Two Pittsburgh Steelers legends have joined the refrain of voices calling for the franchise to maneuver on from Mike Tomlin, with Ben Roethlisberger even suggesting that the longtime coach is an effective match for the vacant Penn State job.
Roethlisberger and former teammate James Harrison each weighed in on Tomlin’s future amid the rising hypothesis that the struggling Steelers will cut up with the NFL’s longest-tenured coach after this season.
“Perhaps it is a clean-house time. Perhaps it is time,” Roethlisberger stated Tuesday on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast. “I like Coach Tomlin. I’ve plenty of respect for Coach Tomlin, however perhaps it is best for him, too.
“Perhaps a recent begin for him is what’s greatest. Whether or not that is within the execs, perhaps go be Penn State’s head coach. You already know what he would do in Penn State? He would in all probability go win nationwide championships, as a result of he is an amazing recruiter.”
Penn State simply concluded a disappointing 6-6 season and continues to be searching for a substitute for head coach James Franklin, who was fired in October. The Nittany Lions’ most up-to-date goal, Kalani Sitake, introduced Tuesday that he’ll keep at BYU, prolonging Penn State’s teaching search.
The Steelers (6-6) even have struggled after successful 4 of their first 5 video games this season, and frustration began to boil over throughout Sunday’s house loss to the Buffalo Payments, when followers booed and chanted “Fireplace Tomlin!”
Harrison, who performed beneath Tomlin for elements of 10 seasons in Pittsburgh, stated Monday that “one thing needs to be performed” and added that he would not take into account Tomlin a “nice coach.”
“I’ve by no means been an individual that thought Coach Tomlin was an amazing coach,” Harrison stated on his “Deebo and Joe” podcast. “I assumed he was a superb [coach]. … A very good coach will get you to play to your potential. And proper now, the gamers we’ve on that group I’ve seen play, they don’t seem to be taking part in as much as their potential. An incredible coach will get you to play to your potential.”
Harrison loved his greatest NFL seasons beneath Tomlin, incomes 5 consecutive Professional Bowl appearances from 2007 to 2011 and being named the league’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months in 2008. The 2-time All-Professional linebacker famous that though the Steelers traditionally do not change coaches, a change is required in Pittsburgh.
“One thing needs to be performed, and I do know the Steelers traditionally do not transfer on from coaches,” he stated. “However I feel it is time that historical past be made.”
Roethlisberger pressured that the Steelers mustn’t fireplace Tomlin, suggesting that the edges attain an “settlement” to finish his time in Pittsburgh.
“Here is what you do not do: You do not fireplace a man like Coach Tomlin,” the previous star quarterback stated. “He is a Corridor of Fame head coach, he is revered. What you do is you come to an understanding and settlement, and it is like, ‘Hey, hear, I feel it is in all probability greatest for each of us.’
“You go, ‘Hey, Coach, hear, it is in all probability greatest for all events concerned, let’s begin over.’ It occurred with Chuck Noll, it occurred with Coach Cowher.”
Tomlin, 53, has 189 regular-season wins — the eleventh most in NFL historical past — throughout his 19 years with Pittsburgh, and his .625 profession successful share is the very best in franchise historical past. However the Steelers haven’t gained the AFC North since 2020 and haven’t gained a playoff sport since January 2017.
“Coach Tomlin’s been right here a very long time,” Roethlisberger stated. “You’d give him a statue, no matter you have to do, as a result of he deserves it, he is earned it. However it is time to discover that subsequent man. Who’s that subsequent man that may very well be right here for the subsequent 20 years?”
