SteelerFury Combined Forum

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/697308 ... signation/


Inside Mike Tomlin’s emotional final meeting as Steelers head coach

Sure sounds like he was fired.

It's been a lot more than 5 minutes, almost 3 days...has anyone even expressed an interest in interviewing Tomlin?

Gone under ground Line punx Phil

Good time for a GH day meme

.Kodiak wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 3:22 am

Sure sounds like he was fired.

It's been a lot more than 5 minutes, almost 3 days...has anyone even expressed an interest in interviewing Tomlin?

From the beginning, it seemed he wasn't coaching next year.

swissvale72 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:01 am

.Kodiak wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 3:22 am

Sure sounds like he was fired.

It's been a lot more than 5 minutes, almost 3 days...has anyone even expressed an interest in interviewing Tomlin?

From the beginning, it seemed he wasn't coaching next year.

But you emphatically told me over and over again he was and would be coaching

Have little doubt now he was fired
And it was a bit sad, but come on …these repeated statements that nobody saw it coming are disingenuous and a bit of a give away
Tomlin himself said it to start that meeting … there are consequences for failure

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:10 am

swissvale72 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:01 am

.Kodiak wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 3:22 am

Sure sounds like he was fired.

It's been a lot more than 5 minutes, almost 3 days...has anyone even expressed an interest in interviewing Tomlin?

From the beginning, it seemed he wasn't coaching next year.

But you emphatically told me over and over again he was and would be coaching

Lol. Swiss is all over the place.

This article says a lot about the Steelers dysfunction. Some highlights:

No,” star outside linebacker T.J. Watt said, sitting next to fellow defensive veterans Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith.

“No. No. No. No. No,” he kept repeating over and over, his eyes welling with tears as Tomlin continued his speech.

Watt has discussed his respect and admiration for Tomlin on numerous occasions in the past. That included two years ago, when he said publicly on locker clean out day, “It was huge in my contract talks. I don’t want to play for anyone other than Mike T.”

Well, TJ…. Let’s see if you are a man of your word. He’s gone. Perhaps it’s time for you to walk away too.

I wonder if Watt’s massive $41 million extension included “only valid if Mike Tomlin is the coach of the Steelers.” That would be a sweet out clause, one I am hoping exists.

If Watt is back, I hope the new coach moves his spoiled, overpaid, underperforming ass around the defense to maximize his impact. He loved Tomlin because he was able to build his stats and get those massive contracts. A great personal strategy, but not a great strategy for winning playoff games.

Time to go, TJ. You are a huge part of the problem. You accepted team mediocrity for personal gain. You don’t crave Super Bowls. You are not a champion. You are weak and a loser, and your post-season record proves it. Go away, and take that old, NHALS tub of goo, Melon Head Heyward, with you.

As Tomlin spoke, Joey Porter Jr. was almost hyperventilating. The son of a Steelers legend, he has known the coach longer than almost anyone in the locker room and grew up with Tomlin’s son, Dino. In some ways, Tomlin is more like an uncle than a coach to Porter.

Another part of the problem. He wasn’t their coach. He was their Big Brother and/or surrogate daddy. They weren’t afraid of him. They didn’t respect him as their boss and coach. They looked at him as a buddy. That’s why Metcalf walked over and smacked a fan during a game in Detroit. That’s why if you were one of his pets, you had a nice, cushy existence. That’s how a shit punter like Harvin could stick around for 3 seasons. And that’s why anyone who spoke up was shipped out of town, like Chucks, Pickens, Najee or Minkah. Compliance was rewarded. The Get-Along-Gang was one big, happy family and happiness always came when NHALS was achieved.

Nepotism is also a massive problem on the Steelers. Drafting guys because you personally know them (Bush) or they are related to another player (Heyward) is a bizarre way to run a professional football team.

Then, in one of his signature moves, Tomlin tipped his cap and went to the door.

I’m surprised the signature move wasn’t doing the King Kong chest pounding and blowing the players a kiss. I guess that’s just reserved for Steeler fans as Mediocre Mike’s public FUCK YOU to his critics.


I am so looking forward to the new regime. I am praying to the football Gods that the Rooney’s don’t fuck this up. These coddled players have a rude awakening coming, and every over-30 vet who is looking for his last big payday is going to have to find another team/coach to sucker. The Steelers retirement village is finally closed and will no longer be the last stop on the washed veteran’s scenic career tour.

On the question of whether Tomlin was forced out or not - remember this is the same organization that retired two coaches in Bruce Arians and Dick Lebeau who never actually intended to retire. Released statements as an organization and Art II got up in his presser and insisted they were retiring.

