Steelers won't fire Mike Tomlin this season but will have to make call on team option by March: Report
- - Steelers won't fire Mike Tomlin this season but will have to make call on team option by March: Report
Andy Backstrom December 7, 2025 at 1:19 AM
0
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't fired a head coach midseason since 1941. That won't change this year, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reported Saturday that, although the Steelers won't fire Tomlin this season, they will have to make a call on the team option in his contract by March 1.
That deadline could mark an inflection point in the future of the Steelers organization. While there are two years remaining on Tomlin's contract after this season, Pittsburgh has to decide if it wants to pick up the option that would extend Tomlin's tenure through 2027, per ESPN's report.
If the Steelers don't pick up that option, Tomlin will enter the 2026 season on the final year of his contract.
And if, say, Pittsburgh wanted to trade Tomlin, it would need the coach's permission, according to Schefter, who noted that Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract.
[Get more Steelers news: Pittsburgh team feed]
Tomlin is 189-113-2 in 19 seasons at the helm of one of the league's most stable franchises, with two AFC championships and one Super Bowl title under his black and gold belt.
On one hand, the Steelers haven't had a losing season under Tomlin. On the other hand, they haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. They've struggled to find Ben Roethlisberger's successor at quarterback. Most recently, they've pivoted to Band-Aids at the league's most important position. This year's is a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who is tasked with compensating for a Pittsburgh defense that's surprisingly taken a step back in 2025.
The Steelers have won eight, nine or 10 games in six of their previous seven seasons. They're 6-6 heading into Week 14.
Roethlisberger himself suggested that "maybe it's a clean-house time" on his podcast this week. The six-time Pro Bowler won two Super Bowls in his 18 seasons with the Steelers, including one with Tomlin. He emphasized that he has "a lot of respect" for Tomlin and doesn't think he should be fired. Instead, Roethlisberger recommended a mutual parting of ways.
It's possible that kind of split eventually happens, however, it doesn't seem likely that will take place after this season, considering ESPN's report.
Pittsburgh is currently preparing for a rivalry showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, who are also 6-6. With a win Sunday, the Steelers will reclaim first place in the AFC North.
Following a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills last week, the Steelers were showered with boos in Acrisure Stadium as they made their way to the locker room. Pittsburgh started 4-1 and is 2-5 since.
"In general, I agree with them, from this perspective: Football is our game, we’re in a sport entertainment business," Tomlin said Tuesday of fans' frustration, per the . "And so if you root for the Steelers, entertaining them is winning. And so when you’re not winning, it’s not entertaining."
The Steelers began last season 10-3 before losing five straight games, including a wild-card playoff game to the Ravens 28-14.
Sunday marks Pittsburgh's first game against Baltimore since that lopsided postseason affair.
Source: “AOL Sports”
