Divorces are usually a messy proposition, especially nowadays when it is much easier to just play the blame game. Why take ownership of a failure when you can just say the problem was the other party? The Pittsburgh Steelers and former Head Coach Mike Tomlin had a great run that included plenty of highs (the highest was the 2009 Super Bowl over the Arizona Cardinals) and some lows (the eight and eight records in 2012, 2013, and 2019) as well, but all things come to an end.
Following an embarrassing lackluster loss to Houston in this year’s wild card playoff game, something had to give. Tomlin announced his retirement on January 13 (some feel beating the Steelers to the punch) ending the 19-year love affair, resulting in a bag of mixed emotions from fans. Steeler Nation, just like kids caught in the middle of a messy divorce, are quick to pick sides.
This scenario is eerily similar in the fact that even though fans have strong opinions on whether Tomlin should have left or not, they still have an emotional attachment to him after what he has meant to the franchise. Very seldom does a child pick one parent as a favorite and not have any feelings for the other; it’s the same in “Steel City!”
It was love at first sight for Tomlin and Pittsburgh. After a respectable 10 and six record in the first year, Tomlin brought the jewelry that makes die-hard fans weak in the knees. He brought butterfly kisses and a Lombardi Trophy home in 2008, just 36 games into his tenure. The Super Bowl hangover hit in 2009 when Tomlin’s troops failed to make the playoffs.
Happy days were back again the following year as the Steelers made another trip to the Super Bowl. Tomlin’s bid for a second championship was denied by Green Bay. Ironically, the Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers was his man this past year as both looked to ride off into the sunset together.
The Steelers put together another quality campaign in 2011, making it back to the playoffs once again. In his first five seasons, Tomlin had a pair of trips to the big game and two additional visits to the playoffs. Four out of five ain’t bad and it turned out to be a feat that Tomlin would not be able to duplicate. As a matter of fact, his squads would only manage one more playoff win (that occurred in 2016) during his time in the “burg” making it nine straight seasons without a playoff victory.
Pittsburgh has been caught in the middle with a man called “mediocrity.” There have been zero losing seasons during the Tomlin era, but there has not been a more than 10 win season since 2020. Neither side could be happy with the past several years, but they kept going with the status quo. Speculation is that Tomlin made the move to avoid being fired. Regardless of the reasoning, the result wound up being the best for both parties, a fresh start for both might bring better days for all involved.
That will do it for now! Until next time . . . take care and God Bless!!!