Tag: Mike Tomlin

Mike Tomlin’s loyalty could impact Steelers’ QB decision, per insider

Insider Jeremy Fowler reports that Mike Tomlin’s loyalty to Russell Wilson may complicate the Steelers’ chances of re-signing Justin Fields.

Fans hoping to hear news about the Pittsburgh Steelers potentially re-signing QB Justin Fields may be disappointed.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that while Fields may be the better and more favored option in Pittsburgh, HC Mike Tomlin remains loyal to Russell Wilson. And it is this loyalty that may present itself as a roadblock to bringing back Fields in 2025:

“Coach Mike Tomlin seems to have a loyalty to Wilson that could lead the team in that direction, though. Plus, Fields could have a sneaky good market and price himself out of Pittsburgh.”

Insider information should always be taken with a grain of salt, but it is troubling news nonetheless.

Wilson usurped the QB starting role in controversial fashion, as Fields had led the Steelers to a 4-2 start to the 2024 season, while the former finished out the season with a less-than-impressive 6-6 record, including the playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

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Micah Parsons hints at Steelers as potential trade destination

Micah Parsons hinted at his interest in the Pittsburgh Steelers, adding fuel to speculation about the Cowboys star returning to PA.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to trade rumors and speculation, with the potential acquisition of Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp being the latest. Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons just threw his name into the hat as well.

Parsons was incredible in 2024, compiling 12 sacks, 12 TFLs, two forced fumbles, and 23 QB hits in just 13 games.

While speaking with former Pittsburgh Steelers CB Bryant McFadden, Parsons was asked to give an emoji reaction to whichever NFL logo was held up.

The excitement began when McFadden held up the Steelers logo, and Parsons reacted positively, holding up a ‘100’ emoji. McFadden jokingly teased the Dallas Cowboys edge rusher, saying:

“I could see you in a Steelers uniform.”

Parsons then had this to say about the Pittsburgh Steelers:

“I said if I ever returned home, it was going to Pittsburgh.”

McFadden then left a hilarious message for Steelers President Art Rooney II and HC Mike Tomlin, encouraging them to get Parsons to the Steel City.

Parsons was born in Harrisburg, PA, in 1999 and spent his entire high school and collegiate career in the great state of Pennsylvania before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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NFL reporter calls rift between Steelers OC and Russell Wilson a ploy by QB

Russell Wilson struggled down the stretch but wants everyone to believe it wasn’t his fault.

At this point, we aren’t exactly sure what is going on with the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Russell Wilson. After the season, Wilson expressed his interest in returning to the Steelers and said contract talks were already happened. Then the story came out and he and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith didn’t see eye to eye on the play calling and Wilson’s decisions on the field.

But according to NFL network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, that story was just a ploy by Wilson’s representatives to help calm the waters from a dreadful stretch at the end of the season.

This would mean Wilson isn’t working with the Steelers to return and is instead trying to partake in damage control to help him in free agency. Try and convince potential teams that his abysmal play in the final month of the season somehow wasn’t his fault.

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NFL insider believes Steelers are moving on from Russell Wilson

According to Jay Glazer, Russell Wilson is not returning to the Steelers.

According to NFL reporter Jay Glazer, the Pittsburgh Steelers will not pursue quarterback Russell Wilson and attempt to re-sign him during free agency.

The Steelers brought in Wilson along with Justin Fields last offseason in hopes of turning the Steelers offense around after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. Unfortunately, it was more of the same with the Steelers finishing 9-7 last season and getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

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Steelers insider gives clarification on disconnect between Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson didn’t see eye to eye about Wilson’s desire to throw the ball down the field.

It didn’t take long before reports started coming out that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith didn’t see eye to eye when Wilson was the starter. Now, Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac offers a bit more clarity on the details of where the two had issues.

“According to several sources, Smith did not want Wilson changing plays at the line of scrimmage, like he did in Cincinnati, and deviating from the game plan,” Dulac wrote. “Wilson’s desire to attack with the pass and throw down the field clashed with Smith’s run-first mentality, causing philosophical friction between the two.”

If this is true, it really opens up more questions for the offseason. First and foremost, it brings into question if Arthur Smith should be the Steelers OC going forward since we’ve learned his plodding style of offense doesn’t work.

It also makes you wonder how this will impact the quarterback position going forward. If Smith and by extension head coach Mike Tomlin want to focus on the run, re-signing Justin Fields is the only move that makes any sense.

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Former Steelers QB tells us what we already knew about HC Mike Tomlin

Mike Tomlin has far more control over this team than many realize.

If an NFL team is going to be consistently successful, it takes a team effort. Whether it is the players, coaches or front office, everyone has a job to do and that job is vital. Unless of course you are the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is according to former Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger noted on his podcast that there is a power imbalance with head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan with Tomlin holding the final say in roster decisions. Perhaps beyond what is typically the case with other teams.