I don't know why he feels the need to do this. It's the NFL coaches get fired. Even long term ones. I don't know if this is the case with Tomlin, bu there's zero reason to believe Art II on anything.

“No. No. No. No. No,” he kept repeating over and over, his eyes welling with tears as Tomlin continued his speech.

Watt has discussed his respect and admiration for Tomlin on numerous occasions in the past. That included two years ago, when he said publicly on locker clean out day, “It was huge in my contract talks. I don’t want to play for anyone other than Mike T.”

JFC that's pathetic.

His eyes welling with tears.

Would Jack Lambert's eyes EVER well with tears? Never!

Can he find another team to jog around and stack jump and showboat?

GTFO. It's a Cult of Personality.

“Every single player in that building wants to play for Mike T.,” said one player. “Were guys upset with coordinators? Yes. Was it the head guy? No.”

Yeah dude

Us fans were upset with the coordinators too.

Seemingly always during Tomlin's tenure.

Tomlin's inability (or unwillingness) to hire quality coordinators lead to his undoing.

Tree?

What tree??

Anyway

Reading that little Joey and Twatt were in despair over Tomlin leaving has made my morning.

This cycle of Twatt and sCam propping up Tomlin with ZERO playoff wins to show for it during their tenure was long overdue to END.

Tomlin no doubt got Twatt (grossly over) paid.

Khan (who also should've been shown the door) now needs to unload Twatt for pennies on the dollar.

Sure they could keep him, but I want these Tomlin worshippers OFF my once beloved Steelers.

Complete and total RESET

"No, No, No, No...."

YES!

Tomlin can dry his tears with the $100,000,000 he's been paid over the past 19 years.

Wouldn’t you as a coach prefer to be fired? As of the moment Steelers hold some control over Tomlin if/when he chooses to coach again.

R_S wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:13 am

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:10 am

swissvale72 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:01 am

From the beginning, it seemed he wasn't coaching next year.

But you emphatically told me over and over again he was and would be coaching

Lol. Swiss is all over the place.

Let's be clear what Swiss said...emphatically. I DID say he would be coaching the Steelers next year. That turned out to be incorrect. Where I will be correct, and reference to where you're quoting me, which I posted AFTER he stepped down, is that he would not be coaching another team next season, with my basis being Schefter's emphatic statement s on this.

I've also said repeatedly that "Mike Tomlin ain't going nowhere until Mike Tomlin wants to." I still believe this to be the case despite the speculation of all you asshats, your analysis of what the douchebag Art II said, didn't say, etc." Dude wasn't fired.

R_S wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 3:14 am

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/697308 ... signation/


Inside Mike Tomlin’s emotional final meeting as Steelers head coach

Paywall- can you copy/paste?

SteelPro wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:52 pm

Wouldn’t you as a coach prefer to be fired? As of the moment Steelers hold some control over Tomlin if/when he chooses to coach again.

Not Mike. That ego is way too big.

SteelPro wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:52 pm

Wouldn’t you as a coach prefer to be fired? As of the moment Steelers hold some control over Tomlin if/when he chooses to coach again.

No.

Ego demands that you walked away, not that they kicked you out.

Jibba ended it on his terms.

swissvale72 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:53 pm

R_S wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:13 am

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 4:10 am

But you emphatically told me over and over again he was and would be coaching

Lol. Swiss is all over the place.

Let's be clear what Swiss said...emphatically. I DID say he would be coaching the Steelers next year. That turned out to be incorrect. Where I will be correct, and reference to where you're quoting me, which I posted AFTER he stepped down, is that he would not be coaching another team next season, with my basis being Schefter's emphatic statement s on this.

I've also said repeatedly that "Mike Tomlin ain't going nowhere until Mike Tomlin wants to." I still believe this to be the case despite the speculation of all you asshats, your analysis of what the douchebag Art II said, didn't say, etc." Dude wasn't fired.

Chastising asshats for speculating as you speculate to your previous speculation
My Speculation …. Dude was fired … he has done a poor job for over a decade and had the current roster in very poor shape.
He sold his soul this year to win one playoff game and Rooney foolishly agreed to let him screw our roster for what was the inevitable end … the Plan failed not the Players
Rooney just wiped the coaching staff clean
Here some real speculation …. Rooney is pissed, he likes money and some semblance of success. The roster changes this year, cost him money, lost him talent and then on his Home field they were embarrassed, after 6 previous playoff embarrassment - - not close hard fought losses … ass kickings … and the coach was booed. He gave them leeway and money and believed their BS story and the SAME thing happened again and his roster has some salary problems now.

mike went spending Arts money like a crazed party hardened college kid and daddy said enough.

Yes, it has been reported that teams have already reached out to Tomlin and have been rebuffed.

