PHEW! That was a nervy end to the regular season, now, wasn’t it? At least, it’s too unnecessary for Steel City’s liking. Heading into the postseason grind on the back of 0-4 is just not a good sign. The 19-17 loss to the Cincy in week 18 was just too much for the Steelers… But is this too much enough for Pittsburgh to even think about trading Mike Tomlin?

Not a chance. But that’s a hypothetical thought NFL insider Adam Schefter did not hesitate to put forth. See, the thing is, just that thought is quite cynical considering the fact that Tomlin has NOT had a SINGLE losing season in the 18 seasons that he has been the Steelers’ HC. That’s like the NFL version of hitting a playoff berth every year in Madden.

Sure, Adam said, “There are gonna be teams out there that have watched the way that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season has ended and wonder whether they should call the Steelers to see if they should inquire about whether the Steelers would be willing to move on from Mike Tomlin and move him to another organization.”

But even the insider himself admitted, “I don’t think Pittsburgh will do that. That has not been what they’ve been about.” And he’s right—the Steelers just extended Tomlin through 2027. They’re a franchise that values stability like a good offensive line, and trading a coach mid-contract? That’s not their play.

I mean, this whole chatter started with the Steelers owner Art Rooney II’s hinted frustration over the team’s playoff drought. If Pittsburgh crashes out in the Wild Card round again (looking likely), could that frustration boil over? Imagine a team offering a ‘king’s ransom’ for Tomlin—a couple of first-round picks, maybe more. It’s not impossible. Remember Sean Payton’s trade to Denver in 2023? That deal included a first and second-round pick. And let’s not forget Jon Gruden’s blockbuster move in 2002—two firsts and two seconds.

Historically, the Steelers don’t trade head coaches. Heck, they’ve only had three since 1969! That consistency is their identity. But if Tomlin ever hit the open market, he’d be the hottest name in the league. League insiders often say he’d be snapped up faster than Taylor Swift tickets during a presale. He’s respected, experienced, and—until recently—was even a top contender for Coach of the Year.

But here’s the twist: Pittsburgh’s offseason was all about change. A revamped QB room, a shiny new offensive coordinator, defensive upgrades, and investments in the O-line—and yet, they still couldn’t top last season’s record. If they lose in the Wild Card next week, that’ll be six straight playoff losses since 2016. At what point does the franchise say, ‘Enough is enough’?

So, while a Tomlin trade feels more like a Marvel ‘What If?’ episode than reality, the NFL has taught us one thing: never say never. 

Mike Tomlin and Russell Wilson have some crevices to fill!

Troy Aikman didn’t hold back on Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes: “The passing game has to get a lot better… they run the ball a lot—they don’t necessarily run it well.” And he’s spot on. The Steelers may be in the postseason, but their offensive struggles are glaring. Not a single opening-possession touchdown all season? Yikes. Sure, they managed six field goals on opening drives, but that’s not going to cut it in January football.

Mike Tomlin wasn’t ready to pin it all on Russell Wilson, though. Wilson, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown, wasn’t benched for Justin Fields. Why? As Tomlin put it, “Our failures were collective.” The Steelers barely had the ball in the first half, with Cincinnati controlling possession for nearly 20 minutes. Eight pass attempts for Wilson and just 48 rushing yards on 16 carries won’t set the world on fire.

Even more puzzling, the Steelers found success in the fourth quarter with a no-huddle offense, where Wilson finally started picking apart the Bengals’ secondary. So, why didn’t they roll with that earlier? It’s hard to watch when you know they put up 520 yards and 44 points against this same team back in December. This time? A completely different—and less effective—game plan.

Then there’s the run game. Outside of one 32-yard touchdown drive, it was nonexistent. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combined for just 20 receiving yards, a massive drop from their 146-yard effort in the last Bengals meeting. Meanwhile, tight end Pat Freiermuth stepped up with 85 yards and a touchdown, but where was George Pickens? Five targets, one catch for zero yards. Not what you’d expect from your No. 1 wideout.

Tomlin summed it up perfectly: “We didn’t make routine plays.” And that’s the story here. For a team with postseason aspirations, the Steelers need to fix these crevices fast—or they’ll be watching the next round from their couches.