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The Pittsburgh Steelers have quickly declined this year after starting out the season on a high note.
Pittsburgh has lost four of its past five games, including three consecutive losses, and are at risk of finishing with a losing record for the first time in Mike Tomlin’s 17-year coaching tenure with the Steelers.
Tomlin’s status as the head coach of the Steelers has come into serious question as well, with one of his former players even calling for him and the team to split following this year.
Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark told ESPN’s “Get Up” on Friday morning that Tomlin shouldn’t be the Steelers coach anymore, but that he should and would get another job elsewhere.
“Coach Tomlin should now move on from Pittsburgh,” Clark said. “And everyone should line up to hire him because the fricking man knows how to do it but he shouldn’t do it there anymore.”
Ryan Clark on Mike Tomlin and the Steelers:
“And Coach Tomlin should now move on from Pittsburgh. And everyone should line up to hire him because the fricking man knows how to do it but he shouldn’t do it there anymore.”@GetUpESPN pic.twitter.com/6P8qImotvh
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) December 22, 2023
Tomlin won with Cowher’s team and coaches. That team had leaders on and off the field. Tomlin slowly changed that team to what he wanted. He has molded a team, both players and coaches, to what he wanted. And over the past 11 years he achieved his goal and got Mediocrity!
— John M Dickey (@_jd23) December 22, 2023
Tomlin isn’t the problem. They just need a QB.
— Carl Thomas (@CarlThomas280) December 22, 2023
I say keep him one more year. Trade all the bad lazy players. Replace the entire staff on offense and defense with young exiting new coaches with no former ties to the Steelers and restart. Have him be the head coach and let his offensive and defensive coordinators take over.
— Steelfandk85 (@Steelfandk85) December 22, 2023
No chance that Ryan Clark can give an unbiased opinion on this particular subject. He’s always going to defend his former coach and someone he has such a close and admirating relationship with.
— The new 𝕏-JoeSteelerFan (@JoeSteelerFan) December 22, 2023
Clark knows Tomlin well – he played seven seasons under Tomlin from 2007-2013, including Tomlin’s first year with the team.
So while Clark’s quote sounds like an indictment on Tomlin, he’s really just advocating for both sides to move in opposite directions so both could grow on their own.
Tomlin has had an incredible career in Pittsburgh, including a 62.9 win percentage, 17 playoff games, two Super Bowl appearances, and one Super Bowl championship.
But the team has declined over the past three seasons.
Things have only gotten worse this year as the Steelers’ 28th-ranked offense is at its worst since 2019.
If the Steelers miss the playoffs, it might be time for the Steelers and Tomlin to do exactly what Clark suggested and split up.
The post Fans React To What Ryan Clark Said About Mike Tomlin appeared first on The Cold Wire.