Report: Mike Tomlin Could Step Away From Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach could consider some time away.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, but as 'Black Monday' finishes up, one interesting note emerged from the coaching news across the league. 

As names like Ron Rivera and Arthur Smith were being fired, head coach Mike Tomlin's name was mentioned as a possible candidate to be let go after the season. ESPN's Adam Schefter said on NFL Countdown that the Steelers are not going to fire Tomlin but that the coach could "take some time off" and then consider another team. 

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

"They’re not firing Mike Tomlin, but here’s the thing that’s interesting. He’s got a year left on his contract, and there are some people around the league who believe that Mike Tomlin could decide eventually to take some time off like Sean Payton did," Schefter said. "Maybe take a year off, we’ll see if that’s something that’s on his mind. But Mike Tomlin gets to dictate what happens here, not the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

"They’re not firing him. 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."

NFL insider Jay Glazer reiterated the sentiment, stating that it would be Tomlin's choice whether he returned to the team next season or not. 

Tomlin's contract is set to expire next offseason, which leaves this spring as the time to negotiate a new deal if they were going to give him an extension. President Art Rooney II said in July that he anticipates a new deal getting done, but with two insiders saying to prepare for anything, the situation has become one to monitor once the Steelers' playoff run ends. 

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