Mike Tomlin might have been sidestepping questions about his future Monday, but no doubt his standing with the Steelers will be coming up soon within the organization.
Pittsburgh got bounced from the postseason Monday by the Bills. It brings an end to a bizarre season that featured some peaks but plenty of valleys, and with it came a fair amount of discourse that Tomlin could be on the way out.
Tomlin bolted from his press conference Monday after a question started with a reminder that he has one year on his deal.
Just about anything is on the table. Tomlin could step away like Sean Payton did with the Saints, set up a mutual parting of ways with the Steelers, or even come back for an 18th season as Pittsburgh’s head coach.
The latter option, Adam Crowley said Tuesday on The Fan Morning Show, would not be in the organization’s best interest.
"How can we expect, if Mike Tomlin doesn’t choose to step away, how do we expect that this looks any different next year?" Crowley said. "It’s the same thing every year, you either get in by the skin of your teeth and get blown out, or you miss out on the playoffs by the skin of your teeth and we’re all left going oh, what’s going to change for next year? Here’s the answer: Nothing! Nothing is going to change. …
"They lost when they were the more talented team, now they’ve gotten blown out when they weren't the favorite, they were a huge underdog in this game. They’ve found ways to lose now with multiple rosters. One roster was constructed to score a bunch of points and the defense blew it, this roster was constructed to play with defense, they gave up 31 points. They’ve found ways to lose different ways over the course of the last seven years under Mike Tomlin.
"So next year if you’re changing the coordinators and you’re adding a couple of pieces through free agency and the draft, the main problem for me is still there, that’s the head coach."
There are some notable candidates available this offseason, including Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel. If the Steelers want to enter the market for one of the big dogs, then a decision on Tomlin will have to come quickly.