Stephen A. Smith Believes Mike Tomlin And Steelers Need a Fresh Start Amid Struggles

Pittsburgh Steelers fans demanded franchise fire Mike Tomlin during their Week 13 embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Stephen A. Smith Believes Mike Tomlin And Steelers Need a Fresh Start Amid Struggles

Mike Tomlin needs a fresh start, so do the Steelers (Image via Imago)

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Mike Tomlin has started to face not just the ire of Pittsburgh Steelers fans, but also from many areas of the media after their humiliating loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13.

The passionate Steel City fans chanted ‘Fire Tomlin’ in the 2nd half, and backed it up with rounds of boos as they saw their beloved team struggle to generate anything on both sides of the ball.

Admittedly, Aaron Rodgers was injured, and that may have cost them some freedom on offense. But what truly baffled everyone was the way the once-vaunted defense collapsed against the Bills.

Former head coach Rex Ryan, now an analyst on ESPN, said on Get Up that the franchise needs to let go of its long-time head coach and start fresh. That move would do both the Steelers and their head coach a ‘favor’.

Longtime Steelers fan Stephen A. Smith has been a staunch supporter of Mike Tomlin ever since the latter became the head coach back in 2007. But now, his opinion has changed.

If any other coach had not won a playoff game since 2016, what would we be saying?… That’s the bottom line… They have been a model of mediocrity or slightly above, for over a decade. That’s unacceptable.

Stephen A. Smith said on First Take

The longtime analyst reiterated that it was not a knock on Tomlin’s ability to coach. Rather, Smith believes the 53-year-old is a Hall of Famer who should have no problem finding another job within seconds of leaving the Steelers.

Colin Cowherd seconds Stephen A. Smith’s opinion on Mike Tomlin and Steelers

Those ‘Fire Tomlin’ chants sent ripples across the football world. When veteran analyst Colin Cowherd took to The Herd, it was one of the first topics he discussed.

Many want Mike Tomlin gone from the Steelers
Many want Mike Tomlin gone from the Steelers (Image via Imago)

They’re old, the Steelers are expensive… Finally, the fans said, ‘Enough!’

Colin Cowherd said

He feels that Mike Tomlin, by nature, focuses more on defense. In this current era, defensive-minded coaches of old have not had much success.

Cowherd believes that the Steelers’ lack of production on offense has been largely due to that approach. That is why he believes the franchise needs to look elsewhere if it is to start being successful.

He did not specifically suggest the Steelers hire an offense-minded coach. Instead, he wants the top brass to bring in someone hungry and willing to push the entire team towards performing better than what they are doing now.

Just like Stephen A. Smith, Cowherd was also not implying that Tomlin is not a good coach. Rather, the Super Bowl champion coach would be better off bringing stability to a struggling franchise.

Former protege wants Steelers to let go of Mike Tomlin

Both the analysts speaking about this issue also know that the Pittsburgh Steelers are notorious for holding on to good coaches for a long time. Former star pass rusher James Harrison believes his team’s owners need to break that tradition.

Something has to be done, and I know the Steelers historically don’t move on from coaches. But I think it’s time that history be made. Because right now the only history we’re making is being the worst Pittsburgh Steelers team statistically, almost in the history of the organization.

James Harrison said on Deebo & Joe

The 2-time Super Bowl champion first gave his own example, and how his first NFL linebacker coach helped him realize his true potential.

He now believes that there are no such coaches under Mike Tomlin, and that has stopped his former team from playing even to their current potential.

That is why he hopes the Steelers change their approach and find someone who can take the team to the next level. He believes the franchise has the players to do that, just needs the right man to lead them.

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