Hypothetical question: Two more years of no playoffs, is Tomlin fired? And if yes, what are the odds

Of Bill Cowher coming back? Is there any reason for him to return to coaching? Could he be waiting to come back?

 

He could be fired, the fans would demand it, and that would give Cowher a chance to come back, he would certainly be the top contender if he asked for the job: Winning a super bowl is not job security, Shanahan won 2 super bowls in Denver and was fired, other super bowl winning coaches have been fired before, so winning a super bowl is no guarantee that a coach is un touchable.....

 

I'll bite, I'd say that depends on:
1. the won/loss record
2. how the team performs
3. other circumstances, injuries, etc

IMO, the bottom would pretty much have to fall out for Tomlin to be fired in the next 2 years.

Edit: I think Cowher is perfectly content where he is.

 

The bottom fell out last year, so if the bottom falls out again this year, you know how loud the noise for tomlins head is going to get from the fans this year, fans are already skeptical about tomlin, he better produce or else....

 

Its early, very early, but I do not see us winning many games having to depend on dwyer/redman carrying the ball. I hate to see this injury to Bell, we really really needed him to perform early in the yr.
Going back to the coaching situation, I just think there is a reason involving the Steelers as to why Cowher is still not coaching somewhere else.

 

if this would happen I would hope we get an "offensive minded" coach. Someone that knows the X's and O's of an offense.

 

Cowher makes millions and sees his family. This is the life that he left football for. There is little chance that he will want an extremely difficult job that everyone would call for his firing if he has an off year even if it is due to factors outside his control. FBCIAWHBC.

 

Like BF said, slim and none.

Maybe not in two years, but I think I could see Tomlin maybe leaving to take another job if things got into a really bad mess.

But I don't think things are in a really bad mess right now. As I've said in another thread, it's more a whole lot of different things coming together at once.

 

Cowher??? Still holding on to hope after 7 years? Really?

 

For reasons already mentioned Tomlin is safe till his contract is up.

Cowher is not coming back. He did what he did, had success and moved on. He left to be with his girls before they moved out and to be with his wife here in NC where she's from and they both went to college. He now has all his girls moved out and living their lives, his wife has passed away from cancer and he has a solid career in broad casting that pays him very very well and yet affords him plenty of time off during the year. Coaching is a full time job. He could have returned to coaching, in NC with the panthers or even his al mater NC State.

If he does return to coaching it'll be because he needs that challenge in his life and I feel the only challenge worthy enough to bring him back to coaching would be to take his team-NC State- to the National Championship Bowl Game. I doubt it happens.

Cajun-

 

I think there is a difference between missing the playoffs and having a completely undisciplined team. When Cowher missed the playoff, IIRC, the team was still disciplined. Tomlin has had a franchise QB for his entire tenure here, something Cowher didn't have the luxury of. If the team falls apart like it did last year, I would have a hard time thinking that the front office is okay with the status quo.

Now, having said that, I don't think he will be fired. I think he would have to do something quite drastic to get canned. I know this is something that people probably don't want to talk about, but I think that the Rooney's might end up being handcuffed by the Rooney rule if they were to want to get rid of Tomlin. It might seem hypocritical of them to fire a minority coach after they fought so hard for their hiring rights. Just a thought

 

The team didn't fall apart it was decimated by injuries and ran a high school offense. Ben wasn't even allowed to use an audible.

 

An 8-8 season is the bottom falling out? I may be in the minority here but I believe that Cohwer had his own faults. If Cohwer was such the motivator then how in hell did we lose these games or have these stats (keep in mind we lost 4 AT HOME).

In the Cowher Era postseason, Pittsburgh was:

• 2-7 against division winners
• 6-2 against wild-card teams
• 1-9 against teams that went 11-5 or better in the regular season
• 7-0 against teams that went 10-6 or 9-7 in the regular season

Under Cowher, the Steelers have NEVER won a playoff game against a team that won its division and had a record of 11-5 or better.

1994 AFC title game – In a 17-13 loss to San Diego, Pittsburgh's leading ballcarrier, Barry Foster, picked up just 47 yards on 20 carries. With his top-ranked rushing attack stifled, O'Donnell was forced to pass 54 times. The Pittsburgh offense found its way into the end zone just once and lost, 17-13.

1995 Super Bowl – In a 27-17 loss to Dallas, Pittsburgh's top two ballcarriers, Erric Pegram and Bam Morris, were held to just 88 yards on 25 carries. With his twelfth-ranked rushing attack stifled, O'Donnell famously tossed two INTs to wide open defensive back Larry Brown, who set up easy touchdowns for the Dallas offense while earning MVP honors in the process.

