The future of the Pittsburgh Steelers feels oddly unclear for a franchise that just survived, thrived, and punched its postseason ticket. Yes, the nail-biting 26–24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens was sweet. And sure, securing the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2023 felt even sweeter. But the conversations surrounding Mike Tomlin’s future remain bitter, lingering in a way that simply does not exist for most head coaches with 19 consecutive winning seasons.
That’s the strange reality of being Mike Tomlin.
No matter what he accomplishes, his seat is always described as “warm.” Every season carries an unspoken referendum.