Should Mike Tomlin leave the Steelers after Pittsburgh’s latest playoff elimination?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have once again bowed out of the playoff race. On Monday night, they fell 30-6 to the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in the AFC Wild Card round. After the loss, fans are searching for answers, and the spotlight has turned to head coach Mike Tomlin, who finds himself under fire amid the team’s prolonged stagnation.

Following the game, Tomlin faced tough questions during his press conference, including what message he had for fans after yet another postseason disappointment. His response was blunt: “When you don’t get it done, words are cheap. It’s about what you do or you don’t do,” Tomlin said, adding: “People talk too much in our business. You either do or you don’t.”

Reporters also pressed him on his future with the franchise, but Tomlin refused to engage: “I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight. I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium and, certainly, what we did and what we didn’t do.”

A decade without a playoff win under Tomlin

Under Tomlin’s leadership, the Steelers have never had a losing season. His career record stands at 183-107-2, and he delivered a Super Bowl title after taking over from Bill Cowher in 2007. Yet, the harsh reality is that Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.

Tomlin has guided the Steelers to the postseason in 13 of his 19 seasons, but his playoff record is just 8-12. He’s one of only 11 coaches in NFL history to notch at least 200 combined wins in the regular season and the playoffs. Still, the trend is troubling: Pittsburgh has lost seven straight playoff games, tying Marvin Lewis for the longest such streak in league history. They’ve also dropped three consecutive home playoff games.

Adding to the sting, the Steelers entered Monday night with a 23-0 record in Monday Night Football games, dating back to 1992 - a historic streak that came to an end. Meanwhile, the Texans had been 0-6 in road playoff games before this breakthrough win.

What’s next for Tomlin?

According to multiple reports, the Steelers are not expected to fire Tomlin. The only scenario where he leaves is if he chooses to walk away. He has one year remaining on his contract, plus a team option for 2027 that Pittsburgh must decide on before March.

The Steelers have had just three head coaches since 1969, priding themselves on continuity and stability. But in a franchise as storied as Pittsburgh, patience is wearing thin as results fail to match expectations.

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