Steelers' Mike Tomlin is 'on the hot seat' and Willie Colon wants the 'stank' off his name

The Pittsburgh Steelers revamped their offense for the 2024 season, and it feels like the mediocrity that has plagued the team recently could finally be over. Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn't just find a few new offensive players. He started at the top with new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith. He also created competition at the quarterback position by bringing in Russell Wilson. Then he toughened up the offensive line with some new draft picks. The reason for all this change in an organization known for its stasis is a topic for debate. 

The Steelers organization has been revered for its consistent greatness over the decades. While they are known for their loyalty, it is not at the expense of winning. Thus, when the systems of the past few years were proving ineffective, the Steelers sought change. Others, such as former offensive guard Willie Colon, feel that the change has occurred primarily because Tomlin is in the hot seat. 

Colon, who played for the Steelers for seven years, helping them win Super Bowl XLIII, is now an analyst and co-host of The Carton Show with Craig Carton. In a recent episode, Carton said he feels confident in this new team, mostly because he feels that Tomlin has a legitimate quarterback for the first time in a few years. Colon said this is a do-or-die season; Tomlin has something to prove. 

"I love Mike Tomlin, but this is, I have to officially say, he's on the hot seat. And when you talk about his overall record, you talk about in 17 seasons, he has an eight and 10 playoff record, only four seasons with playoff wins and he's had some bona fide teams even with Ben Roethlisberger.  The issue with Mike Tomlin right now is he wins games he's supposed to win, but loses games he shouldn't lose."

According to Colon, the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals during the 2023 season, both teams they should have easily beaten. This frustrates Steelers fans. Colon hates seeing the team consistently lose "bonehead games," especially when they have so much talent.  

"I'm saying to myself, well, who are the Pittsburgh Steelers? Are they the bullies, or are they the dweebs right now? If you lost to the Patriots and the Cardinals, you look like the dweebs," said Colon.

Carton said that Tomlin is in an unusual situation this year. He believes the Rooney family may decide to move on from Tomlin if the team does not progress. After all, they haven't won a playoff game in nearly a decade.     

Colon said he agrees and disagrees. He agrees that Tomlin has been an excellent coach, but winning matters most. When you look at the Steelers' prior head coaches, Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, they both have more playoff wins than Tomlin. 

"It's one thing to get to the table," said Colon. "But once you get there, you got to win. So that's always going to be held over his head until he gets there. I just want to get the stank off him. You talk about people who say he's a mediocre head coach, I hate that, he's a d*** good head coach."

Noll is the mastermind who turned the franchise into one that won games. Before Noll, the organization had never won a single postseason game. During his 23 years with the team, he turned the worst franchise in the league into one of the greatest in history. He retired with a postseason record of 16-8-0, including four Lombardi Trophies.

He was replaced in 1992 by Cowher, who spent 15 seasons with the Steelers and had a postseason record of 12-9-0 with one Super Bowl victory. When you look at these numbers, it is easy to see why fans are frustrated with Tomlin's losing 8-10 postseason record, with a single Super Bowl win. 

How Hot Is Steelers' Mike Tomlin's Seat?

Tomlin is in the final season of his contract, which has created rumors about whether the Steelers will extend him. There were even rumblings that Tomlin himself might want to take some time off to explore other opportunities. Tomlin shot that down shortly after the season ended, saying that he fully intended to return, which he obviously did. This is a relief to his players, old and new, who often cite Tomlin as why they come to the Steelers.