Steelers face March 1 deadline on Mike Tomlin’s contract option

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not readying to occurrence Mike Tomlin. However, for the archetypal clip successful his 18-year tenure, the franchise is approaching a hard enactment successful his declaration that could signifier however and wherever helium coaches successful the last signifier of his career.

Tomlin’s enactment forces the beforehand bureau to act

After this season, Tomlin volition person 2 years near connected his woody — 2026 positive a squad enactment for 2027. League sources accidental the Steelers indispensable determine whether to prime up that enactment by March 1, aft their accustomed circular of post-season organizational meetings.

On the surface, thing fits little with Steelers past than play implicit a caput coach. The franchise has not fired 1 since 1968, and it waited 82 years to marque an in-season coordinator alteration erstwhile it dismissed Matt Canada successful 2023. Letting Tomlin locomotion into the last twelvemonth of his woody with nary committedness beyond 2026 would interruption from that long-held penchant for stability.

If the enactment is declined, some sides would abruptly clasp much leverage and much questions. Tomlin’s critics tin constituent to a nine-year playoff-win drought, stretching backmost to 2016. Supporters antagonistic with his unmatched consistency: helium has ne'er had a losing season, and astatine 6-6 this year, a 19th consecutive non-losing run remains successful play.

Fan unrest, no-trade clause and echoes of Denver

Some frustrated fans chanted for Tomlin’s occupation during past week’s nonaccomplishment to the Buffalo Bills. The beforehand bureau is not entertaining that. Trade speech is besides mostly bare noise: Tomlin’s declaration includes a no-trade clause, giving him the powerfulness to artifact immoderate effort to determination his rights.

Sunday’s travel to Baltimore underlines wherefore Pittsburgh is successful nary unreserved to speech replacements. First spot successful the AFC North is astatine stake, and a triumph would necktie Tomlin with Dan Reeves for 10th each clip successful regular-season victories with 190. The Reeves examination cuts some ways: Denver erstwhile declined to widen him going into a last declaration year, and helium was gone by season’s end.

For now, the Steelers importune the absorption is connected beating the Ravens and salvaging this season. The existent Tomlin question arrives soon after, erstwhile the calendar flips toward March and the enactment timepiece runs out.