DK Metcalf Hits Back at Steelers Fans Who Want Mike Tomlin Fired

The Steelers are 6-6 after losing back to back games against the Bears and the Bills.

DK Metcalf Hits Back at Steelers Fans Who Want Mike Tomlin Fired

DK Metcalf in circle and Mike Tomlin (Image via X/ IMAGO)

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The tag of untouchable is slowly fading away from Mike Tomlin. If the rumors are to be believed, then one of the longest-serving head coaches has one foot out of Pittsburgh.

The Steelers looked to be cruising with a 6-4 record at the midway point of the season. The AFC North appeared to be a lock for Tomlin’s team as both the Bengals and Ravens toiled near the bottom of the pile.

However, the scene flipped in the next couple of games. Back-to-back losses to the Bears and Bills have dropped the Steelers to a 6-6 record, just clinging to their playoff hopes. The Aaron Rodgers experiment at the quarterback spot is trending in the direction of failure. However, the biggest disappointment is the defense.

Despite adding Super Bowl winners Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay Jr., in a locker full of All-Pro talent, TJ Watt, and Cam Heyward, the Steelers’ defense ranks 28th in the league, averaging 365.1 yards allowed, 24.1 points conceded per game, and fifth-worst while defending third-down chances.

Tomlin is the mastermind of the Steelers’ defense, but lately, he’s been catching heat from fans who think he’s gotten too comfortable. If he can’t turn the season around soon, he might find himself out of a job. DK Metcalf sounded annoyed when reporters asked him about Tomlin’s shaky position on the team. He told Brooke Pryor of ESPN:

That’s a man I hold in high regard with Coach T [Mike Tomlin] in how he carries himself and how he takes a lot of criticism. He comes in here, and he’s still a great leader. I understand the frustration, but calling for someone’s job is something I’m not up for.

Tomlin signed Metcalf after George Pickens left to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Metcalf leads the Steelers receivers with 45 receptions for 605 yards and 5 touchdowns. Pickens, on the other hand, has thrived in Dallas. He has racked up 73 receptions for 1142 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Former Steelers quarterback urges Mike Tomlin to leave for another high-profile job

Ben Roethlisberger, who led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins—one with Tomlin as the head coach—provided his thoughts on the current situation. Big Ben advised his former head coach to leave the Steelers and take up the vacant job at Penn State.

DK Metcalf Hits Back at Steelers Fans Who Want Mike Tomlin Fired
Mike Tomlin (Image via IMAGO)

Roethlisberger said on the Footbahlin Podcast:

Go be Penn State’s head coach. You know what he would do at Penn State? He’d probably go [on to] win national championships. Because he’s a great recruiter.

The Nittany Lions missed out on bowl qualification after the brass fired long-time head coach James Franklin midway through the season. Franklin quickly found a new home at Virginia Tech, taking over as the head honcho of the Hokies.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions remain without a leader, and it has affected their recruiting stock. According to 247 Sports, Penn State’s 2026 recruiting class ranks 150th in the country.

As Roethlisberger mentioned, Tomlin is a fantastic recruiter, a skill that naturally comes from being great with words. But it’s unlikely that Tomlin, at 53, would leave the NFL for college football when the owners are quite content with his work.

Moreover, there will be several openings for the head coaching job. The Giants, Titans, and even the Raiders may try to lure in Tomlin. For now, he’s managing the Steelers, who are still alive in the playoff race.

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