HEADLINES

Mike Tomlin

Latest On Steelers, Aaron Rodgers; Mike Tomlin High On Shedeur Sanders?

April 18th, 2025 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 18: Members of the Steelers’ organization are anxious to move forward, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes. He adds, however, that Pittsburgh remains open to working out a deal – something which may very well take place after the draft. Jones predicts the Steelers’ “cutoff point” on the Rodgers front will come at some time this offseason, but it will likely not be after a rookie is selected (presuming the team takes that route next week).

APRIL 17: Aaron Rodgers broke his silence Thursday, but while he spoke of a disappointing exit meeting with the Jets’ new brass and of his batch of suitors, the high-profile (and high-maintenance) quarterback did not give a timeline for when, or if, he would sign. This leaves the Steelers — the lone team still waiting out this situation — a major question to answer soon. Will they opt to join the Giants in moving on?

That is not out of the question. This might be a situation the team chooses to steer clear of due to the “headache” that has been known to come with employing Rodgers, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. The Steelers still seem quite interested in Rodgers, to the point their power brokers expressed optimism about an agreement coming to fruition recently. But Pittsburgh’s offer has been on the table for over a month now. With the draft a week away, the team at least needs to have a contingency plan.

[RELATED: No Rodgers Timeline In Place; Steelers Have Explored Other QBs]

Going from Russell Wilson to Mason Rudolph would not qualify as an upgrade for the Steelers, despite the party line of the team being confident in the former Ben Roethlisberger backup and Kenny Pickett replacement. Retirement remains in play for Rodgers, who had alerted the Vikings of his interest in landing there this offseason. The Giants saw the writing on the wall and signed Wilson.

While Rodgers has thrown passes to D.K. Metcalf this offseason, the Steelers may need to come out of this draft with a starter-caliber option. Otherwise, the Rudolph insurance option may become necessary. Joe Flacco rejoining the Browns, and the Falcons are still wanting a suitor to pay a sizable portion of Kirk Cousins‘ 2025 salary in the event of a post-draft trade. That is believed to be an issue for the Steelers.

Rodgers did not give the Steelers an ultimatum regarding their draft strategy, as he would qualify as likely a 2025-only solution if he were to sign. This would not stand to affect the Steelers in the draft, though had Rodgers committed already, the team could certainly have the freedom to bolster its roster around the aging QB in the first round. Instead, the prospect the team uses a first-round pick on a quarterback has been bandied about for weeks. Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sends Shedeur Sanders to Pittsburgh at No. 21, and Pauline points to that scenario being one the team’s highest-profile staffer may well endorse.

Mike Tomlin is a Sanders supporter, per Pauline, who adds the 19th-year HC would be “in favor” of drafting the Colorado prospect. Sanders detractors have pointed to a lack of high-level traits worthy of a first-round pick, with the QB not resembling his Hall of Fame father-turned-coach in terms of athleticism. Sanders has received praise for his accuracy and toughness, but concerns about his upside have led to doubts about the former Division I-FCS recruit finding a top-10 landing spot.

Unless the Browns and Giants are conducting elaborate smokescreen operations, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter (in some order) will go off the board after Cam Ward. The Raiders, Jets and Saints could be in play for Sanders, but rumors are pointing those franchises elsewhere. This could leave a door open for the Steelers, though their situation — one Rodgers’ indecision has illuminated — leaves them vulnerable to a team trading in front of them at No. 21 and snagging Sanders. Tomlin-Jalen Milroe connections had formed earlier this offseason, but Pauline adds the accomplished HC sees potential in Sanders.

It does not sound like a Sanders pick will be a must for Tomlin and Pittsburgh, but if he is still on the board at No. 21, this connection will be quite relevant. Pittsburgh is not known for moving up in Round 1, though the franchise has done so twice in the past six drafts (for Devin Bush and Broderick Jones). That would be a scenario to monitor if Sanders falls past the Saints at No. 9.

The Steelers would have options in Milroe, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Quinn Ewers. Though, Derek Carr‘s updated situation creates uncertainty regarding the Saints’ direction. New Orleans wants to leave this draft with a quarterback. The Steelers probably need to as well, in the event their Rodgers’ pursuit goes bust.

