Dulac: Steelers keeping Mike Tomlin Other Coaching Changes Likely

I agree. I look forward to hearing from you January 12, 2026.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Tomlin was retained, but why are we giving anything Dulac writes credibility at this point?

 

Deuce isn't cheap, he's stupid.

 

That is an entire different discussion on its own

Start a new post I’ll look for it

 

Rex Ryan was comparing Tomlins situation to Cowhers. How the Steelers kept Cowher around after everybody wanted him gone, and he went on to win a SB. He said that nobody believed that this years team would even win 4 games, yet Tomlin got them to the playoffs. He's THAT good. I don't remember that being the prevailing prognosis for the season, but whatever you say Rex. You're the genius. He didn't explain why he believed the Steelers would win 3 or less games considering they have Tomlin, but whatever.

Let's actually compare their success. I'm not going to bother with regular season wins cause who cares, they don't really matter. Lets look at post season success.

Lets use playoff rounds as number values. Wilcard rd =1 pt, Div. rd =2 pts , Conf rd=3 pts, SB=4 pts.

I'm looking at two catagories, the round that you, at least, made it to, and the round you won. So, if you made it to the Conference championship(3rd rd), you get credit for the first three rds(even if you didn't have to play a wildcard game). So, in the "made it to" catagory you would get 1+2+3= 6 pts. Let's say you lose that Championship game, in the "Won" catagory you would get 1+2+0=3 pts.

Career numbers - Cowher 15 seasons, Tomlin 18 seasons , both won one SB and lost one

"Made it to"- Cowher - 54 total points, avg 3.6 per season "Won" - 31 total points, avg 2 per season
Tomlin - 39 total points, avg 2.1 per season(42% lower than Cowher) - 21 total points, avg 1.1 per season(45% lower than Cowher)

Because both coaches were here so long we have the opportunity to look at them over a larger scale. So let's look at just the last 10 years of their careers, so that we can say these we're absolutely their teams. There was limited influence by the previous coach. There is the Ben factor, but what can you do? Cowher drafted the HOF'er and Tomlin got the very best years of his long career. Which, obviously, makes Tomlins numbers that much more damning.

Last 10 years -

"Made it to"- Cowher - 31 total points, avg 3.1 per season "Won" - 20 total points, avg 2 per season
Tomlin - 17 total points, avg 1.7 per season(46% lower than Cowher) - 7 total points, avg 0.7 per season(65% lower than Cowher)

 

The above is a very long post

I’m going to come back to it when I’m younger

 

Dulac puts a article out like this every year, rinse and repeat,

 

Or you have your cataract surgery.

 

The important thing is that we have a winning season. That way, we can get a middle of the road first round pick that doesn't allow us to grab a top quarterback. It also has the added bonus of allowing us to sign a veteran quarterback on a one-year contract, who's glory days are behind him as a bridge into the next generation of Steelers players.... It is like the circle of life.

 

That’s not too far in the future I’m guessing

 

At what point do these playoff failures knock him from being a HOF lock to debatable HOF candidate? 4 years ago, I'd definitely say that he's Canton bound, but today I can definitely use his playoff failures as a great argument for him not getting in. The more he runs this back and continues to fail, the less likely he gets there.

 

Would be hilarious to see him get in Tomlins face

 

I seriously doubt the coaching staff are the only changes necessary. I would imagine that Tomlin is going to be told by AR II to allow the new DC to actually call his own plays. I also suspect this means that Arthur Smith will be able to call at his own leisure as Tomlin has been long known to have influence in the Offensive Play Calling.


Dulac's changes also likely signal the beginning of the end for Teryl Austin and Pat Meyer. However, I doubt they are the only ones on the chopping block. Isaac Williams, the Offensive Line Assistant Coach, could be on his way out as well. Either, Matt Baker or Mateo Kambui, the Offensive Assistant Coaches, could be removed as well. Not both but one of them. Mike Sullivan, the Senior Offensive Assistant, might also be on his way out as well.


A lot of assumptions I know but there will be changes coming. The biggest change though cannot just be strictly off of Coaching nor players. Tomlin needs to get out of his own way and allow his Coordinators to actually call plays and Game Plan their own way. That is the biggest hurdle AR II needs to tackle. If Mike Tomlin has a problem with it and wants out?! Shop his ass.

 

The people who vote on HOF think he's the greatest thing to ever happen to coaching. He could coach another 8 years without a playoff win and get in first ballot without an issue.

They'll scapegoat Austin, the OL coach, maybe a few position coaches... maybe even Arthur Smith. They're going to give him at least another year out of loyalty (or simply just the fear of change). If the rumors are true and Tomlin is back for 2025 it has to be playoff win or his job. Simple as that.

 

I don't even think that's the case anymore. Even national media is calling him these past 20h and those voices will be even louder in the future.

 

Anything less than running that bum Tomlin out of town is unacceptable IMO. We've been in this mediocre hell for 14 years now, time to end this madness!

 

Personally, I don't think Tomlin deserves the HOF. He won one SB with Cowhers team, and has done next to nothing ever since.

 

Austin 3:16 says we gave up another 3rd down and 16! If you want to see us give up another touchdown, give me a hell yeah!

 

Anybody that started out this season thinking this was going to be a Super Bowl run probably should not be making the decisions for their family.

 

I think Smith was given a QB he didn't want in Russell Wilson.

I actually wonder if Arthur Smith's offense would have been better off if Kahn did not get involved and the team simply brought back Mason and Kenny this year.

 

By next fall he will be back to being heralded as one of the best coaches ever

People forget quickly

Well other than wives