Mike Tomlin’s departure and Steelers’ playoff dud fan the flames of discontent from readers
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a playoff game in humiliating fashion. Again.
It was so bad that Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 years.
Fans are sniping at each other and angry at the media.
In other words, “U mad, Bro” is off to a roaring start in 2026.
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Let’s start with Lonnie, who was a huge fan of my column after Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin resigned his position.
“Since your story regarding Tomlin’s departure after 19 seasons was rife with conjecture, please allow me to retort with some of my own. Tomlin is a gentleman. He read the room. He stepped down with grace. The league passed him by; the same thing happened to Chuck Noll. Pretty simple, no conspiracy, no controversy. Let the man live. He’s a HOF coach with the ring, the stats, the wins. Now you weasels gotta find someone else’s doorstep to poop on. Go kick rocks.”
Lonnie, I hate to break it to you, but until Tomlin eventually speaks on the record, it’s all conjecture.
Anything you say is as well.
Bill Cowher had his own presser. Chuck Noll had one too. If Tomlin wants his voice on the record, he can speak. Until then, unlike you, I’m not going to be a P.R. agent on his behalf.
Careful stepping off your porch. Check the bottoms of your shoes.
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The venerable @PetroniusArbit wasn’t particularly fond of Steelers fans booing the team off the field to end the season.
“I get it, but who didn’t think that outcome was better than a 50/50 proposition? Be mad, but honestly … Hard to get mad when you pretty much know what’s coming.”
Indeed. They did know exactly what was coming. And that’s why they were mad.
They weren’t just booing the 30-6 loss to Houston. They were booing the past nine years of playoff ineptitude.
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Joe has a thought on that matter.
They wouldn’t have booed if they won the game
— Joe (@RustyRyanR) January 13, 2026
You got me, Joe. Touché.
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Te’79 got upset at the mere reporting of “Fire Tomlin” chants during the loss to the Texans.
Cause somehow it’s always his fault and not the QBs wtf games does he ever have excellent qb play
— Te’79 (@Donte_Steel4Lyf) January 13, 2026
So, in your eyes, it’s not his fault he’s 0 for 6 finding capable QBs since Ben Roethlisberger retired (Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Mason Rudolph, Aaron Rodgers)?
By the way, when Ben Roethlisberger was healthy, Tomlin was also unable to win playoff games with him in 2007, ‘09, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘18, ‘20 and ‘21.
Nine seasons! Nine.
That’s why they were chanting. Get it?
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More sports
• Report: Steelers request interviews with 5 head coaching candidates
• Art Rooney II, Steelers ‘an open book’ in regards to what type of coach succeeds Mike Tomlin
• Mark Madden: Assessing the Mike Tomlin era, where Steelers go from here
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Jay didn’t like a question I asked of Art Rooney II regarding Mike Tomlin’s departure.
Who cares? How is this relevant? He stepped down ????????♂️
— JayMe (@Purple_Pill76) January 14, 2026
It is relevant, unless you take everything coaches and owners say in press releases at face value. And if you do, well, you deserve a facepalm emoji of your own.
That’ll do.
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Chris wanted to follow up on that topic too.
Didn’t answer b/c he said he wasn’t talking about contract. He was signed for next year. Picking up option is contract discussion
— Chris Nestrick (@Steel5699) January 14, 2026
Sure. But if Rooney II wanted to make it clear that it was his plan to offer the club option for 2027, he was given the opportunity to do exactly that.
He didn’t.
That’s the point.
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Finally, we go to a woman named Abby.
“Tomlin quit on his wife’s Birthday. He gave his wife the gift of walking away.”
Abby, how can I top poetry like that from you?
Although let me just add, if one of my birthday gifts to my wife was ever “more of” me, I assume it wouldn’t be me who was walking away.
