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Brooke Pryor, ESPN writer
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin has a message for any team considering asking the Steelers about his availability in a potential trade.
“Save time,” the head coach said Tuesday in his end-of-season news conference.
Following the Steelers’ fifth straight trip to the playoffs, Tomlin’s employment status and future with the organization has been a hot topic of debate and source of consternation among fans. Tomlin, who signed a three-year extension last offseason and just completed his 18th season at the helm, said he understands their frustration.
“I understand the nature of what we do, the attention and criticism that comes with it,” he said. “I actually embrace it, to be honest with you. I enjoy the urgency that comes with what I do and what we do.
“I don’t make excuses for failure. I have it, but I also feel capable and as long as I have the opportunity to do it, I will continue, but I certainly understand your frustrations and probably the most important thing is that I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”
Tomlin expressed his disappointment with the way the season ended during his final press conference, but admitted that the five-game slide at the end of the season, capped by a 28-14 wild card loss to the Ravens, was “justice of the soccer”.
“To be honest with you, I don’t see it as a disgrace,” Tomlin said. “Particularly at this level in this business and game, there is justice in football. You get what you deserve, and that’s why we’re here and we’re here for really tangible reasons. We didn’t engage in the right way. We didn’t strike a chord right at the right time, especially down the stretch.
Tomlin said there would be “changes” in the organization, but did not detail specifics, saying the postseason report was in its infancy. He met with his players as a group on Monday and also began individual exit meetings. He also met with owner Art Rooney II and CEO Omar Khan.
“There are certainly changes that occur when we don’t have the desired outcome, so those are just the realities of the business,” Tomlin said. “I imagine there will be some things that change here on many levels, but that’s the game, as I mentioned, and I understand it. I’m open to that really starting the processes of some of the decision-making that has to happen.”
Among the possible changes is the composition of the quarterback room. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have expired contracts, and the team signed quarterback Skylar Thompson on Tuesday afternoon, Thompson’s agency announced on social media. Thompson, selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, appeared in 10 games for Miami with three starts in two seasons and had one touchdown and three interceptions.
Wilson said Monday that “the plan” is to be in Pittsburgh in 2025, but later admitted he has not yet met with the Steelers to begin those talks.
Tomlin said he believes both Wilson and Fields can help the Steelers take the next step to get where the organization wants to go.
“Just his professionalism, his approach to business and his relationship with the game was an encouragement in that sense,” Tomlin said, explaining his belief.
Tomlin also said he believed in Fields, who went 4-2 in six starts to start the season, to start 17 games if Wilson ultimately opts to leave in free agency.
“I thought the way he handled his professional situation was really impressive,” Tomlin said. “I thought he brought urgency to his daily work, regardless of his role. I thought he continually improved within our ball system throughout the process. I thought the way he conducted himself made that a legitimate thought or idea at this juncture. “
And while he said he doesn’t think the organization is stagnant despite six playoff losses in eight years, Tomlin also didn’t go out of his way to offer hope and optimism about the future.
“I’m certainly disappointed that I’m not working to get ready to play this week,” he said. “And I’ve certainly felt that in recent years, but being stuck is a feeling of helplessness, and I don’t know if I feel helpless.”
He added: “I don’t know if I’m willing to be overly optimistic or sell you optimism either. I’m just acknowledging what happened and what needs to happen and what’s starting to happen and recognizing the complexity and the amount of work ahead of us.” “We certainly feel capable, but we’re definitely not in the mood for optimism or selling optimism. I don’t know if that’s appropriate. It’s disappointing that that’s not where we are.”
