The Chicago Bears struck out in an attempt to lure Mike Tomlin from his post as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bears recently contacted the Steelers to explore the possibility of trading for their esteemed head coach.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers promptly denied the Bears’ inquiry, and the request didn’t even reach Tomlin himself.
Chicago Bears Pursue Trade for Mike Tomlin After Matt Eberflus Firing
After parting ways with Matt Eberflus following three consecutive losing seasons, Chicago is scouring the NFL landscape for a new head coach. Eberflus struggled to find success, failing to reach double-digit wins during his tenure — even after the team drafted quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Their interest in Tomlin underscores their ambition to secure a seasoned leader with a proven track record. In 18 seasons at Pittsburgh’s helm, Tomlin boasts an impressive 191-118-2 record, including a Super Bowl 40 win. Only Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has more victories among active coaches.
Unfortunately for the Bears, talks were halted before making any headway.
“Discussions never made it to Tomlin, nor is it likely they would have been successful even if they did,” Schefter wrote.
Other NFL Teams Have Attempted a Tomlin Trade
According to Schefter, the Bears aren’t the first team to try to free Tomlin from the Steelers’ grasp.
“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. The inquiring team quickly halted its efforts and moved on.”
Though other teams have reportedly been interested in the Super Bowl-winning head coach, the Steelers, despite Pittsburgh’s fifth consecutive one-and-done trip to the playoffs, have no interest in moving on from him.
Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension last offseason, making him one of the league’s highest-paid head coaches at $16 million (tied with Baltimore Ravens’ John Harbaugh for third). After nearly two decades, his time in Pittsburgh shows no signs of letting up, despite the fan base’s frustrations.
NFL Coach Trades: Rare but Not Unprecedented
Trading for a head coach is out of the ordinary, but it’s not entirely unheard of in the NFL. The league has seen eight high-profile coach trades over the years, typically involving massive compensation packages. One of the most notable examples is when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for Jon Gruden in 2002, sending four draft picks — first- and second-round picks in 2002, a first-rounder in 2003 and a second-rounder in 2004 — and $8 million to the Oakland Raiders. The move paid off for Tampa Bay, as Gruden led the team to a Super Bowl victory that same season.
Similarly, in 2000, the New England Patriots acquired Bill Belichick from the New York Jets in exchange for a first-round pick. That trade arguably changed NFL history, with Belichick building one of the most successful dynasties ever. These rare deals underline how valuable a proven head coach can be to a franchise, especially a team like Chicago that seeks to rebuild a winning culture.
The Bears’ attempt to acquire Tomlin fits this mold of bold, ambitious moves, even though the Steelers firmly shut the door. While trading for coaches is rare, the pursuit of excellence in the NFL often requires unconventional thinking.
