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I guess you need a reminder of 2024 and the third quarter adjustments they were making.
Apparently NBC was the only one dumb enough to want Tomlin’s “insight”.
- Thread starter Don Kedic
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Being that none of us are in locker rooms, fans have zero idea if or what adjustments are made. Maybe a team just executed the game plan better if they were successful, or worse if they weren't. I think we fans think we are really on to something when we complain about lack of in game adjustments, when in fact we have no idea.
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Idk about that. The truth is he had some offensive talent from 2014-2018 that was as good as anything we have ever seen in Pittsburgh, as good as those great '78 and '79 teams, and he did nothing with it. I object to this idea that Tomlin was at fault for everything under the sun as well, but the truth that he accomplished nothing with those teams will not be easily forgotten.
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I agree with that but time heals everything. Except death I guess
I don't know about that, Cowher was still winning playoff games, the years people wanted Cowher gone were 99 and 00, then he went to the AFC title in 01, won a playoff game in 02 (had Nedney not won an award for diving)we're in the AFC title game in 02 with Maddox, then AFC title in 04, Super Bowl in 05. Cowher didn't fade like Tomlin did. Tomlin left with the 2nd worst playoff winless streak in NFL history, the worst home playoff loss in team history, and no coach/team ever gave up the amount of points we have over the past 6 playoff games.
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2020 L 2-10-1 Bengals
2021 T vs 0-8 Lions
2023 L vs 2-10 Cardinals
2023 L vs 2-10 Patriots
2025 L at 3-12 Browns
Tell us some about his accomplishments that will lead to him being remembered well. Be specific.
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I hear everything you are saying diver but need to add a few things
1). Tomlin did a lot of things right, he had to in order to achieve that non-losing season status. In doing so, he also lowered the expectations of the Franchise, something that took years of mediocracy to do. Beating NFL teams during the regular is a hell of a lot easier than beating teams in the playoffs.
2) Tom Brady, hated for cheating, being caught cheating on something his own coach call isolated to Tom himself proving he was responsible for the cheating of said deflated-gate activity. He is now remembered as the GOAT and made comparison to in reference to any other good QB reference.
3). The crowd is fickle, they remember nothing.
The overall displeasure comes mostly from his inability to win a single playoff game in 10 years. Not just failure to win, but the fact of being humiliated multiple times. This franchise was accustomed to play off wins and deep play into, something mediocre Mike could not achieve. That has got to be a lot of what the disappointment is seeded in, which many will forget.
If his TV career blooms ( think Warren Sapp / Kurt warner) that will make it even easier for his forgetting of.
Currently he is remembered for his failures to Steeler nation fans, with time that may lower.
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I remember him well for being the coach when they won the Super Bowl in '08. I don't get into that childish "it was Cowher's team" nonsense. He was the coach when they won, Cowher wasn't, end of story.
I do not remember him well for having some great talent in those years from 2014-2018 and not doing anything with it.
I remember him well for fielding competitive teams from 2019-2023 with a lack of talent.
I do not remember him well for not telling the whole team to get their assses out there for the national anthem and support the only combat veteran in the entire NFL.
Mike Tomlin is, and may always be, a mixed bag of memories, but DIC is probably right. As time goes, maybe most will forget the bad stuff and remember the good.
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That “tunnel” incident still hold bad vinegar in my mouth………….. that was a real disaster on many levels.
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Yep. Everyone got tired of us losing in the AFC Championship game. Go figure.
Six of those eight games you're referencing there were against losing opponents, including three of the worst teams in football that season -- the Jets, Giants, and Raiders. And even those three games against complete bums were all close at halftime. Thus, as the better team, it doesn't surprise me that the Steelers could string some good third quarters together.
So, again, what were three specific examples of adjustments Tomlin made in-game? You can use one of these 2024 games if you'd like, or any other game in any other of the eighteen seasons Tomlin coached the Steelers. I'll wait.
If you're a casual fan, that might be true. And as I mentioned in my above post, often times it is just a matter of executing better. But seasoned fans and students of the game can certainly tell when different types of defensive coverages are being implemented. Or different formations on offense are used to attack a defensive weakness. Or a myriad of other things. You see it all the time from teams like the Rams and Eagles. But you rarely saw it in Pittsburgh under Tomlin.
Or maybe you're right, and Julian Edelman is full of shlt.
You might want to duck. Truth bomb incoming ..
Postseason Failures and Trends
- Long Playoff Drought: Tomlin did not win a playoff game in his final nine seasons (2017–2025), with his last victory coming on January 15, 2017.
- Playoff Losing Streak: He lost seven consecutive playoff games to end his Steelers tenure, setting a franchise record for consecutive seasons without a postseason win.
- "One-and-Done" Records: Tomlin has one of the highest numbers of "one-and-done" (playoff loss in the first game) appearances in NFL history, with nine such instances.
- Poor Playoff Record: In his final 15 seasons, he managed only three playoff wins, finishing his Steelers career with an 8-11 postseason record.
- Blowout Losses: Recent playoff exits often included significant blowout losses (e.g., to the Jaguars, Browns, and Ravens). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
- Struggles Against Weak Opponents: Despite high winning percentages overall, his teams struggled against poor teams, losing five consecutive games against opponents eight or more games under .500 from 2020–2025.
- The ".500" Critique: Critics argue that the focus on maintaining a non-losing season (no seasons under .500 in 19 years) led to mediocrity and a "middle-tier" status rather than Super Bowl contention.
- In-Game Management: Tomlin has faced criticism for a 36-of-86 record on challenges during his career.
- Draft and Development: The team faced criticism for a lack of a "coaching tree" and inability to rebuild a elite-caliber defense over a decade, relying on short-term solutions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
- Departure Trigger: The lack of recent playoff success (0–4 in playoffs between 2020 and 2025) was directly cited as a reason for his resignation.
- "Cowher" Roster: Many critics pointed out that his only Super Bowl title (2008) and two appearances came with a roster largely built by his predecessor, Bill Cowher.
- End of an Era: Despite the accolades of 19 seasons with no losing records, his final years were marked by a 0–7 record in the postseason after 2016. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
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The very idea that you take the time for all this amuses me.
1. He still made enough $$$ that his family will be taken care of for a few generations
2. Despite all the failures you mentioned he will be a 1st ballot hall of fame.
3. You obsess over a man that has walked away. Let it go
I'm not talking only about halftime adjustments. "IN-GAME." Says it right there in the word.
But maybe you and Peyton are right -- no halftime adjustment has ever been made by any NFL coach, anywhere, ever. Makes sense.
It doesn’t amuse you. It pisses you off. And all this time that you allege that I took is actually just a 2 second google search.
Take not everyone. When you push the apologists to substantiate their claims that “Tomlin will be looked at favorably in time” or that he had “19 years of success” ^^ this is what they’re able to come up with.
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Can’t argue with either of these post(s).
Myself, I am eagerly looking forward to the new coaching regime and seeing what they can do.
They have impressed a little in the Rookie mini-camp (DK Daily Shot)
Time will tell.
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It’s not nonsense. It WAS Cowher’s team. Is it commonplace for you to deny reality or is this just an isolated incident?
How do you define competitive? How many playoff games did we win between 2019-2023?
Oh, I see. Edelman must be right because it supports your assertion. But one of the best QBs of all time? Nah.
Manning isn't saying that, and neither am I. It is an overrated criticism, though. And no fan can be sure one way or the other.
Tomlin was the coach. It was his team. Unless the facts of history change, you are the one denying reality.
They were competitive. They challenged for or made the playoffs in those years. In no way was I satisfied as a fan, but I acknowledge he kept them competitive.