Aaron Rodgers Still Considering Retirement; QB Remains In Contact With Steelers

April 17th, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the 2025 offseason, Aaron Rodgers‘ future has loomed as a talking point. The future Hall of Famer remains unsigned one week before the draft, and nothing is imminent with respect to where (if at all) he will play in 2025.

Rodgers has remained quiet since the end of last season, but on Thursday he made his latest appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. The 41-year-old touched on a number of subjects, including repeated references to the fact he has several ongoing commitments in his personal life. In large part as a result of that, no firm decision has been made with respect to signing with an interested team or hanging up his cleats.

[RELATED: Mike Tomlin High On Shedeur Sanders?]

“I am trying to be open to everything and not specifically attached to anything when it comes to this decision,” Rodgers said (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). “I’m not holding anybody hostage… I’m just going through a lot in my personal life that has to take precedent at this point.”

Rodgers said his face-to-face meeting with new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey did not go as he envisioned. It was then that he learned of the team’s decision to move on, by means of a conversation which ended very quickly and which Rodgers added was lacking in respect. New York ultimately released him with a post-June 1 designation, but before that move officially took place he has been free to speak with potential employers.

On that note, Rodgers confirmed he has had conversations with the Giants, Vikings and Steelers about a potential deal. He noted a willingness to play for $10MM in 2025, adding he is not insistent on receiving a multi-year deal to continue his career. Considering the current market for quarterbacks, a one-year commitment in that price range would certainly be feasible for any number of suitors. Several dominoes have already fallen amongst signal-callers, however, and more vacancies will be filled during the draft. Despite what Rodgers termed positive conversations with the likes of Brian Daboll, Kevin O’Connell and Mike Tomlin, therefore, nothing is certain regarding an agreement being worked out.

The Giants have added Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and they could add a long-term option in the form of a rookie next week. The Vikings – reported last month to be Rodgers’ preferred landing spot – could stand to bring in a veteran as J.J. McCarthy insurance, but Minnesota has remained publicly comfortable with handing the reins to last year’s No. 10 pick. That leaves the Steelers as a logical landing spot, especially given owner Art Rooney II‘s comments about signs pointing in the direction of a deal.

Pittsburgh could stand to add under center, and Tomlin remains in contact with Rodgers (as the latter confirmed today). The team has not imposed a deadline for a decision, but with the draft approaching the Steelers’ Day 1 plans in particular could depend on which direction Rodgers leans. After making an offer early in free agency, Pittsburgh’s proposal is not believed to have shifted. To little surprise given his other comments, though, Rodgers said the draft will not alter his approach with respect to his playing future.

In other words, the Steelers could add a developmental option as early as the first round next week while still remaining open to a Rodgers signing. The four-time MVP added he is OK with teams moving forward with alternate plans under center, particularly as it pertains to bringing in a rookie. Presumably, a shrinking market for his services would have an impact on his willingness to suit up in 2025, though. To that end, CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala reported on a recent 93.7 The Fan appearance that Rodgers would rather retire than join a team which is not a Super Bowl contender.

Evaluating the candidacy of teams for a dee postseason run in 2025 will of course be easier after the draft takes place, but it does not appear as though any movement on the Rodgers front will be seen by that point. With retirement still on the table, the wait for further developments will continue.

Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin Remain In Contact

April 1st, 2025 at 10:52am CST by Ben Levine

APRIL 1: When speaking at the league meetings on Tuesday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed (via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) “signs are pointing in that direction” with respect to a Rodgers deal being worked out. He added the team is still willing to wait for Rodgers at this point, although that will not be the case forever (h/t Pryor).

MARCH 31: We may not be any closer to Aaron Rodgers signing in Pittsburgh, but all signs continue to point to the quarterback joining the Steelers. While speaking with reporters today, coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that he’s remained in contact with Rodgers since their in-person meeting on March 21 (via Mark Maske of The Washington Post).

[RELATED: Steelers Have No Timeline For Aaron Rodgers Deal]

While Tomlin acknowledged that he didn’t have any new updates on the public flirtation between the two sides, he did reiterate that there isn’t any urgency for a resolution. Following reports from yesterday that training camp would represent the “line of demarcation” for the organization, Tomlin said he’s “really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year” (via Maske).

Tomlin also talked about his meeting with Rodgers, noting that he was happy to speak with a long-time competitor.

“There’s no substitute for intimacy and spending time together,” Tomlin said (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). “[G]etting to know one another in a non-competitive environment.”

