Recent comments from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin should have him on the hot seat

I've long been a defender of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, but a comment he made this week has made me reconsider my position. Tomlin is understandably under fire right now with Pittsburgh off to a 1-4 start. The longtime Steelers head coach was questioned this week about what's gone wrong for Pittsburgh. And […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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I've long been a defender of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, but a comment he made this week has made me reconsider my position.

Tomlin is understandably under fire right now with Pittsburgh off to a 1-4 start.

The longtime Steelers head coach was questioned this week about what's gone wrong for Pittsburgh.

And Tomlin didn't mince words while answering.

Steelers
Sep 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

"We were a disaster in all three phases, and we have to own that, starting with myself and I do," said Tomlin this week. "When it's that bad across the board, it starts with me. We don't need to seek comfort, because there's enough blame to go around. We need to be solution-oriented."

"They're not quick fixes," added Tomlin. "It's not going to be based on one good performance or one good plan. And I just think as we prepare and lean in for this next opportunity that we just say that we're going to be working our tails off."

"We didn't dig ourselves into this circumstance in one day. We're not going to dig ourselves out of this circumstance in one day or one performance."

Most of the time you want to see a coach taking responsibility for a team's performance. That's their job, after all.

But in this instance, it just feels like Tomlin is telling everyone what a bad job he's done this year. And he admits the team has dug itself into a hole that is going to take a long time to escape.

If we're to believe Tomlin, this is all on him.

And if he's the reason the Steelers are in this position, why should fans have any confidence he'll get them out of the hole they're in?

15 years is a long time to be a head coach in one city. Maybe Tomlin is becoming complacent. It definitely feels that way to some extent.

Whatever the case, I can certainly understand if Steelers fans don't have much faith in Tomlin after hearing his comments this week.

Featured image via David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports