As a lifelong Steelers fan, I get the frustration. I understand why many people want Mike Tomlin out. Honestly, I wouldn’t argue much if Tomlin and the organization mutually decided to go in a different direction. Sometimes, major change is necessary. We’ve seen him underachieve in the playoffs, but we’ve also witnessed him overachieve with lesser rosters just to get his team in.

But here’s the thing: I don’t believe Tomlin is the wrong guy to lead this team. The key word here is “lead”—that’s the primary job of a head coach. The issue is that he may have his hands in too many things.

Tomlin remains one of the best leaders in sports. He knows how to rally a team, keep a locker room united, and get the most out of his players. However, when it comes to the on-field product, the game seems to be slipping away from him. It feels like the players are starting to notice and express that as well. His approach to the game no longer works—especially not against good teams. The playoff drought is evidence of that. In the postseason, teams with inadequate rosters or outdated strategies are inevitably exposed.

On offense, it’s tough to be dynamic without an elite quarterback or a variety of playmakers. But Tomlin isn’t inherently opposed to having a high-powered attack. We saw it during the Big Ben era when the offense constantly pushed the pedal. However, if the roster lacks the talent to play aggressively like this current one is, the scheme must create those opportunities. This is where coaching becomes critical.

We desperately need someone on offense who understands how to thrive in today’s NFL. The league is fast, creative, and constantly evolving. Right now, we’re stuck trying to force old-school football into a new-school game.

It’s hard to evaluate offensive coordinator Arthur Smith because we don’t know what limitations Tomlin might be imposing on him. If Tomlin doesn’t trust his coordinators, he needs to hire people he does trust. And once he does, he has to step back and let them do their jobs.

Are we hesitant to bring in a great offensive mind because we fear they’ll leave for a head coaching job if they’re successful? If so, we’re doomed to stay stagnate. That’s just part of the deal in today’s NFL. Other teams have figured this out. They hire potential top-tier coordinators and groom the next guy in line—whether it’s a quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator, or someone else. This ensures they have a potential replacement with somebody who is familiar with the organization, roster and scheme. This can create a smooth transition if the OC leaves. The Steelers can’t be afraid of success just because it might lead to change.

Defensively, changes are also needed. Tomlin and current defensive coordinator Teryl Austin both have a background in the secondary. Having a secondary background isn’t the problem. This defense thrives on its pass rush with no major influence on the front seven from the coaching staff, that’s a problem. The pressure this defense puts on opposing offenses appears to be talent based and not schemed. In the NFL talent will only take you so far, even the best players need help getting an advantage. When the pass rush works, it’s incredible. But when it doesn’t, there’s no Plan B.

Remember when Keith Butler was the defensive coordinator? The Steelers led the league in sacks five years in a row. Also throw in the 2021season when T.J. Watt tied the NFL sack record with 22.5. Butler, a former linebackers coach, brought a “front seven” perspective that is now missing. Brian Flores helped fill that gap as a senior defensive assistant last season, but who is there now to elevate the front seven?

We need more voices and input like ones from previous seasons—coaches who bring different perspectives to balance and round out the defensive strategy. While Tomlin prefers a lean staff and doesn’t want “too many cooks in the kitchen,” sometimes you need more cooks to get the recipe right.

Beyond the coordinator and coaching roles, another area of concern is in-game management. Clock management, challenges, and play-calling tendencies continue to be glaring issues. It feels like we’re stuck in a loop where these mistakes cost us games. It’s time to bring in someone—or multiple people—whose sole focus is to handle these details? It’s a small change that could make a massive difference.

All of these changes require Art Rooney II to invest more resources into the coaching staff and organization. If he’s unwilling to do so, the Steelers may remain an organization stuck in the past.

In my opinion, Tomlin doesn’t need to go, but he and the organization must evolve. He is the leader of this team, but he must delegate more, trust his coordinators, and bring in fresh voices where needed. I don’t know if it’s a pride thing, but if so, it’s time to put his pride aside and do what’s best for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  We can’t afford to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. The NFL is constantly changing, and if Pittsburgh wants to be competitive when it matters, we must change too.

I still believe Tomlin is the right guy to lead this team—but he needs to relinquish some control and embrace a new approach. If he can’t—or won’t—adjust, then it might be time to explore different options.