Tomlin Article Good Read

[chippedhamsandwich]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/30/nf ... ike-tomlin

[955876]

Any article that has a “case against firing” is already wrong:

There is literally no reason to keep this stooge here. None. Zippo. Nada.

[bradshaw2ben]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/30/nf ... ike-tomlin

The only things missing from this article:
1. the win-now mentality... we are just one or two players away... they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild. And that's the thing about 2018 that pissed off Ben: I'm nearing the end of my prime and we really are close, so you go and spend two draft picks to select a crappy QB no one else thinks is a future franchise guy. That was what stuck in Ben's craw-- 'I'm killing myself to try and get back to a title game and you're doing next to nothing to help me. No highly-drafted OL in 8 years, few offensive weapons for the passing game... not even an elite defender... then you pick a mid QB.'

2. Ben wasn't respected enough by Tomlin or assertive enough to overcome the guardrails. The guardrails were there, Ben just dealt with them and pushing back on them outside of the spotlight and in an admittedly passive-aggressive way.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

here is the link from story on this podcast where Tomlin discusses his greatest weakness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsJ2Pq8L1-M

In 2022, Tomlin made an appearance on The Pivot Podcast with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor. One clip from his interview went viral, with Tomlin talking about the qualities he prioritizes as a coach.

I love coaches that resist the responsibility of coaches. That talk negatively about a dude that can’t learn, and blah, blah. Man, if everybody could learn, we’d need less coaches. If the group didn’t need management, then we wouldn’t make as much. I love reading draft evals, and somebody’s talking about anything other than pedigree. Talking about how poor somebody’s hand usage is. Well, that’s coaching. I don’t run away from coaching. I run to coaching. It all is in line with not seeking comfort. Because when you’re a coach that’s talking about somebody that can’t learn, you’re seeking comfort, because your teaching is struggling.

He is certainly the Anti-Noll. Noll gave criticism of his guys to improve or sit on the pine, demanded success

[lifelongsteel]

The high floor low ceiling description is perfect. That's exactly who he is, and why he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

The question is why the Pittsburgh Steelers would accept this.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

The high floor low ceiling description is perfect. That's exactly who he is, and why he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

The question is why the Pittsburgh Steelers would accept this.

A stop gap lifer on the mediocrity continuum jet airliner

[anpsteel]

The high floor low ceiling description is perfect. That's exactly who he is, and why he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

The question is why the Pittsburgh Steelers would accept this.

Because the owner is a chickenshit and lives in his fears more than the coach


Playing not to lose is absolutely Art’s mentality

His absolutely fine with having winning seasons, and his commented that in replacing Tomlin, the team could do worse.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/30/nf ... ike-tomlin

The only things missing from this article:
1. the win-now mentality... we are just one or two players away... they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild. And that's the thing about 2018 that pissed off Ben: I'm nearing the end of my prime and we really are close, so you go and spend two draft picks to select a crappy QB no one else thinks is a future franchise guy. That was what stuck in Ben's craw-- 'I'm killing myself to try and get back to a title game and you're doing next to nothing to help me. No highly-drafted OL in 8 years, few offensive weapons for the passing game... not even an elite defender... then you pick a mid QB.'

2. Ben wasn't respected enough by Tomlin or assertive enough to overcome the guardrails. The guardrails were there, Ben just dealt with them and pushing back on them outside of the spotlight and in an admittedly passive-aggressive way.

I’m waiting for the deluge @ Tomlin from Ben, give it a few
More years post 2028

[955876]

they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild.

Whenever some dumb dumb fanboy doesn’t believe NHALS isn’t really a thing or factored remind them of this.

That trade was literally done to save NHALS.

And it did. Yay.

[bradshaw2ben]

The high floor low ceiling description is perfect. That's exactly who he is, and why he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

The question is why the Pittsburgh Steelers would accept this.

And why you have to assume his preference for a QB prospect is high floor, low ceiling.

[955876]

he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

I’m hoping hard the Raiders idiot owner will give us a 1st (even if it’s a 2027 1st) for Tomlin.

He’d be perfect there.

But then Dumb Dumb Dunce would say no.

