Mike Tomlin has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 18 seasons—an unusually long stint in the modern NFL. Despite his success, analyst Ryan Clark thinks it might be time for Tomlin to explore a new opportunity. During a heartfelt segment on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith on Thursday, Clark shared his perspective on the Steelers’ direction.
“I think Mike Tomlin should be coaching somewhere else,” Clark said on the show. “He should be a new, energizing presence for another team.”
Clark emphasized he isn’t advocating for Tomlin’s dismissal. In his view, Tomlin is “un-fireable,” and any departure should come from Tomlin choosing to step away from Pittsburgh.
“He’s a phenomenal coach and a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Clark added. “But I think his message no longer resonates in Pittsburgh. Unless they land an elite quarterback, I don’t see them going any further under his leadership.”
Mike Tomlin overachieving with the Steelers
Clark pointed out that while Mike Tomlin had a star-studded roster featuring Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown, the Steelers didn’t meet expectations during those years. But in recent seasons—despite a declining Roethlisberger and an unstable quarterback situation with players like Mason Rudolph, Duck Hodges, and Kenny Pickett—Clark feels Tomlin has exceeded expectations by still delivering winning seasons.
The longtime ESPN analyst proposed that Tomlin might thrive with a fresh start elsewhere, much like Andy Reid did when he left the Eagles and turned the Chiefs into a Super Bowl-caliber team.
According to Clark, Pittsburgh’s biggest issue under Tomlin has been its inability to land a dependable quarterback. He expressed disbelief that the Steelers passed on Shedeur Sanders when he was available at pick No. 83 in this year’s draft.
Clark speculated that the team’s rumored interest in Aaron Rodgers may have played a role in that choice, possibly out of concern that drafting Sanders could create a conflict over the spotlight. In his view, this suggests the Steelers were never genuinely committed to giving Tomlin the quarterback support he needs, and had no intention of drafting Sanders in the first place.
Will Mike Tomlin stay with the Steelers?
Ryan Clark offers a bold take, especially when he suggests that Mike Tomlin’s long tenure with the Steelers might be nearing its end. Even so, the thought of Tomlin applying his leadership and proven track record to a different organization is intriguing.
He’s demonstrated an ability to create and maintain a winning culture, making him a highly appealing option for any team aiming to reset its identity and elevate its performance. Leaving Pittsburgh could mark the beginning of an exciting new phase in Tomlin’s accomplished coaching journey.
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