One of the biggest knocks against Mike Tomlin is his lack of a coaching tree. Not many coaches who have worked under Tomlin have gone on to make a significant impact as a coach elsewhere, with the exception of a few veteran coaches like Todd Haley or Bruce Arians. But those coaches wouldn’t be considered a part of Tomlin’s coaching tree. It’s a tree that’s barren, but this offseason, it could see new life. With Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson expected to leave Detroit for a head coaching gig, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that former Steelers wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery, now with the Lions as their assistant head coach/running backs coach, could receive OC consideration in Detroit.
Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has had a successful career in the NFL. With two Super Bowl appearances and one championship under his belt, Tomlin has proven himself to be one of the top coaches in the league.
But beyond his own accomplishments, Tomlin could also have a branch on his coaching tree. Many of his former assistants have gone on to become head coaches themselves, a sign of Tomlin’s ability to develop coaching talent.
One of the most notable examples is Mike Munchak, who served as the Steelers’ offensive line coach under Tomlin before becoming the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Munchak’s time with Tomlin undoubtedly played a role in his development as a head coach.
Another former assistant of Tomlin’s who has found success is Todd Haley, who served as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator before becoming the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and later the Cleveland Browns.
With so many of his former assistants going on to lead their own teams, it’s clear that Tomlin has had a significant impact on the coaching landscape in the NFL. And while he may not have a coaching tree as extensive as some other coaches, there’s no doubt that Tomlin’s influence is being felt throughout the league.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were pursuing a wide receiver upgrade in 2024, Davante Adams was one of the players general manager Omar Khan pursued before he ultimately landed with the New York Jets.
Safe to say, the two sides would’ve been better off together. The Steelers failed to land the impact wide receiver they needed, even after trading for Mike Williams, and the Jets were a total disaster and missed the playoffs.
After the Jets’ disappointing finish to the 2024 season, there has been plenty of rumors and speculation about New York possibly moving on from Adams and his good buddy, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was the reason Adams wanted to go to the Big Apple in the first place.
And, with the Steelers still needing a wide receiver, Adams could be on their radar in 2025. Just in case you were wondering, Adams would absolutely like to play for the Steelers, and a big reason for that is head coach Mike Tomlin.
“100%, I love Mike,” Adams told Kay Adams when she asked if he’d like to play for the Steelers head coach. “Anytime you have a coach that’s a player’s coach and you can tell that they’ve got a way with their guys…those types of coaches they always win me over.”
It just so happens that the Steelers might be in the market for a quarterback, also, and speculation has already run rampant that perhaps Pittsburgh could go after Rodgers should he and the Jets part ways.
It’s important to note that both Rodgers and Adams are still under contract with the Jets in 2025, so there’s no guarantee that either one will be available. And, if New York does want to move in a different direction, they’ll likely try to trade them first.
But if the Steelers are faced with an opportunity to bring in one or both players, they would be hard-pressed to pass up on it considering the issues they have at both wide receiver and quarterback going into the offseason.
According to recent reports, a $140 million superstar wide receiver has expressed his desire to play for Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The unnamed player, who is currently under contract with another team, has allegedly made it known that he is “100%” interested in joining the Steelers and playing under Tomlin’s leadership.
This potential acquisition has sparked excitement among Steelers fans, who are eager to see their already dynamic offense bolstered by the addition of a top-tier receiver. While the details of any potential trade or signing remain speculative at this time, the prospect of adding a player of this caliber to the roster has fans buzzing with anticipation.
With Tomlin’s reputation as a respected and successful coach, it’s no surprise that players around the league would be eager to play for him. If this rumored interest turns into a reality, it could be a game-changer for the Steelers and their aspirations for the upcoming season.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops, and keep your fingers crossed that this superstar receiver ends up donning the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the near future.
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Mike Tomlin will return as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite going one-and-done in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. That hasn’t stopped at least two other NFL teams from exploring a trade for the former Super Bowl champion, according to ESPN, including the Chicago Bears.
The Bears recently called the Steelers and requested to speak with Tomlin, per ESPN, but were denied permission. At least one other team, meanwhile, recently explored the possibility of a trade for the longtime coach, before learning Tomlin’s contract includes a no-trade clause.
The Steelers have no interest in entertaining any trade inquiries, per ESPN, and Tomlin himself echoed the stance at his end-of-season news conference, telling reporters that potential suitors should “save [their] time.” He just agreed to a contract extension with Pittsburgh prior to the 2024 season; that deal runs through the 2027 campaign, and reportedly makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches.