.Kodiak wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 3:22 am

Sure sounds like he was fired.

It's been a lot more than 5 minutes, almost 3 days...has anyone even expressed an interest in interviewing Tomlin?

Another article on Tomlin's departure

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/476 ... -last-game

To me this one seems more likely than the "funeral atmosphere" sensationalized in the other one.

These quotes sound like aan who knew his best days in Pittsburgh were behind him.

You deserve better, and right now I can't deliver, one high-ranking team source recalled Tomlin saying.

Someone else has to move the franchise forward, another team source remembered.

And another, simply: It's best that I step down.

I'm still not convinced that Rooney didn't nudge him out the door. Deuce's statement about being willing to roll with him for one more year with no answer on the typical extension says a lot and none of us think that Tomlin's pride would allow him to coach as a lame duck.

As others have pointed out, this is also the franchise that claimed Arians and Lebeau retired when they didn't so it could have been a shove that allowed him to save face. Honestly, I'm surprised Baltimore didn't treat Harbaugh better with his exit.

Anyway, Mikey T is gone and most Steelers fans have more hope for the future than we've had in quite a while so ... Here We Go!!

And on social media are now circulating the rumors he got a 20 year old bartender pregnant.

Why is there a segment of the Pittsburgh fanbase that insists on doing this?

Just like with Kordell and the Schenley Park rumors.

Just let people go, for God's sake!

jeemie wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:31 pm

And on social media are now circulating the rumors he got a 20 year old bartender pregnant.

Why is there a segment of the Pittsburgh fanbase that insists on doing this?

Just like with Kordell and the Schenley Park rumors.

Just let people go, for God's sake!

that bartender story has been hanging since october Jeems

Whitlock and this Coach JB guy were pushing this rumor today.

Honestly, I have written about this before. Tomlin's strength is his ability to connect with players, his "EQ". That's why players like to play for him and that's why Rogers came here.

However.

There's the IQ part. That's where Tomlin falls apart. He couldn't scheme his way out of a wet paper bag.

I think (as a non-professional observer) that you need both qualities to be successful. A great example is Andy Reid. This bullshit about how many hours Tomlin puts in is ludicrous --- every NFL coach puts hours into it. They all love the game.

As DK (not the receiver) said, when you get to the post-season, everyone's motivated. So then it comes down to the talents and scheme. And the Stillers have been deficient in both of these aspects for many years. Especially scheme.

So, don't look for hidden meanings. Just accept the gift that he just gave the city and wish him a fond? farewell.

I'll let you know when I see a For Sale sign on Shady Avenue.

steelheadtrout wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:34 pm

Honestly, I have written about this before. Tomlin's strength is his ability to connect with players, his "EQ". That's why players like to play for him and that's why Rogers came here.

However.

There's the IQ part. That's where Tomlin falls apart. He couldn't scheme his way out of a wet paper bag.

I think (as a non-professional observer) that you need both qualities to be successful. A great example is Andy Reid. This bullshit about how many hours Tomlin puts in is ludicrous --- every NFL coach puts hours into it. They all love the game.

As DK (not the receiver) said, when you get to the post-season, everyone's motivated. So then it comes down to the talents and scheme. And the Stillers have been deficient in both of these aspects for many years. Especially scheme.

So, don't look for hidden meanings. Just accept the gift that he just gave the city and wish him a fond? farewell.

I'll let you know when I see a For Sale sign on Shady Avenue.

Nothing as of yesterday on the last sentence

Here is the skinny on said knocked up by Tomlin story

https://x.com/bougiesports/status/20122 ... 12143?s=42

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:47 pm

Here is the skinny on said knocked up by Tomlin story

https://x.com/bougiesports/status/20122 ... 12143?s=42

C’mon man…we don’t need to do this.
We all got what we wanted. Let’s move on.

Jobu wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:59 pm

DumlinBumlinStumlin wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:47 pm

Here is the skinny on said knocked up by Tomlin story

https://x.com/bougiesports/status/20122 ... 12143?s=42

C’mon man…we don’t need to do this.
We all got what we wanted. Let’s move on.

dont attack me. I am just showing what's been circulated on this salacious rumor. It's coming from Whitlock and others but this appears to be the source

I am glad he's gone, if you will!!

Lets just say i hope it's not true. There is the DR J, tennis player out of wedlock child when Erving banged a reporter in 1984, that came out in the early 2000s

jeemie wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:31 pm

And on social media are now circulating the rumors he got a 20 year old bartender pregnant.

Why is there a segment of the Pittsburgh fanbase that insists on doing this?

Just like with Kordell and the Schenley Park rumors.

Just let people go, for God's sake!

I don't know, maybe because it may be true despite making you feel uncomfortable to discuss?