From the frozen tundra to the Steel City, some things just stay the same. That’s the sentiment echoed by Shannon Sharpe as he dropped an intriguing comparison. The Hall of Fame tight end just likened Jordan Love‘s potential impact on the Green Bay Packers to Mike Tomlin’s rock-solid tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he brought the latest million-dollar deal of Tua Tagovailoa.

During today’s Nightcap Live stream on YouTube, Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson first dissected Love’s new contract. “Green Bay knew they had that guy,” Sharpe said, referring to Love’s performance last season. He then drew a parallel that’s sure to make even the most die-hard Cheeseheads sit up and take notice: “They gotta be in a situation from 92 into probably 32 they’re going to have three quarterbacks their quarterback situation is gonna be like the Steelers head coach.”

Let’s break that down shall we? Sharpe’s comparing Love to the coaching trifecta of Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin – three men who’ve led the Steelers to a combined six Super Bowl titles over more than half a century. That’s not just high praise; that’s Mount Everest-level expectations for a quarterback with just one full season as a starter under his belt.

But here’s the kicker: Love’s numbers from last season might just back up Sharpe’s bold claim. After a shaky start that had fans reaching despair, Love caught fire faster than a Pittsburgh steel mill. He tossed 18 touchdowns against just one interception in the final eight games, guiding the Packers to the playoffs with the precision of a cheesemonger selecting the perfect cheddar.

Ochocinco jumped on the Love bandwagon too, praising the young QB’s “command of the offense” and “his ability to throw any and every throw regardless of what has they on his ability to extend plays one of the the special traits that some of the top quarterbacks have.” He even went as far as to say Love “can do it all,”

Now, let’s not forget the Steelers’ side of this equation. Since 1969, Pittsburgh has had just three head coaches. To put that in perspective, during that same time, the Cleveland Browns have gone through more coaches than a high school gym class. As Art Rooney II put it in his book about Chuck Noll, The Ones Who Hit The Hardest, “He set a new standard for the Steelers that still is the foundation of what we do and who we are.” Mike Tomlin, the current maestro of the Steelers sideline, hasn’t had a losing season in 17 years. That’s the consistency you can set your Terrible Towel by.

Meanwhile, since taking over in 2007, Tomlin has never had a losing season in 17 years as head coach – a feat that speaks volumes about his consistency and ability to adapt. His overall record of 171-101-2 includes a Super Bowl victory in just his second season, making him the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a championship at the time.

Moreover, Tomlin has demonstrated remarkable adaptability. Since 2019, he’s managed five straight non-losing seasons despite significant quarterback challenges, including an aging Ben Roethlisberger and a revolving door of less-than-stellar options. This adaptability and consistency put Tomlin on track to potentially surpass Chuck Noll as Pittsburgh’s all-time winningest coach.

Comparatively here’s where the Packers’ quarterback situation gets as interesting as a double reverse flea-flicker. Since 1992, Green Bay has had just three starting QBs: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and now Jordan Love. That’s the kind of stability that makes other NFL teams green with envy—pun absolutely intended. Favre made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons with the Packers and won three straight MVP awards starting in 1995. Not to be outdone, Rodgers snagged four MVP awards during his tenure.

From Favre’s gunslinging days to Rodgers’ pinpoint accuracy, and now Love’s potential, the Packers seem to have a knack for finding quarterbacks like they’re picking four-leaf clovers in a field of shamrocks. Speaking of long-tenured success, it’s worth noting that the Packers’ and Steelers’ stability isn’t unprecedented in NFL history.

Curly Lambeau, the Packers’ founder, coached the team for 29 seasons from 1921-49, winning six NFL championships. Tom Landry matched that 29-season tenure with the Cowboys from 1960-88, leading them to two Super Bowl victories. Don Shula’s 26-season run with the Dolphins included the only perfect season in NFL history. These coaching giants set the standard for the kind of long-term success that both the Packers and Steelers have emulated in their own ways.

Meanwhile, Sharpe’s comparison of Love to the Steelers’ coaching stability isn’t just about success – it’s about the rarity of such consistent leadership. As Sharpe pointed out, “Go back and look at any situation and try to find a succession of quarterback that because even if you say Montana and Young when young took over he was done by 98 concussions had forced him out so he only really had five years.” This underscores just how unique the Packers’ quarterback situation has been. However, Love isn’t the only QB to have received a mammoth deal, the Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa also turned heads with his $212.4 million deal.

Is Tua’s mega-deal a $212 million leap of faith?

While we’re on the topic of quarterbacks making waves, let’s shift gears faster than a no-huddle offense to the Miami Dolphins’ blockbuster move. Tua Tagovailoa just inked a deal that would make even Dan Marino’s perfectly coiffed hair stand on end – a cool $212.4 million over four years.

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson sees the logic behind the Dolphins’ decision, emphasizing the importance of the supporting cast around Tua. As Johnson puts it, “I think for Tua what’s important for him… I consider what he’s able to do in the Dolphins offense I think it’s perfect for him having Mike McDaniel, having Waddle, now having OBJ, having Cheetah.”

Johnson believes that with such a talented group around him, Tua’s job is simplified: “All you having to do is facilitate the ball, hand the ball off… I’m not saying job is easy but The Supporting Cast he has around him, he doesn’t have to do much because everyone else around him is so good.” Shannon Sharpe adds context to the discussion by highlighting the rarity of finding long-term quarterback solutions in the NFL.

Sharpe points out, “I mean like when you dealing with that guy what what are your choices go back into the draft and hope and try to find one better that that’s that’s more durable have a stronger arm that’s taller” implying that securing a franchise quarterback is a challenging task. This perspective suggests that while the Dolphins’ investment in Tua is significant, it may be justified given the difficulty of finding and retaining top-tier quarterback talent.

NFL analyst Nick Wright too threw some cold water on the Dolphins’ party, calling the contract a “mistake” on “First Things First” yesterday. Wright’s main beef? He thinks Tua might be more of a “bus rider” than a “bus driver” in Miami’s high-octane offense, suggesting there’s “a ceiling on their team with him as the quarterback.”

But let’s not forget, Tua did lead the NFL with 4,624 passing yards last season, earning his first Pro Bowl nod in the process. He even channeled his inner Marino in a game against the Ravens, throwing for a career-high 469 yards and six touchdowns. That’s the kind of performance that makes you say “Fins Up!” faster than you can spell Tagovailoa.

In the end, whether it’s Jordan Love trying to fill the cleats of Favre and Rodgers, or Tua aiming to justify his massive payday, these quarterbacks are facing pressure that would make a deep-sea diver nervous. But as Shannon Sharpe’s comparison suggests, sometimes the biggest risks lead to the sweetest victories.