1996 divisional playoffs – In a 28-3 loss to New England, Pittsburgh's leading ballcarrier, Jerome Bettis, was held to 43 yards on 13 carries. With their second-ranked rushing attack stifled, quarterbacks Tomczak and Stewart combined for a spectacularly unproductive 16 of 39 for 110 yards with two INTs.

1997 AFC title game – In a 24-21 loss to Denver, Pittsburgh's leading ballcarrier, Bettis, gave the Steelers a potentially winning performance with 105 yards on 23 carries. But against a champion-caliber defense, Stewart completed just 18 of 36 passes for 201 yards with 1 TD and 3 INTs.

2001 AFC title game – In a 24-17 loss to New England, Pittsburgh's leading rusher, Bettis, was held to a humiliating 8 yards on 9 carries. With his top-ranked rushing attack stifled, Stewart completed just 24 of 42 passes for 255 yards with 0 TDs and 3 INTs, including one each on Pittsburgh's final two desperation drives.

2004 AFC title game – In a 41-27 loss to New England, Pittsburgh's leading rusher, Bettis was held to 64 yards on 17 carries. With his second-ranked rushing attack stifled, Roethlisberger had his worst game of his previously unbeaten rookie season. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 226 yards and 2 TDs, but tossed three INTs, including one that was returned nearly 100 yards by Rodney Harrison for a back-breaking TD at the end of the first half.

Put most simply, Pittsburgh didn't win because it couldn't pass against good teams. After nine seasons of postseason futility – with virtually every loss a repeat of the previous one – you would think Cowher would've changed his philosophy. He did not.

Some of you argue that Tomlins SB victory was a result of Cowher's team, if that's the case the Gruden SB victory is Tony Dungy's right? I guess one could also argue that the SB victory Cowher had wasn't due to his leadership but the knowledge that it would be Jerome Bettis last year (Didn't the Ravens just get over that hump with Ray Lewis in mind)

COWHER IS NOT COMING BACK PEOPLE! Live with it, accept it and move on. Greg Lloyd and Joey Porter are 2 of my favorite LB's but they ain't rushing the QB anymore either. Tomlin CAN COACH. He has his flaws yes, BUT HE CAN COACH. We're not even 8-8 last year if Ben does not get hurt and we probably beat Green Bay in the SB if not for the timeout on 3rd down. Folks blame Mendy for the fumble but I believe it was Ben's inability to get a play off that led to the timeout which led to Green Bay's defense getting the opportunity to catch their breath (we had them on their heels if I remember). Guess the time out was Tomlin's fault too.

 

No way tomlin is fired

 

People make Cowher to be greater than he really was he's no Chuck Noll. Cowher has the same Superbowl record as Tomlin 1-1.

 

Meeeee toooo..... I mean listen guys. We are forgetting something that I don't think the Rooney's are. Tomlin is STILL one of the youngest coaches in football. I think that's why the Rooney's sorta try and oversee hires or ever how you want to look at it. I don't think Tomlin has been totally given the keys yet. I think Tomlin is still indecisive. I think Tomlin has deficiencies but didn't Cowher have them as well? If I'm being TOTALLY honest I would have to say that I like Cowher better as a persona but you have to admit that Cowher was just as stubborn as Tomlin. There IS no perfect coach and honestly if I could pick any coach in the league besides Tomlin I would probably pick McCarthy because he just seems to be "together" and I think he's pretty demanding of his players and he's an Xs and Os type guy so you get the best of both worlds. I don't think Tomlin is going anywhere and I DEFINITELY don't think Cowher is coming back. I think there is as much chance of Chuck Noll coming back as there is of Bill Cowher coming back.

 

Tomlin fired? No. Now Colbert on the other hand could be a different story.

 

Totally agree, talent has honestly declined. 6 years ago before age caught up with this team you had serious talent. They were loyal to many vets (not like Pats who continue to get younger) for maybe to long- now they pay the price since lot of talent hasnt panned out

 

By raising the question doesn't mean I am holding onto hope that he comes back, I am just wondering as to why he hasn't made a return to the NFL. I am a supporter of Tomlin but that does not mean I dont see his flaws. And those flaws have become more clear in the past season or two.

 

Steeler head coaches don't get fired. They just fade away.

 

Once again, could you Tomlin lovers tell us why you think he is so great? What makes him stand out in your eyes? Could it be his teams lose to teams they should dominate,could it be they play sloppy, turn ball over,could it be that his teams are undiscplined and are penalized alot ? Could it be his brilliant clock mgmt?Maybe his development of players since he has gotten here? Maybe their uninspired play? C'mon people we fans deserve to see good football, and your not seeing it. Even in preseason you should see some assemblance of decent play. For once in your Steeler coaching career coach T could you atleast do something AND LEAD.