Steelers owner Art Rooney II has a wide-ranging interview on Monday afternoon with a select number of reporters, wrapping up the 2023 season.
During the interview, Rooney said that they will work on an extension for Head Coach Mike Tomlin before the 2024 season starts.
The Steelers have now gone 7 seasons without a playoff win, the longest streak since before the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.
Even with that, Rooney still believe in Tomlin.
"I think the players still respond to Mike and that's number one, said Rooney. "He still has the key characteristics that we saw when we hired him. He can keep the attention of a group of 20-year-olds for a whole season and keep them in the fight for the whole way. So, still feel good about Mike.
Rooney went on to say if he didn't think Tomlin could still win, he wouldn't be the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rooney added he doesn't think an extension will happen before they hire a new offensive coordinator.
"It'll be done when it gets done," said Rooney. "Those things, hard to speculate how long it'll take at this point."
He said he thinks hiring a coordinator will happen "sooner rather than later."
When it comes to the coordinator, Rooney said that hiring the offensive coordinator will be Tomlin's job.
Well, I mean number one, to be clear, it's Mike's hire," said Rooney. "Head coaches, hire their coordinators and I think it'd be a mistake for me to try to a screw up the lines of authority, let's say in terms of how things are supposed to work. That being said, Mike and I talk every day. Omar talks every day sharing ideas, but that's got to be Mike's hire and I think Mike identified we want somebody that has some experience and somebody that has let's say a track record that we can look at and feel comfortable with. And so those are the things that Mike is looking for.
