, and I’m also committed to not sitting in this position and feeling the way we feel right now.”

Tomlin began his year-end exit interviews with players Wednesday, and he said such meetings will continue into next week. Change in personnel could be higher than in recent years given that the Steelers have 18 players who will become unrestricted free agents in March. In addition, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey could be contemplating retirement.

Tomlin also hinted at changes to his coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and defensive coordinator Keith Butler, long-time assistants under Tomlin, are on expiring contracts. Butler has been with the Steelers since 2003 and will turn 65 in May. Fichtner has been with the Steelers since 2007, Tomlin’s inaugural season.

“Change is a part of our business,” Tomlin said. “I’m anticipating those discussions happening and happening soon.”

Roethlisberger’s future weighs at the top of all player discussions. He will turn 39 in two months, and his contract carries a $41.25 million salary cap hit for 2021, the final year of his deal. Tomlin praised the way Roethlisberger returned from right elbow surgery and didn’t miss a game because of injury in 2020.

Roethlisberger, though, threw four interceptions in the playoff loss, continuing a stretch of poor play that began in the final month of the regular season.

Tomlin gave a vague answer on Roethlisberger’s future with the team.

“I think it’s reasonable to assume there is a chance he is going to be back, certainly,” he said.

Pouncey also could decide to retire rather than return for a 12th season. For years, Pouncey has tied his future to Roethlisberger’s.

“I don’t know what the timeline is for those type of discussions,” Tomlin said. “Those roads usually converge in the upcoming weeks.”

As for his future, Tomlin is signed through the 2021 season, but his contract includes an option for 2022. Team president Art Rooney II gave Tomlin that extension in the 2019 training camp.

“We assess and meet continually and have since of the end of the season, and we’ll continue to do that,” Tomlin said. “Those conversations and evaluations will be intermingled with a lot of discussion as we proceed. That’s normal business for us.”

Follow Joe Rutter on Twitter:

Tweets by tribjoerutter