As Rodgers considers his next move, Tomlin isn’t the only Steelers employee he’s been talking to. According to Garafolo, the QB had a throwing session with recent acquisition D.K. Metcalf. Garafolo suggests this could simply be a part of Rodgers’ process as he evaluates the potential landing spot, but it could also be the determining factor before the player puts pen to paper.

Considering the Steelers’ lack of free agent options and Rodgers’ dearth of remaining suitors, the two sides seem to be a natural pairing. While the assumption is that they’ll eventually link up, the organization seems to be proactively planting the seeds in case a contract doesn’t come to fruition. While speaking with reporters today, Tomlin said the Steelers would be comfortable heading into next season with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback.

“That’s why we brought him back,” Tomlin said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I’m comfortable with that. We’ve been there before. He’s a very capable guy.”

Of course, the Steelers got a look at Rudolph as a starter during his first stint in Pittsburgh, as the former third-round pick went 8-4-1 as a starter between 2019 and 2023. Rudolph didn’t fare nearly as well during his 2024 stay in Tennessee (1-4 as a starter), but the Steelers were still confident enough in his ability to bring him back on a two-year deal. Skylar Thompson is the only other QB currently on the Steelers roster.

Steelers Have No Timeline For Aaron Rodgers Deal, Still Exploring Other QBs

March 30th, 2025 at 7:18pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that the team has no exact timeline to sign Aaron Rodgers, per team writer Dale Lolley.

Training camp, however, would be a “line of demarcation,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. At that point, not having a quarterback in place would hinder the team’s ability to build chemistry and cohesiveness before the season.

Pittsburgh’s public pursuit of the four-time MVP has not advanced past a six-hour visit on March 21. Tomlin said that the two sides were focused on getting to know each other during the meeting. He also did not rule out another addition to a Steelers quarterback room that currently features two players – Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson – who have combined for 21 career starts.

“We’re still evaluating the acquisition of a guy at the position, whether it’s in free agency and/or the draft,” said Tomlin (via Lolley).

Rodgers is the only starting-caliber quarterback available in free agency, but the Steelers could explore trading for Kirk Cousins after the draft. That would likely be predicated on Pittsburgh not picking a quarterback in the first round of April’s draft. The team currently holds the No. 21 pick, where top quarterback prospects Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are not expected to be available.

The Steelers have been scouting the rest of the 2025 quarterback class, including Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Ohio State’s Will Howard, and Texas’ Quinn Ewers. Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan visited all three schools’ pro days in recent weeks, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

Tomlin also acknowledged the possibility of entering the season with Rudolph as the starter.

“I think that’s why we reacquired him. We like Mason Rudolph, but you know, that’s no secret,” he said (via DeFabo).

Mike Tomlin Played Central Role In Steelers’ D.K. Metcalf Acquisition

March 22nd, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

It remains to be seen how the Steelers’ starting quarterback situation will play out for next season. Regardless of who is in place under center, though, D.K. Metcalf will face high expectations with his new team.

The Pro Bowl wideout was acquired via trade last week, giving the Steelers their long-sought-after upgrade at the position. A second-round pick was flipped to Seattle, with Day 3 selections also being swapped in advance of a massive extension being worked out. Metcalf (who was a pending 2026 free agent) is now attached to a four-year, $132MM extension in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers’ efforts to add a high-profile receiver date back to last year’s Brandon Aiyuk pursuit and the continued push to make a move at the position during the 2024 campaign. An acquisition on that front clearly remained a high organizational priority in Metcalf’s case, and The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports head coach Mike Tomlin was “very adamant” about trading for the 27-year-old. Pittsburgh ranked 27th in the NFL in passing yards last season, and a step forward in that regard would be key in improving on offense in 2025.

Finances were of course a factor in this situation. Talk of a Metcalf deal swirled even before his request to be moved went public, and the Seahawks lowered their initial asking price regarding a trade shortly before the Pittsburgh swap was worked out. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes the timing of the trade was affected by Metcalf’s desire to immediately ink a new deal. Seattle generally finalizes extensions during the summer (which is the case with other NFL franchises as well), so remaining in place for a few months may have opened the door to a third Seahawks contract.