[W&M_Steeler]

they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild.

Whenever some dumb dumb fanboy doesn’t believe NHALS isn’t really a thing or factored remind them of this.

That trade was literally done to save NHALS.

And it did. Yay.

The Steelers could have Justin Herbert right now had they just accepted 2019 would be a bad season. But saving NHALS was much more important, obviously.

[pickarooney]

he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

I’m hoping hard the Raiders idiot owner will give us a 1st (even if it’s a 2027 1st) for Tomlin.

He’d be perfect there.

But then Dumb Dumb Dunce would say no.

I’d actually respect Tomlin having the balls to go to a shit team as the “right this ship” coach. Pretty sure he just has shriveled little nhals balls by now though.

[swissvale72]

they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild.

Whenever some dumb dumb fanboy doesn’t believe NHALS isn’t really a thing or factored remind them of this.

That trade was literally done to save NHALS.

And it did. Yay.

But is it thought that Steelers play selection was premised on their reaching 8-5, followed by 3 consecutive losses, scoring 10 points in each?? That's what's being assumed to be the case on this esteemed website

[955876]

Jibba is absolutely more open and aggressive with play calling when NHALS is on the line.

I mean, look at the gutless and cowardly offensive game plan he rolled out vs Cleveland and ask yourself why?


Why are we aggressive in some instances then gutless once the coveted winning record is achieved?

To your point, it’s don’t think this is a calculated thing while plays are being called. But game plans and how we attack is noticeable different at times.

If mean, why trade for a safety when you season was clearly over after Ben got hurt?

Did these turds think that Mason Rudolph or Duck Fucking Hodges were going to lead a playoff run??

Not having a losing season absolutely matters to them.

And to their detriment. We should have simply played the season out and let the chips fall where they may after Ben went down in the second game.

But nooooo, having a winning record was worth giving up a 1st rounder for a fucking safety.

Mind boggling dumb.

Not having a losing season matters to Dunce Rooney and certainly to Jibba Jabber.

[langer]

I don’t run away from coaching. I run to coaching.

This fuckin guy.

Totally delusional. Consumed by thoughts of how awesome he is. The result of having his nuts washed and ass kissed for decades.

Cannot wait until he’s shoved out the door.

[CKSteeler]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/30/nf ... ike-tomlin

The only things missing from this article:
1. the win-now mentality... we are just one or two players away... they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild. And that's the thing about 2018 that pissed off Ben: I'm nearing the end of my prime and we really are close, so you go and spend two draft picks to select a crappy QB no one else thinks is a future franchise guy. That was what stuck in Ben's craw-- 'I'm killing myself to try and get back to a title game and you're doing next to nothing to help me. No highly-drafted OL in 8 years, few offensive weapons for the passing game... not even an elite defender... then you pick a mid QB.'

2. Ben wasn't respected enough by Tomlin or assertive enough to overcome the guardrails. The guardrails were there, Ben just dealt with them and pushing back on them outside of the spotlight and in an admittedly passive-aggressive way.

Yea. Focusing on one for a bit, the entire organization is all in every season on NHALS. They may frame it differently even to themselves, that maybe they think they're right there, but they go all in every year even when it's obvious they have no chance.

People (hi, Swiss!) claim that they don't really care about NNALS. That they don't chase it. Tomlin says this, but can anyone explain the logic of dumping 2 first round picks into a FS the year they lost Roethlisberger as anything beyond an attempt to preserve NHALS?

As for point 2, it wouldn't be an article even semi-defending Tomlin that didn't take gratuitous shots at Ben. The media hates him. Always will hate him. Tomlin gets his flowers for simply NHALS. Roethlisberger has the same thing on his resume (ok, 7-8 in 2006). Was there the entire time with Tomlin. Won most of those close games for him. But it's just like trash him. The further we get from Ben retiring the more we can laugh at the people who say that Ben set the franchise back. Every failed QB decision made since basically makes a mockery of that notion.

[CKSteeler]

I see other people made my main point well before me in this thread on NHALS and 2019. God damn you asshats.

