NFL Rumors: Pittsburgh Steelers to Extend Head Coach Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to recommit to their longtime head coach. Owner Art Rooney reassured reporters that he still "feels good" about head coach Mike Tomlin and intends to sign the Super Bowl XLIII champion to an extension sometime this summer.

Highlights from Rooney:
• Still believe in Pickett, need better QB play, want Rudolph back.
• Want OC who bring 'fresh approach"
• Said OC is 100% Tomlin's hire
• Praised rookie class
• Tomlin will get extension and Rooney still feels good about him or "he wouldn't be here."
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) January 29, 2024

After a 7-7 start to the season, Tomlin was briefly dogged by rumors he could be fired. The Steelers, however, finished strong, winning their last three games and comfortably maintaining Tomlin's amazing 17-year-long streak of .500 or better seasons. They were eventually bounced in the Wildcard Round by the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers take a lot of pride in their stability and continuity; Tomlin is famously only the third head coach since 1969 for the franchise. Still, the fans (and ownership) have a right to feel a little impatient: the Steelers offense has been completely untenable following the decline and departure of longtime franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. They've ranked 21st, 26th, and 28th in points scored over their last three seasons.

Tomlin has more than carried his weight on his side of the ball; his defenses have finished in the top 10 for yards allowed in 10 of his 17 seasons with the Steelers. But for all their success, the Steelers have failed to win a postseason game since losing the 2016 AFC Championship game to the New England Patriots. If that's going to change, they'll need radical progress from their offense. Rooney's remark that the Steelers next offensive coordinator will be 100% Tomlin's hire is telling; they're not giving their head coach any excuses. If the next iteration of the Steelers offense doesn't turn a corner, Tomlin may be held accountable.