On the other hand, Metcalf was known to be seeking a pact averaging at least $30MM per season, and Seattle may well have declined to make such a commitment at any point in the offseason as a result. The trade and Tyler Lockett‘s release have been followed by a Cooper Kupp contract and a new deep threat in the form of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Those additions will be tasked with contributing to a WR room anchored by 2023 first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba now and well into the future. Metcalf, meanwhile, will represent a focal point in Pittsburgh’s passing attack regardless of what happens with George Pickens (who is entering the final year of his rookie pact).

Regarding Metcalf’s Steelers deal, $60MM of the $80MM in locked in money is guaranteed in full (h/t Over the Cap). That figure includes a $30MM signing bonus, along with his base salaries in 2025 ($5MM) and ’26 ($25MM). The Ole Miss product will receive roster bonuses of $6.5MM, $5MM and $5MM on March 17 every year from 2027-29. Metcalf will carry a cap charge of just over $11MM next year, but beyond that his cap numbers will spike to $31MM and beyond; much of the Steelers’ success on offense will thus depend on the success of Tomlin and Co.’s investment.

2025 QB Draft Race Muddled Behind Ward

March 18th, 2025 at 11:07pm CST by Ely Allen

As the pre-draft process has worn on, some things have become extremely clear while others have become increasingly muddled. After some early competition from Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward has easily established himself as the top passing option in this year’s draft class, and the closer we get to the draft, the clearer that appears to be. What has become muddled is Sanders’ positioning up top with Ward.

Sanders has been experiencing a drop in draft stock following a series of reportedly poor interviews during the NFL Scouting Combine, per Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic. While Sanders still has the experience and talent to be a high draft pick, some have wondered if he could slide out of the first round entirely. Even More have posited that another quarterback may end up surpassing him as QB2 on most draft boards.

Per Jeff Howe, also of The Athletic, Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss has continuously forced himself into the picture. Dart first established himself as a potential first-rounder with an impressive week at the Senior Bowl. As talk continued at the combine, two teams expressed that they strongly believed Dart would get taken in the top half of the first round.

Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports noted that Louisville’s Tyler Shough is another passer who’s drawn rave reviews during the pre-draft process. Shough has a strong, quick arm and found a way to deliver a 4.64-second 40-yard dash despite a massive 6-foot-5 frame. Though we’re still a ways away from the start of the draft, one personnel director claimed that Shough may have done enough to work his way up into QB3 talk and a potential first-round grade.

While Sanders, Dart, and Shough battle it out for second place, the overwhelming sentiment coming out of the combine was that there is a wide gap between Ward and QB2, which begs the question of which team up top will make a move to draft him. Of course, the Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick, but the Giants have been linked to a possible trade up for that pick.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen was publicly linked to Sanders early and often throughout the college football season, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan points out that, despite little coverage, Schoen attended three Miami games (one more than Colorado) and went to a Hurricanes practice before the team’s bowl game. The general consensus was that Ward left quite an impression on Schoen and is likely sitting atop the team’s quarterback rankings.

The Raiders are another team rumored to be in the running for Ward and Sanders, and some thought that may have changed with the team’s acquisition of veteran starter Geno Smith. Well, we know that Las Vegas is still very much considered to be in play for a first-round quarterback, but their approach to doing so may have changed. If you’re to buy the predictions of Tafur and Reed above, the Raiders may even trade back with confidence that they could still land Sanders in the middle of the first round.

One team that was recently rumored to be in the hunt for a rookie quarterback, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, is the Cowboys. It seems hard to believe that, with Dak Prescott recently getting his extension, Dallas would spend a quality draft pick on a passer — a sentiment echoed by Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS — but Rapoport, nonetheless, believes that with the loss of key backup Cooper Rush to Baltimore, the team could pick a quarterback in the second or third round.

How early Dallas takes a stab at the quarterback position could very well depend on how quickly Ward, Sanders, Dart, and, potentially, Shough come off the board. If the Sanders, Dart, and Shough all slide a bit, the Cowboys could be tempted to use an earlier pick to secure a rookie backup with a higher ceiling. If Sanders, Dart, and Shough all come off the board fairly early on Day 1, Dallas may be content to wait a bit and select one of the project passers of the draft.