“I know Omar Khan is the general manager,” Roethlisberger said. “Mike Tomlin makes decisions… Mike Tomlin has decisions and makes most of the decisions in Pittsburgh. He can say he doesn’t and this, that, and the other – we all know that he’s got a lot of pull. He’s been here for 18 years. You wouldn’t be here that long if you didn’t have pull and say.”

We already knew that Tomlin did this with his coaches and now it appears it extends to the front office as well. Tomlin has obviously kept his coordinators under his thumb, hence no real changes during his tenure but the idea he’s not working with Khan and Andy Weidl as a team could explain the struggles to build this roster.

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Steelers may have found their next franchise WR in 2025 Senior Bowl

Jack Bech made a strong case for the Pittsburgh Steelers after his standout performance in the 2025 Senior Bowl.

One of the biggest question marks heading into the 2025 offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers is how to fix their wide receiver woes. The team failed to find production from their wide receivers not named George Pickens—and his future with the Steelers remains uncertain as trade speculation swirls.

With that in mind, the team will either need to hit a home run in the 2025 NFL Draft or sign a big-name free agent in the coming months—and the Steelers may have just found a solution tied to the former.

WR Jack Bech out of TCU was considered one of the better Day 2 or Day 3 receivers in this year’s draft class, and his performance in the 2025 Senior Bowl should have Steelers scouts foaming at the mouth.

Bech finished the day with six catches for 68 yards and a game-winning touchdown, ultimately being named the 2025 Senior Bowl MVP.

If the TCU receiver is available when the Steelers make their second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, GM Omar Khan and HC Mike Tomlin will have the easiest decision in the world—bring Bech to the Steel City.

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Steelers can’t ignore potential ‘next T.J. Watt’ in 2025 NFL Draft

UCLA’s Femi Oladejo could be a steal in the 2025 NFL Draft and a potential successor to T.J. Watt.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have glaring needs looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft—wide receiver, defensive line, cornerback, and running back, to name a few.

However, 2024 painted an unpleasant picture the Black and Gold must face heading into the 2025 offseason—what will life look like without T.J. Watt?

It’s an intimidating question to ponder—almost as frightening as watching Watt go sackless in four straight games to end the 2024 season—and just scary enough to justify ignoring one or two of those aforementioned positions to solve tomorrow’s problem.

That’s where UCLA EDGE Femi Oladejo comes into play—a Senior Bowl standout who switched from ILB to edge rusher during the 2024 season and is expected to be one of the biggest mid- to late-round steals.

His 2024 numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet—4.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, and 57 combined tackles—but no one can deny the raw talent he possesses since switching over to EDGE.

HC Mike Tomlin lives for developing these types of players, and if the team can do so properly, Oladejo could very well be Watt’s successor.

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Steelers history suggests Roman Wilson is primed for a 2025 breakout

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a history of second-year receivers taking a big leap, and Roman Wilson could be the next breakout WR in 2025.

No one will argue with the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ ability to draft quality receivers outside of the first round of the NFL Draft—and that includes the evidence to the contrary with Roman Wilson’s disappearing act in 2024.

Arguably, much of the blame could be put on head coach Mike Tomlin for Wilson’s lack of success during his rookie season, but looking back at former Steelers receivers helps shed light on what’s in store for the young receiver.

Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown, and George Pickens all had breakout years with the Steelers during their second season as starters.

Even former Steelers receiver James Washington, who struggled to live up to his second-round draft selection back in 2018, had his best season in the NFL during his second year donning the Black and Gold.

This trend, where Steelers rookie receivers take time to acclimate to the speed of the NFL, has worked in the past, and fans should expect big things from Wilson as the team looks ahead to the 2025 offseason.

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Why Steelers fans should be concerned about Art Rooney II’s 2025 plan

Steelers fans should brace for a frustrating 2025, as Art Rooney II remains committed to a wait-and-see approach with Mike Tomlin’s staff.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, a playoff win cannot come soon enough—and the supposed plan for the 2025 season leaves little hope for one anytime soon.

Steelers President Art Rooney II shot down the idea of cleaning house within the Black and Gold coaching staff—a change that desperately needs to happen, especially regarding DC Teryl Austin, with the 2024 defensive struggles falling squarely on his shoulders.

Rooney also touched on the offensive staff, claiming that the team had reworked the offense more than ever before last offseason—and he remains optimistic about what it will look like under Arthur Smith again in 2025.

Rooney’s plan for the Steelers’ 2025 season is rather simple—continue trusting Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff.

The standard Tomlin once spoke so highly of has shifted from winning championships to accepting mediocrity—and Rooney practically gave him the greenlight for this to continue.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers should honestly prepare for the worst heading into 2025, as Rooney expects change without making any significant changes.

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