Bold claim: the Steelers may be standing at a crossroads where change isn’t just likely, it’s arguably overdue. If Art Rooney II decides to move on from Mike Tomlin, who would guide Pittsburgh next, and what would that transition actually look like?
As speculation around Tomlin’s tenure intensifies, the owner’s response becomes the focal point. The chorus of opinions is growing louder, with high-profile voices entering the conversation. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently floated the idea that a fresh start could benefit both the team and Tomlin, suggesting it might be time for a house-cleaning. Meanwhile, former linebacker James Harrison echoed a similar sentiment on his podcast with Joe Haden, arguing that while Tomlin is capable, the Steelers’ current players aren’t performing to their potential, and that a change could break with the franchise’s recent pattern of sticking with coaches for long periods.
Historically, the Steelers have resisted change. Since 1969, the franchise has had only three coaches, a stubborn streak that some describe as a defining cultural trait—almost a ceremonial hairdo they’re reluctant to alter. The organization’s longstanding pride in continuity is often symbolized by an emblematic jacket of past praise that they’re reluctant to remove.
This morning’s reflection, sparked during a conversation with Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan on PFT Live, adds another layer to the puzzle. Rooney’s lifespan intersects with Steelers coaching history in an almost chronological arc: Rooney was born in 1952, a mere two weeks before the Steelers began the Joe Bach era; 1954 brought Walt Kiesling, followed by Buddy Parker, then Mike Nixon, and a chastening seven-win, 12-loss season under Bill Austin. The 1933–1968 stretch yielded 15 coaching changes over 35 years, a volatility that contrasts sharply with the two-decade-plus stability that followed under Chuck Noll, which helped shape the modern Steelers identity.
If the 2025 home games—the two remaining ones, including a potential Monday night Week 15 showdown—don’t attract enough energy from the stadium crowd to signal impatience, and if Rooney senses it’s truly time for a shift, the question becomes: what comes next? The practical hurdle to changing leadership has always been whether a better coach could be found. Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman has been floated as a potential successor, illustrating that the job will remain highly attractive to coaching talent given the Steelers’ history of attracting top options and their reluctance to fire coaches. The decision will hinge on finding the right fit, akin to the 2007 moment when Pittsburgh faced a choice between Tomlin and Russ Grimm.
Yet there’s a real risk embedded in the decision: choosing wrongly could rekindle the old revolving door that haunted decades past. That fear—of making the wrong hire and reigniting instability—might compel Rooney to exercise unusual patience, even as fans grow more restless. The tension is not just about who leads next, but whether the franchise can break free from a pattern that has defined its recent decades as much as its championship pedigree.
What’s your take: should Pittsburgh embrace a bold coaching upheaval, or is it wiser to stay the course and trust the team’s development under Tomlin for at least the near term? Would a new hire like Marcus Freeman fit Pittsburgh’s culture, or would a different profile be a more prudent match? Share your views in the comments below.
