NFL Insider Reveals Longtime Steelers Head Coach’s Future with the Team
Recently, fans and analysts have been contemplating whether or not Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will remain with the team after this season. During the Steelers’ devastating Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium, fans chanted, “Fire Tomlin.” The Bills defeated the Steelers 26-7. This led to increased speculation about Tomlin’s future with the team.
The 2025 season marks Tomlin’s 19th season coaching the Steelers. When the Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens with a score of 27-22 on Sunday, Tomlin reached a milestone. He now has 190 career wins. While this is a significant accomplishment, the Steelers still haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers don’t plan on firing Tomlin. If Tomlin isn’t with the Steelers in the 2026 season, it will be because he made the choice to leave voluntarily. Rapoport said, “Mike Tomlin is not going to get fired by the Pittsburgh Steelers.” He continued, “It is not going to happen, based on his success, based on his relationship with Art Rooney and the organization. If Tomlin is not the coach of the Steelers in 2026, my understanding is it’ll be because that is what he wants.” Rapoport isn’t the only one who believes that the only way Tomlin won’t still be coaching the Steelers next year would be if he leaves on his own accord. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is among the other NFL insiders who also believe that the Steelers won’t fire Tomlin.
The Steelers haven’t fired a head coach since 1968. They let Bill Austin go after that season and hired Chuck Noll. However, if the Steelers don’t make the playoffs this year, they will need to seriously evaluate Tomlin’s future with the team. As of now, it seems very unlikely that Tomlin and the Steelers will part ways. Schefter reported, “After this season, Tomlin’s contract will have two years remaining, 2026 and a team option in 2027. Yet, according to league sources, the Steelers must decide whether to pick up the option on Tomlin’s contract by March 1st.” It will be interesting to see how the team fares the rest of this season and find out what their ultimate decision is regarding Tomlin.