But yea, we are all mostly well versed in all of these arguments. It's nice to see a national writer put them mostly out into the wider ether like this, but that's about it to me.

I could have picked 10 asshats from Steelerfury or more who could have written that article and added a hell of a lot more arguments against.

[CKSteeler]

And god damn I forgot how bad that Bleacher Report hit piece on Ben was.

Indeed, that wasn't what anyone expected from Brown when Pittsburgh drafted him in 2010. At Central Michigan, he was viewed by NFL scouts as an athletic, gritty talent who was also well-liked by college teammates.

One scouting report referred to Brown as "selfless."

Yea dude...no one fucking ever described Antonio Brown as selfless. Bruce Arians literally wanted to cut his ass for being a selfish prick when he was a rookie.

It was clear as day to me as a Steelers fan that Ben was getting fed up with Brown's bullshit that year before he finally called him out in that radio interview. You could see it. And all those players who trashed Ben for that can honestly fuck off. He broke the code !!12q.22l2!!!

Just imagine having that little twat Brown in your ear 24/7 for fucking years demanding you give him the ball every fucking play. Make sure he gets his 5 for 50! Yea, Brown was a supreme talent. Everyone praises Tomlin for managing Brown, but no one will say shit about the quarterback who made him.

Brown was never quite Brown without Ben. And his dopey ass came to realize that himself with the Bucs and Brady. He realized most QB's wouldn't have fed his ass (sometimes at the expense of team success) like Roethlisberger did. Most weren't even capable of it even had they wanted to.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Any article that has a “case against firing” is already wrong:

There is literally no reason to keep this stooge here. None. Zippo. Nada.

You mean like these Steeler articles…2 in a row…must have been a ghost writer named Tom Mikelin:

https://stillcurtain.com/pittsburgh-ste ... kdqyzyks4k

The second one trying to justify how wise the defensive philosophy is.

[swissvale72]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/30/nf ... ike-tomlin

The only things missing from this article:
1. the win-now mentality... we are just one or two players away... they traded away 1 st round pick to avoid NHALS in a year when they had no chance to go to the Super Bowl and could really have had a nice draft slot to rebuild. And that's the thing about 2018 that pissed off Ben: I'm nearing the end of my prime and we really are close, so you go and spend two draft picks to select a crappy QB no one else thinks is a future franchise guy. That was what stuck in Ben's craw-- 'I'm killing myself to try and get back to a title game and you're doing next to nothing to help me. No highly-drafted OL in 8 years, few offensive weapons for the passing game... not even an elite defender... then you pick a mid QB.'

2. Ben wasn't respected enough by Tomlin or assertive enough to overcome the guardrails. The guardrails were there, Ben just dealt with them and pushing back on them outside of the spotlight and in an admittedly passive-aggressive way.

Yea. Focusing on one for a bit, the entire organization is all in every season on NHALS. They may frame it differently even to themselves, that maybe they think they're right there, but they go all in every year even when it's obvious they have no chance.

People (hi, Swiss!) claim that they don't really care about NNALS. That they don't chase it. Tomlin says this, but can anyone explain the logic of dumping 2 first round picks into a FS the year they lost Roethlisberger as anything beyond an attempt to preserve NHALS?

As for point 2, it wouldn't be an article even semi-defending Tomlin that didn't take gratuitous shots at Ben. The media hates him. Always will hate him. Tomlin gets his flowers for simply NHALS. Roethlisberger has the same thing on his resume (ok, 7-8 in 2006). Was there the entire time with Tomlin. Won most of those close games for him. But it's just like trash him. The further we get from Ben retiring the more we can laugh at the people who say that Ben set the franchise back. Every failed QB decision made since basically makes a mockery of that notion.

I'm not denying that the Steelers chase the best record possible. My point has been that I find it hard to believe that the Steelers actual play selection is a derivative of whether they're assured of a non-losing season.

And as for the mid-season trade of a #1 pick for Minka Fitzpatrick, don't remember much criticism of that trade on this esteemed website, especially once minkah arrived and was making plays.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

It was def discussed as a why trade those picks move now on these pages.

