Mike Tomlin knows quarterback play. The former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach spent two decades on NFL sidelines and never posted a losing season. During this time he faced guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees in their primes. 

Tomlin appeared on the PFF NFL Show with Jac and Cris Collinsworth and was asked which next-generation NFL quarterback he’d most want to coach. The answer, of course, carried serious weight.

His pick? Bills quarterback Josh Allen. And his reasoning goes against just about everything the national media has been saying about Allen this offseason.

Tomlin’s case for Allen

Tomlin didn’t hesitate. He laid out exactly why Allen stands apart:

“He might be a little older than the crop that you were kind of referring to. And the reason why I want to coach him is because it just seems like he’s at his best in the most critical moments. Late in the games, he finds a way to do it. He wants it. He displays body language and mannerisms like he wants it. And he can do it with his arms. He can do it with his legs.”

This goes against the grain of the majority of national talking points with Josh Allen and the Bills this offseason. Many have made their voices loud and clear that they don’t think he can play up to par in the postseason. Future Hall of Fame Coach Mike Tomlin did though.

Then Tomlin closed with this: “If there’s anybody I want to do business with, it’d be that guy. But he might be a little bit old relative to the question that you were asking. I’m sure you’re interested in these young show ponies.”

Classic Tomlin, right? He acknowledged the premise of the question and then brushed it aside because, in his eyes, Allen is simply the guy. Tomlin almost didn’t even want to acknowledge the younger guys because of his reverence for the Bills’ leader. 

Choosing Allen over Burrow and Jackson

When Cris Collinsworth followed up and asked about Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, Tomlin didn’t waver. He doubled down on Allen:

“It’d be Josh for me, man. Like, there’s a look about him in the significant moments that’s really attractive to me. He looks like he not only wants it, he needs it. He looks like he’s built for it and certainly has the physical skill set of running and throwing to make it happen. Like, you get a significant possession down against the Bills, it’s like that dude could pull a ball down and kill you with his legs, man. 

He’s done it to us. When I say us, I mean teams that I’ve worked with (Steelers) a lot. I mean, I just got a lot of respect for that dude. That’s the dude as far as I’m concerned.”

Look, this matters. Tomlin isn’t some talking head filling airtime. This is a guy who’s coached two future Hall-of-Famers in Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers. Not to mention, he’s gone against nearly every legend the league has produced over the past 20 years. 

Tomlin has seen the best of the past generation and now the best of this new one. He took Josh Allen over all of them. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mike Tomlin’s words carry more weight than the words of those on television talk shows.

Why this should quiet the critics

Again, Tomlin’s praise cuts directly against the narrative that has followed Allen this offseason, especially after that Denver Broncos playoff loss. And look, I’ll be honest: Allen didn’t perform in that game at the level we’ve come to expect from him. But one rough outing doesn’t erase the body of work.

I’ve referenced his playoff stats before. Allen has been phenomenal in the postseason. Even in the losses against Kansas City, he has been special. The dude rises to the occasion and performs at his best when his best is required.

Josh Allen isn’t the Bills’ young quarterback anymore. He’s their veteran now, getting into the later stages of his career. Hopefully it’s the middle of the road if he’s lucky enough to play into his 40s. 

But the point stands: one of the best coaches of all time looked at the entire landscape of NFL quarterbacks and said Josh Allen is the one he’d want to build around.

Tomlin’s opinion isn’t the end-all be-all. But when a coach with that kind of résumé picks your guy over Burrow, over Jackson, over the “young show ponies,” that’s a big deal. The national media should think twice before slapping the “can’t get it done” label on No. 17 in Buffalo.