Mike Tomlin trade rumors: Steelers coach bluntly addresses speculation of teams inquiring about availability
Tomlin, on the other hand, is already preparing for the 2025 offseason, when he’ll attempt to reverse the Steelers’ late-season fortunes. While he’s one of the most accomplished coaches in NFL history thanks to 18 straight non-losing seasons, his Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.
The NFL offseason is always filled with rumors and speculation, and the latest buzz involves Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. According to a recent report, the Chicago Bears are among the NFL teams that have explored a potential trade for the longtime coach.
Tomlin, who has been with the Steelers since 2007, is one of the most respected and successful coaches in the league. However, with the Steelers coming off a disappointing season and facing uncertainty at the quarterback position, there have been rumblings that Tomlin could be on the move.
The Bears, who are also in need of a new head coach after parting ways with Matt Nagy, have reportedly expressed interest in Tomlin. While it’s unclear how serious their pursuit of Tomlin is, the idea of the veteran coach leading a team with a talented roster like the Bears is certainly intriguing.
Of course, it’s important to note that these are just rumors at this point and there has been no official confirmation of any trade talks between the Steelers and Bears. However, with the NFL offseason in full swing, it will be interesting to see how this situation develops in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on the Mike Tomlin trade rumors.
The Chicago Bears are exploring an array of options to fill their head-coaching vacancy, including the trade market.
They placed a call to the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire head coach Mike Tomlin but were denied, according to a recent report from ESPN. One other NFL team inquired about Tomlin, who has a no-trade clause, but they were also unable to negotiate a trade, per the report.
Tomlin delivered a message earlier this week regarding potential trade offers from other teams — “save your time.”
The Steelers are coming off a 10-7 campaign that saw them lose five combined games (regular season plus postseason) to close out the season, ending with a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round.
Pittsburgh has a combined 183-107-2 regular-season record, won Super Bowl XLIII and has never had a losing season under Tomlin (2007-present). That said, the Steelers also haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
Chicago went 5-12, low-lighted by a 10-game losing streak, this season. It’s in the midst of an exhaustive head-coaching search, which has included interviews with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, among many others. The Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus after two-plus seasons following their loss to the Lions in Week 13.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly rejected a trade request from the Chicago Bears for head coach Mike Tomlin. According to sources, the Bears expressed interest in acquiring Tomlin to fill their head coaching vacancy, but the Steelers quickly shut down any potential deal.
Tomlin, who has been the head coach of the Steelers since 2007, is highly regarded in the NFL for his leadership and success on the field. Under his guidance, the Steelers have consistently been competitive and have made multiple playoff appearances.
While the Bears may have been eager to bring in a proven coach like Tomlin, it seems that the Steelers are intent on keeping him in Pittsburgh. It remains to be seen how the Bears will proceed in their search for a new head coach, but it seems that Tomlin will not be leaving the Steelers anytime soon.
Former president of the Pro Football Writers of America and the author of four books
The Bears recently called the Steelers to see whether they would be allowed to talk to and potentially try to trade for longtime head coach Mike Tomlin, only to have Pittsburgh rebuff their inquiry, league sources told ESPN.
Discussions never made it to Tomlin, nor is it likely they would they have been successful even if they did. When asked earlier this week about the idea that a team could inquire about his availability — when in fact at least one team already had — Tomlin responded: “Save your time.”
At least one other team besides the Bears checked into the idea that it could somehow could try to trade for Tomlin, only to be informed that the Steelers coach has a no-trade clause in his contract, according to a league source. The inquiring team quickly halted its efforts and moved on, according to sources.
Though other teams have been interested in Tomlin, the Steelers have no interest in moving on from him, despite Pittsburgh’s fifth consecutive one-and-done trip to the playoffs.
Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension last offseason that makes him one of the league’s highest-paid head coaches. After 18 seasons in Pittsburgh, his time there shows no signs of letting up, despite any frustrations from the fan base.
“I understand the nature of what it is that we do, the attention and criticism that comes with it,” Tomlin said Tuesday in his season-ending news conference. “As a matter of fact, I embrace it, to be quite honest with you. I enjoy the urgency that comes with what I do and what we do.