If the latter occurs, there are plenty of options, including Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ohio State’s Will Howard. While all these quarterbacks are held in varying esteems across the league, each team seemingly has a project passer in mind. For instance, Milroe spent today with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan, and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth ahead of tomorrow’s pro day, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

One thing remains clear: Ward is QB1 and a potential No. 1 overall pick. Behind that, pundits and analysts are muddy on who stands as QBs 2-4, where a team like Dallas could choose a passer, and which teams have which quarterbacks on their radar as potential project picks. We have lots to learn in the next month and a half about the options surrounding the 2025 quarterback draft class.

Bears Denied Meeting With Steelers HC Mike Tomlin

January 18th, 2025 at 11:17pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears continue to leave no stone unturned in their search for a new head coach. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears reached out to the Steelers about head coach Mike Tomlin.

Specifically, the Bears asked if they “would be allowed to talk to and potentially try to trade” for Tomlin. That inquiry was ultimately rebuffed by the Steelers. The Bears apparently weren’t the only team to ask about Tomlin; per Schefter, another squad checked in with the Steelers.

While the Steelers would obviously have a major say in a potential Tomlin ouster, it sounds like the coach also has the ability to control his future. Per Schefter, Tomlin possesses a no-trade clause, so any potential suitors would face multiple hurdles if they were serious about a pursuit.

The Bears have been especially aggressive in their search for a new head coach. The team has interviewed or requested an interview with some of this cycle’s most popular candidates, ranging from hot shot coordinators like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to long-time head coach Pete Carroll. The team has even looked towards the college ranks, with a recent report indicating that the Bears wanted to interview Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman.

As our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the Bears have either interviewed or requested interviews with 17 candidates, and there are a handful of additional options that have been connected to the organization. Considering the team’s wide search, it isn’t a surprise that they took a swing at Tomlin. This report also indicates that the Bears wouldn’t be shy about making a trade for a HC. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes that Bears GM Ryan Poles was apparently sincere when he said the team would “look at all avenues to get the best coach” in Chicago.

Tomlin would represent one of the most experienced and accomplished coaching options for the Bears. He’s served as the Steelers head coach since the 2007 campaign, and he’s famously never had a losing season during his 18 years in Pittsburgh. This run has included 12 playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl championship during his second season on the sideline. More recently, the veteran coach has drawn criticism for the Steelers’ lack of postseason success. The team has made the playoffs in four of the past five years, with each of those appearances resulting in a one-and-done showing.

2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

January 15th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-11-25 (11:40am CT)

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Mike Tomlin Confirms Intent To Coach Steelers In 2025; QB Situation In Flux

January 14th, 2025 at 10:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

A report over the weekend pointed to the expected Steelers coaching scenario — Mike Tomlin returning for a 19th season — taking shape. Nothing has emerged to contradict it, and the veteran HC addressed the matter himself Tuesday.

Regarding any potential trade inquiries HC-needy teams may have, Tomlin told prospective suitors to “save your time” regarding such an effort. Moving closer to Chuck Noll‘s tenure duration in Pittsburgh, Tomlin said he is prepared to continue as Steelers HC in 2025.

Noll lasted 23 years at the helm, while Tomlin has moved past Bill Cowher (15 seasons). Even as Tomlin’s high-floor/low-ceiling routine has irked many Steelers supporters in recent years, he has made the team one of the safest bets in modern sports at avoiding poor seasons. Though, early playoff exits have mounted since the team’s run to the 2016 AFC championship game. And that Patriots matchup is the Steelers’ only conference championship appearance since Super Bowl XLV.

“I don’t make excuses for failure,” Tomlin said, via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor. “I own it, but I also feel like I’m capable and so as long as I’m afforded an opportunity to do that, I will continue, but I certainly understand their frustrations and probably more importantly than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”

Rumors about teams considering Tomlin trade offers surfaced in December 2023, and some uncertainty about his 2024 status circulated as well. Tomlin squashed those soon after and received another contract extension — his seventh as Steelers HC — this past summer. Although the Steelers have continued to hit a wall in the wild-card round, after having lost as a No. 2 seed in the 2017 divisional round, Tomlin has shown no indication he is fed up with the situation. That said, he met with ownership and GM Omar Khan on Monday and did indicate Tuesday there will be organizational changes.

While the 52-year-old leader declined to specify where changes were coming, quarterback will be a closely monitored situation in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson has repeatedly indicated he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, and while the organization has been tied to having the same sentiment, a Monday report suggested the team has cooled on its primary 2024 starter. Not tipping his hand, Tomlin offered neither an endorsement of his QBs nor a firm indication another new group will arrive.

