The heat is on Mike Tomlin. As rumors swirl around his future, an ex-NFL All-Pro is throwing in a solid opinion: Tomlin deserves an Andy Reid-style fresh start.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff hopes dangling in the balance, some are questioning if it’s time for a change at the top.
LeSean McCoy Suggests Mike Tomlin Needs a Fresh Start for Success
Tomlin and Pittsburgh have been an unbreakable duo, but could it be time to call it? LeSean “Shady” McCoy thinks so. The two-time Super Bowl champ and all-time Eagles rushing king didn’t hold back during an interview with “The Facility.”
“I truly think that coach Tomlin is one of the best coaches in football, but I think it’s time in Pittsburgh, I think it should be over, if they don’t win. I think he goes to another team, a new start, Andy Reid-new start, and gets that old Mike Tomlin back going on.”
.@CutOnDime25 believes a fresh start is necessary for Mike Tomlin:
"I think he gets an Andy Reid-new start and gets that old Tomlin back." pic.twitter.com/VpTUVUSG3T
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) January 7, 2025
The Reid comparison is spot on. Reid was a legend with Philly (nine playoff runs, five NFC title games), but no Super Bowl had fans restless. Fast forward to his Kansas City Chiefs chapter: three Lombardis and a franchise reborn.
McCoy’s take: Tomlin could pull the same trick.
Tomlin’s Steelers résumé is pure gold, too, though. In 18 seasons, he’s never had a losing year — an NFL record. He’s bagged 12 playoff trips, seven division titles, two Super Bowl appearances, and that Super Bowl 43 win in 2009.
But Shady made a solid point: “I think he’s a championship type of coach. I think he’s a playoff type of coach, and sometimes, the relationship is over. It’s not working the same way like it used to work. I think you put him on another team, another start, first start.”
Steelers Nation might not want to hear it, but it’s hard to argue. Tomlin’s still got the juice, but a fresh start might bring back the fire — the “championship Mike” everyone knows is still in there.
NFL Analyst Suggests Trading Tomlin to Bears for a Fresh Start
Tomlin’s streak of never having a losing season continues, but 10-7 with a four-game skid to end the season is tough. And with zero playoff wins since 2016, John Middlekauff thinks it’s time for Pittsburgh to make a bold move.
Middlekauff said on his podcast, “They haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. I think the fix is pretty easy. Mike Tomlin would be awesome on TV, but with all these openings, teams would die to have Mike Tomlin, why not go to the Bears? Trade him to the Bears. Tomlin gets a fresh start, he gets a young QB and the Steelers can use their infrastructure of the organization to hire Ben Johnson.”
The idea: Ship Tomlin to the Chicago Bears for a few Day 2 picks and hand the keys to the Detroit Lions’ offensive wizard. Middlekauff’s plan could flip Pittsburgh from a defense-first squad to one built for today’s high-flying NFL.
Pittsburgh’s got the legacy — now do they have the guts to turn the page?