“I don’t make excuses for failure. I own it, but I also feel like I’m capable and so as long as I’m afforded an opportunity to do that, I will continue. But I certainly understand their frustrations, and probably more important than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”
But in the eyes of some sources, Chicago deserves credit for at least making the call. The Bears recognized the type of leader and coach Tomlin is, and in an effort to exhaust all possibilities, they reached out to the Steelers.
Even without Tomlin in the mix, the Bears have cast a wide net in their head coaching search.
The Bears already have completed head coaching interviews with interim head coach Thomas Brown, former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, former Stanford head coach David Shaw, former Titans and current Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
The Bears also have requested interviews with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich.
The Steelers have had only three head coaches since 1969: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin, who turns 53 in March. Tomlin has never had a losing season in Pittsburgh and is the second-winningest coach in franchise history, behind only Noll, with a career record of 183-107-2.
In a shocking turn of events, it has been reported that the Chicago Bears recently made a trade request to the Pittsburgh Steelers for head coach Mike Tomlin. However, the Steelers quickly rebuffed the Bears’ offer, insisting that Tomlin is not available for trade.
According to sources close to the situation, the Bears were willing to offer a hefty package of draft picks and players in exchange for Tomlin, who is widely regarded as one of the top head coaches in the NFL. The Bears are in desperate need of a new head coach after a disappointing season and were hoping to lure Tomlin away from Pittsburgh.
However, the Steelers made it clear that Tomlin is not on the trading block and is an integral part of their organization. Tomlin has been with the Steelers since 2007 and has led the team to multiple playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory.
It remains to be seen what the Bears will do now that their trade request has been rejected. They will have to turn their attention to other coaching candidates as they look to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming season. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a rut. In a few ways, they’re currently heading into the postseason with a myriad of ugly storylines. First, there’s the fact that they’ve lost three straight and their control over the AFC North. Both the offense and defense have had their issues as well. However, one notable storyline that’s presenting itself this week revolves around receiver George Pickens.
That type of thing is something we’ve heard a lot this year. Pickens is putting together another solid year and remains the lifeline of the Steelers offense. There are always the good things that Pickens does on the field. Likewise, the headlines he creates off of it are just as loud.
Most recently, Pickens is under-fire for not running a route during the Steelers’ Christmas Day loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which ended up leading to a red zone interception. Things got more tense, and much more confusing, when Pickens abruptly ended his media time early this week after being asked about the play. It was a confusing situation overall, and admittedly wasn’t the best look for the star receiver.
However, moments like that in front of the media are the only things the world gets to see. There are things that happen, and conversations that happen behind closed doors that sometimes never come to light. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo thinks things are happening much differently in the building. He shared these thoughts on 93.7 The Fan on Friday.
“He [Mike Tomlin] doesn’t tell us the truth all the time,” Fittipaldo said of the situation regarding George Pickens. “And I think this is definitely a situation where he’s not telling us the truth…Are there communication issues? Yeah. But I think things are being handled behind closed doors in a much different way than they’re being handled before the media.”
It’s possible that Fittipaldo is right. Mike Tomlin’s made his legacy by being able to connect with his players on a level that most coaches can’t reach. He’s no stranger to star players who find themselves in the headlines. Coaching a player like Pickens isn’t anything new to Tomlin. It would be reasonable to assume Tomlin has handled all of this with Pickens and Wilson differently than the media has seen.
With that said, things do need to improve on Saturday night. A potential loss on Saturday, especially one full of frustration from Pickens only makes things more hectic with the media. This hasn’t been a peaceful season for Pickens, but he has a chance to end the regular season on a high note on Saturday.
In a recent interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter shared his thoughts on head coach Mike Tomlin’s handling of star wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. According to Rutter, Tomlin has been taking a different approach with Smith-Schuster behind closed doors.
Rutter explained that Tomlin has been giving Smith-Schuster more one-on-one attention and working closely with him to address any issues or concerns. This personalized approach is in stark contrast to how Tomlin has handled other players in the past, leading many to speculate that Smith-Schuster’s status as a pending free agent may be a factor.
While Rutter did not go into specifics about what exactly Tomlin is doing differently with Smith-Schuster, he did suggest that the coach is taking a more hands-on approach in an effort to keep the talented receiver happy and motivated.
It remains to be seen how this behind-the-scenes approach will impact Smith-Schuster’s performance on the field, but one thing is for certain – Tomlin is pulling out all the stops to ensure that his star receiver is in top form for the upcoming season. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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