“We don’t have a quarterback under contract. We are certainly open to considering those guys, but we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Tomlin said of Wilson and Justin Fields.

Adding to the uncertainty here, Tomlin did say both QBs can help the Steelers in 2025 and praised both players’ professionalism. The Steelers, however, did not threaten the Ravens in their Saturday wild-card loss. The team has now lost five consecutive playoff games, with its most recent win coming in a 2016 divisional-round matchup in Kansas City.

Tomlin’s streak of .500-or-better seasons reaching 18, however, continues to impede the Steelers when it comes to finding quarterback help in the draft. By virtue of their 10-7 record, the Steelers hold the No. 21 overall pick in this year’s draft — one not viewed as teeming with QB talent. Their last attempt to fill a need through the draft came in a worse draft for QBs, with the Kenny Pickett miss highlighting this shaky period for the organization at the game’s premier position.

Some veteran avenues may be open, but major questions would come with any of the high-profile options. depending on other teams’ actions.

Sam Darnold‘s shaky showings in high-stakes Vikings spots to close the season could certainly impact the team’s desire to use the franchise tag to keep him off the market. That would stand to intrigue a team like the Steelers, though Darnold’s free agency price tag should still be fairly high. Similarly, Kirk Cousins‘ stock dropped late in his season. The Falcons are likely to release the 36-year-old passer, who was part of Wilson’s 2012 draft class, as no trade appears realistic. Aaron Rodgers is still expected to be a Jets cap casualty. Rodgers has not committed to playing in 2025, and PFR readers were not high on a Steelers fit — as interesting as the increasingly outspoken QB pairing with Tomlin would be.

Names like Daniel Jones or even Jimmy Garoppolo could come up as lower-cost choices, but the Steelers would seemingly be more likely to keep Wilson or Fields than take one of those routes. Pittsburgh has been unable to find a high-end quarterback for a while now, with Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2019 elbow injury effectively ending his prime. The team has continued to rely on its defense since, and while that unit should still be formidable in 2025, Tomlin and Co. have several weeks to determine if there is a viable upgrade on the Wilson/Fields setup out there.

Steelers Plan To Retain HC Mike Tomlin

January 12th, 2025 at 11:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

One year ago, Mike Tomlin‘s future was a talking point. The Steelers had just lost in the wild-card round to the Bills, marking another one-and-done postseason for Pittsburgh.

[RELATED: Russell Wilson Confirms Desire For New Steelers Deal]

The NFL’s longest-tenured head coach made he clear he intended to carry on in his current post, however, and in June his latest extension was in place. Tomlin is under contract through 2027 as a result, and owner Art Rooney II‘s most recent commitment appeared to put to rest doubts about a potential coaching change. In the wake of Tomlin’s postseason drought continuing for another year, though, questions have once again been raised about Pittsburgh making a move on the sidelines. To little surprise, that will likely not be the case.

The Steelers are expected to keep Tomlin in the fold, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Pittsburgh has been led by the 52-year-old since 2007, and in that time the team has never posted a record under .500. Tomlin won a Super Bowl in his second year at the helm and helped lead the Steelers back to the championship game in 2010. Things have taken a notable downturn over the past several years, however. Pittsburgh’s most recent playoff win came in 2016.

Rooney has remained consistent in his praise about Tomlin, whose tenure has produced 11 seasons with double-digit wins. The 2024 campaign appeared to offer considerable promise early on, with quarterback Justin Fields guiding the team to a 4-2 record before Russell Wilson returned to full health. Tomlin inserted the latter into the lineup, a move which was not unanimously backed by his staff. Wilson enjoyed several productive games at first, but toward the end of the campaign Pittsburgh’s offense struggled to score with or without top wideout George Pickens in the lineup. As Dulac notes, the Steelers’ five-game losing streak to close out the campaign included no more than 17 points being scored each time; the team had not managed that feat since 1969.

Dulac writes that changes of some kind being made along the staff could be forthcoming, but Tomlin’s influence on Pittsburgh’s defense in particular means continuity on that side of the ball will be notable provided he is retained. On offense, first-year coordinator Arthur Smith has drawn head coaching interest. He may be on the move shortly as a result, but in Tomlin’s case a 19th season at the helm is on tap.

Load More Posts