You missed my point. I dont think the longevity of any one of those three coaches had anything to do with race, but to hear/see some tell it on here the only reason why Tomlin got the job to begin with and the only reason hes been here all these years is because of his race and nothing else.
That's why I asked "why does the standard [for why he was hired and has been here this long] have to change for him because hes black [as opposed to the two long tenured white coaches before him]??" ....in other words why can't it be just because its the Rooney way like it was for the other two coaches? Meaning they vetted their coaches, they looked for the same things in each interview process, they valued what those coaches brought to the table and put on the field, they valued longevity, stability, strong leadership and a family/team culture.
When people make comments like Tomlin is a DEI/Rooney Rule hire the only reason someone makes a comment like that is because they believe race played a stronger part in Tomlins hiring and longevity rather then the Rooney way. They try and make it seem like its some white guilt thing...like they were obligated to hire him and keep him around therefore minimizing why hes was hired in the first place and why hes been around so long. I take issue with that.
I don’t think Tomlin was hired because of race/Rooney Rule/DEI.
From ALL accounts, he knocked his interview out of the park and WOWED EVERYONE within the organization that was part of the interview process. During the whole process, the Rooneys chose the best man for the job as they felt based off what they heard during the interviews.
I also don’t think the Rooneys break tradition established since Noll and fire a coach.
In Steeler tradition, Tomlin’s contract should not have been renewed last time, and now we’re stuck with this halfwit until at least ( God, please no longer ) 01/01/2028.
What I believe everyone is thinking is Art II feels pressure due to the potential optics of everything due to the hiring process rule named after his family, and their standing in the League, and general public.
Whether that’s actually the case or not, who can say but Rooney himself.
I just think it’s a popular theory formulated by a fan base that hasn’t experienced this level of underperforming in coming up on 60 years and is becoming frustrated and downtrodden.
Since I’ve been on this board, the bickering and debates have almost exclusively been focused on player performances and offensive and defensive philosophies. Obviously message boards weren’t around in Noll’s days, but this is still uncharted territory for us as a fan base with this collective level of frustration.
In the last decade, the only constant is Tomlin.
Players, coaches, assistants, scouting department, GM, and owner ( within the family ) have all changed in Tomlin’s tenure.
What else/Who else could the blame fall on?
ZERO to do with race.
EVERYTHING to do the team’s success.