By Cole SullivanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike Tomlin as their head coach back in 2007. He’s now the longest-tenured coach in the NFL and has still never had a losing season.
That said, the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, suffering multiple first-round exits. And with the way things are trending in 2025, it doesn’t appear that anything drastic is about to change.
Pittsburgh enters Week 14 at 6-6 for a massive showdown with the 6-6 Baltimore Ravens. Despite being tied for first place in the AFC North, frustration is starting to boil over in the Steel City following their 26-7 home loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Chants calling for Tomlin to be fired echoed throughout the stadium — a surprising turn given everything he’s accomplished with the franchise. But according to legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who spent nearly his entire career playing under Tomlin, it may be time for both sides to consider a split.
“It’s being talked about around here a lot: Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said. “I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin. But maybe it’s best for him, too. Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best. Whether that’s in the pros, maybe go be Penn State’s head coach. You know what he would do at Penn State? He would probably go win national championships. Because he’s a great recruiter.”
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However, according to Roethlisberger, you don’t publicly fire a coach like Tomlin — instead, you come to a mutual understanding and part ways respectfully.
“Here’s what you don’t do: You don’t fire a guy like Coach Tomlin,” Roethlisberger added. “He’s a Hall of Fame head coach, he’s respected. What you do is you come to an understanding and agreement, and it’s like, ‘Hey, listen, I think it’s probably best for both of us.’”
...Roethlisberger and Tomlin won a Super Bowl together in 2009 over the Arizona Cardinals and formed one of the most respected quarterback–head coach duos in the league for more than a decade.
But since Roethlisberger retired back in 2022, the Steelers have struggled to find a long-term answer at quarterback. It’s been a constant cycle of trial and error from year to year — and it simply hasn’t worked.
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