PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – This is the time where the Steelers organization has typically extended the contract of their head coach. Day one into training camp and no news of a new deal for Mike Tomlin. Cause for concern?
“I hadn’t even thought about it,” Tomlin said Wednesday.
The 51-year-old still has two years left on his current deal that reportedly pays him between $10 and $12.5 million a season. That ranks him top five, reportedly $500,000 more than Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh with the Rams Sean McVay ($14 million), Seahawks Pete Carroll ($15 million) and Patriots Bill Belichick ($20 million) as the only NFL coaches getting paid more.
“I’m thankful that I’m at a stage in life and my career where it is a non-issue for me,” Tomlin said.
Leverage for a new deal is an interesting situation. Tomlin has never had a losing season, you may have heard of that stat, but he hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016. With Super Bowl as the yearly goal, he hasn’t reached one since 2010. This appears to be a season where the Steelers could contend, but they are not only in a strong AFC, but a strong AFC North with Cincinnati nearly everyone’s favorite to win the division.
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“I’m at the stage of my career I don’t care about contracts to be honest with you,” Tomlin said. “I acknowledge I’ve seen more days than I’m going to see. That’s just the nature of this thing. I’m appreciative of the opportunity and singularly focused.”
It’s very possible there is an announcement as soon as Thursday that the Steelers have a new contract with their 17-year head coach. It’s easy to believe Tomlin when he says the lack of a new contract is not a distraction. He’s obviously financially set for life, but really hard to envision given everything management has said about their head coach who has gone 163-93-2, a new contract won’t come.
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