[anpsteel]

he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

I’m hoping hard the Raiders idiot owner will give us a 1st (even if it’s a 2027 1st) for Tomlin.

He’d be perfect there.

But then Dumb Dumb Dunce would say no.

No chance of that

Brady is part owner

[swissvale72]

It was def discussed as a why trade those picks move now on these pages.

Memory's mostly intact...remembering Jim Bradshaws 3 picks for first of two wins, and most recent win in Philly in '65 (60 years ago), but failing apparently on the minkah trade talk.

[zeke5123]

here is the link from story on this podcast where Tomlin discusses his greatest weakness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsJ2Pq8L1-M

In 2022, Tomlin made an appearance on The Pivot Podcast with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor. One clip from his interview went viral, with Tomlin talking about the qualities he prioritizes as a coach.

I love coaches that resist the responsibility of coaches. That talk negatively about a dude that can’t learn, and blah, blah. Man, if everybody could learn, we’d need less coaches. If the group didn’t need management, then we wouldn’t make as much. I love reading draft evals, and somebody’s talking about anything other than pedigree. Talking about how poor somebody’s hand usage is. Well, that’s coaching. I don’t run away from coaching. I run to coaching. It all is in line with not seeking comfort. Because when you’re a coach that’s talking about somebody that can’t learn, you’re seeking comfort, because your teaching is struggling.

He is certainly the Anti-Noll. Noll gave criticism of his guys to improve or sit on the pine, demanded success

This is stupid on so many levels.

Some people just can't learn. If person A and person B both play for coach X AND A develops but B doesn't. then is that a failure of X? Maybe. What if there are 3 other players (C, D, and E) and they also all develop? Sounds like a B problem in that case; not an X problem. Tomlin's theory sounds nice (i.e., anyone can learn with the right 'coach') but is really just BS (i.e., some people can't learn or won't learn).

More to the point, if Tomlin is right, then it is a massive indictment of Tomlin. How many players regressed under his tutelage?

[.Kodiak]

Hmmm....So Tomlin targets basic fundamentals that he thinks can be an easy fix. Implicitly, we already knew this. Sound fundamentals, simple schemes and hope your players are better athletes to win those match-ups. He really is playing checkers.

I remember Belicheat deliberately targeting high football IQ, maybe with lesser talent, so that he could scheme and be dynamic week-to-week based on match-ups.

[955876]

he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

I’m hoping hard the Raiders idiot owner will give us a 1st (even if it’s a 2027 1st) for Tomlin.

He’d be perfect there.

But then Dumb Dumb Dunce would say no.

No chance of that

Brady is part owner

Totally forgot about that.

[955876]

Hmmm....So Tomlin targets basic fundamentals that he thinks can be an easy fix. Implicitly, we already knew this. Sound fundamentals, simple schemes and hope your players are better athletes to win those match-ups. He really is playing checkers.

I remember Belicheat deliberately targeting high football IQ, maybe with lesser talent, so that he could scheme and be dynamic week-to-week based on match-ups.

One strategy delivers NHALS while the other delivered a bunch of SBs. Go figure.

I recall a game where Patriots had to field DBs they pulled off their couch that week. Still wrecked Jibba.

[Gonzo]

The high floor low ceiling description is perfect. That's exactly who he is, and why he'd be the perfect coach for the Jets, Raiders, etc. He could go those places and compete week in week out. Increase ticket sales. Etc.

The question is why the Pittsburgh Steelers would accept this.

i disagree slightly -- it is who he is because he and Rooney Chose who they are
This 9-8 is intentional ... it is equation football averaging to the mean.
they have chosen to be mediocre and not great - -everyone gets paid

[Gonzo]

my favorite part is from Najee as I dont think he is just talking about Canada

A few days earlier, then-Steelers running back Najee Harris was more transparent. “You could do two things,” Harris said. “You could look at the record and say, ‘OK, we’re still good right now.’ Or we could look at the record and be like, ‘If we keep playing this type of football, how long is that shit going to last?’ I look at it like, ‘How long that shit going to last?’ Y’all could look at it like it’s a good record, but I mean, it’s the NFL. Winning how we did, it’s not going to get us nowhere.”