Coach Mike Tomlin to Quit Steelers After Bills Playoff Game?

Coach Mike Tomlin to Quit Pittsburgh Steelers After Buffalo Bills Playoff Game?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a particular style. And they are exceedingly proud of it.

It seems clear that the Steelers - no matter what happens this weekend in Buffalo in the playoffs - wish head coach Mike Tomlin to return in 2024. He never has a losing season. And the Rooney family almost never fires a head coach.

But the rumors are floating out there that Tomlin might choose to walk away from the Steelers.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is doing that thing he does - something short of "reporting'' - with his increasingly infamous "some people say'' routine.

"I don't know what Mike Tomlin is gonna do, but I can tell you there are people out there in the league who say that that's potentially an option," Schefter said. "That after the season, maybe he could walk away."

"People out there''? Paired with "I don't know, but?'' That's wobbly stuff.

In this space, we won't bother confusing "rumor'' with "report.'' But we will toss some credit Schefter's way, for in advance of Pittsburgh and Buffalo being scheduled (and now rescheduled) to kick off in the Highmark Stadium snow on Monday, he's actually suggested a couple of future landing spots for Tomlin.

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Schefter mentioned two teams: the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Chargers.

"There are some people around the league who believe that Mike Tomlin could decide eventually to take some time off,'' Schefter said. "Maybe take a year off ...  He’s staying on. But he’s staying on if he wants to. If he decides that he’d like to walk, well that’s a different subject. 

"Maybe there’s a team out there, he’s from Washington, his wife loves Los Angeles, maybe one of them wants to lob a call over to the Steelers to see if they could wind up doing something with him."

"I don't know what Mike Tomlin is gonna do but I can tell you that people out there in the league think after this season he could walk away..

If Pittsburgh didn't want him he would get a job right away" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Pmtgb20SQn

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 8, 2024

So many "if's'' and "maybes'' and "some people say'' ... With nary a "source'' mentioned.

One theory: Tomlin's contract is set to expire next offseason. So - and this is about standard NFL business, not us randomly speculating - if a coach wanted a contract extension, one good way to accelerate that would be for the coach to have his agent text Schefter, and for Schefter to then dutifully go on TV and read the text like it's a cue card.

But this much is true: If the Steelers win? The Pittsburgh situation is rosy and he coaches for another day. And if the Bills win? The Steelers are due for a self-examination.