'Goodbye'? Angry Mike Tomlin Storms Off Over Issue of Steelers Future
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is a man of few words. With speculation that he's nearing the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh, he's speaking even less.
After Tomlin and the Steelers were eliminated from the 2023 postseason by the Bills on Monday, Tomlin addressed the media as he always does. When a reporter began a question with, "You have a year left on your contract," Tomlin silently ended the session by walking away.
Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL since the departure of Bill Belichick from New England. And while he's held that title for just a week, some are speculating that this season could be his final, regardless of the year that's left on his contract.
The Steelers landed the No. 7 and final seed in the AFC just as the season ended, and expectations were not high entering the playoffs.
Tomlin's time in Pittsburgh is storied, with 17 seasons under his belt without a losing one. But Tomlin has just two conference championship game appearances since the 2008 Super Bowl championship, and none since a 36-17 loss to the Patriots after the 2016 season.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport posted on social media on Monday that reports were Tomlin would be able to write his own ticket out of town when he decides to, and that the team would not fire him.
Based on his reaction to the question after a heart-wrenching loss in Buffalo, he may have already made up his mind.
