NFL Legend Shannon Sharpe Calls Out Steelers HC Mike Tomlin for Pittsburgh’s ‘Mediocrity’ in Recent Years

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has confronted intense scrutiny for his staff’s efficiency since their Divisional Spherical loss within the 2017 playoffs. NFL legend Shannon Sharpe and high commentator Stephen A. Smith have questioned Tomlin’s capability to steer the Steelers past regular-season success.

Why Mike Tomlin’s Observe Document as Steelers Head Coach Is Regarding

Since 2007, Tomlin has put collectively a powerful regular-season report, notching 183 wins with a .630 profitable share. Nonetheless, his postseason report stands at 8-11 (.421 profitable share), and he hasn’t received a playoff recreation since 2016.

In 18 seasons, Tomlin has by no means had a shedding report, however his historic consistency is usually overshadowed by the staff’s lack of playoff success.

Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith’s Criticism of Tomlin

Sharpe expressed frustration with Tomlin’s management, stating, “We hear Mike Tomlin say on a regular basis ‘The usual is the usual.’ Effectively, in Pittsburgh, now the usual is mediocrity.

“… What’s 9-8? What good is that doing me? That’s like kissing your lady by a display door. That ain’t doing nothing. There ain’t no lips touching, you don’t get to carry no arms. That ain’t nothing, Stephen A. I would like extra from Mike Tomlin.”

Smith emphasised the necessity for change, declaring that the Steelers are the primary staff in NFL historical past to go eight consecutive seasons with out a shedding report however with zero playoff wins.

Smith mentioned, “Ultimately, actually, what degree of mediocrity will we wish to embrace? As a result of whenever you’re center of the highway, you may’t actually get a high-end draft decide since you didn’t stink up the joint, and clearly, you ain’t profitable championships. So, what distinction does it make? That’s in the end how individuals are gonna take a look at it.”

Might Fan Dissent Result in Tomlin Being Traded?

Steelers followers have grown more and more annoyed with the staff’s one-and-done playoff appearances. Some have known as Tomlin “overrated,” arguing that regular-season success alone isn’t sufficient to justify preserving him as head coach. Nonetheless, Tomlin’s contract features a no-trade clause, making it unlikely that he could be dealt with out his consent.

Whereas some Steelers followers have misplaced confidence in Tomlin, followers of different groups who’ve struggled throughout his so-called “mediocrity” would leap on the probability to convey him in. Groups just like the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and the New York Giants, as an example — those that have stockpiled losses since 2007.

The Giants, particularly, lead the NFL in losses since 2017 and have gone by 4 head coaches and three common managers in that point. If Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen fail to win in 2025, might New York contemplate making a transfer for Tomlin?

The Giants and Steelers are two of the NFL’s oldest franchises and have been owned by the identical households — the Mara household and the Rooney household, respectively — since their inception. On high of that, the Rooneys are associated to the Maras.

Regardless of the criticism, Tomlin stays extremely revered throughout the NFL for his capability to maintain his staff aggressive and construct a robust locker room tradition that gamers recognize. Nonetheless, the stress to ship postseason success is mounting, and the way Pittsburgh handles these challenges in 2025, beginning with their unsettled QB scenario, might be intently watched.