U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are firing back at criticism of Mike Tomlin

Thanks to an eighth straight year without a playoff win, criticism of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been brisk.

So you know how that goes.

As soon as a push to fire Tomlin starts, there is a big pushback in the other direction.

Or, there are some that just try to push him out the door even harder.

Either way, it leads to a contentious first “U mad, bro?” of the 2025 offseason.

Let’s start with Brad. He appears to think I may be too hard on Mike Tomlin for not appreciating the fact that the Steelers are always .500 or better.

I think you're significantly underestimating what 5 win NFL seasons feel like with no playoff relevancy. Ravens wanted to win now and make a Superbowl run so they got Derrick Henry for 7x the cost of Russell Wilson. GM probably needs replaced before Tomlin.

— Brad Walls (@BradWalls) January 12, 2025

Brad, if I may, a few counterpoints:

1. I do know what it feels like. I remember the 1980s. I remember 6-10 in 2003. I also know they got Ben Roethlisberger out of it.

2. Cincinnati was a four-win team on Dec 1. The NFL is designed to keep teams playoff-relevant deep into seasons.

3. Henry might also be seven times the player Wilson is at this point.

4. I actually think you are significantly overestimating what 9-10 win years feel like.

Dippo defends Tomlin by criticizing Bill Cowher.

If social media existed when Cowher was coach, would he have received the same treatment? He skated on high profile disappointments.

— Dippo (@tdippo) January 12, 2025

Cowher’s longest stretch without a playoff win was three years. Not eight.

Rocky defends Tomlin by criticizing the roster construction.

They need better players. Still too many holes.

— RockyBaruffi (@RockyBaruffi) January 12, 2025

Right. Remind me again who has the biggest say in who they acquire and who makes the team?

These days, I think this message qualifies as optimism.

If they were going to lose this was the best case scenario.

Changes have to be made. We've all known it for years, maybe now management does too.

— Its All So Tiresome (@MikeGardocki) January 12, 2025

Sure. And while we are at it, maybe the Penguins will finally fully commit to a rebuild, and maybe the Pirates will finally spend money this offseason.

Feel good about any of those three things happening?

Nah. Me neither.

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• 'Still not over it': 30 years later, some Steelers can't forget the '94-'95 AFC Championship Game
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Bob from South Carolina sent this email before Dallas ended up firing Mike McCarthy.

”I would like to see the Steelers approach Dallas to trade Mike Tomlin for Mike McCarthy & one player (either Cee Dee Lamb or Micah Parsons). I think they might go for it.”

Oh, yeah? You think they woulda gone for that, huh? Just Parsons or Lamb, eh? I dunno, Bob. Maybe you aren’t asking for enough.

Now that McCarthy is fired, why not ask for both of them, a No. 1 pick, plus genetically engineered recreations of Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin as a sweetener?

Finally, here is an email from Keith. He and his family love my Steelers’ opinions.

”We were sitting at the breakfast table all pretty much expressing the Steelers blues.

Some reading the sports section, others content on trying not to think about another one and done playoff loss. Then the Tim Benz columns started to echo throughout the kitchen walls at home. I couldn’t help but notice everyone pretty much in agreement your (sic) the antichrist when it comes to Pittsburgh sports.

Your articles oozed with pleasure dissecting another season’s end.

It’s irrelevant if you’re correct or accurate. You should go write for the Ravens. Yes you will respond with truth hurts , etc … You don’t get it Mr. Benz.”

So, to be clear, Keith, here is what I am to take from this email …

• You were trying to talk yourself into denial that the one-and-done losses keep happening.

• Being correct and accurate in my criticism doesn’t matter.

• The truth only hurts if the reader is willing to admit it’s true — which you clearly won’t.

• You only want to be told what you want to hear. Is that what I “don’t get”?

Do I have all that roughly correct?

Sincerely,

BeelzeBenz from Baltimore.

via GIPHY