Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers is one of the most universally respected head coaches across the National Football League, seemingly, just about everywhere but Pittsburgh, where he is routinely criticized and second-guessed, receiving regular calls from fans to be fired, fans who insist that the franchise will never win a championship again as long as he is there (as though it’s a simple thing to do).
By no means am I suggesting that he is beyond criticism, and I have shared some critiques of his decision-making myself frequently over the years, one recent incident being his failure to call a timeout on third down on a defensive possession at the end of the first half against the Indianapolis Colts.